Sunday Hike

I've been so busy lately, I haven't had much time for updating. Two weeks ago I hiked through White Water State Park 100 miles south of Minneapolis. It was a bit of a drive, but was quite enjoyable. I hiked up two different bluffs and got to enjoy some nice scenery. The only thing i wish is that there had been less people on the trail. It seemed quite busy. And there was a group of people at the park facility having some kind of party blasting music and it could be heard through most of the park.. Just a bit annoying. Not the peaceful hike I was hoping for.. but it did have it's moments of solitude. I'm hoping to return someday when it won't be so busy.

Last weekend I went back to the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge Louisville Swamp Trail. I did a bit of drawing.. not as much as I liked due to ticks getting on me and my supplies. I was carrying far too much with me this time too. Backpack with two bottles of water, bug spray, two sketch books, art supplies, camera, large case of pastels, and my tripod. I'm not sure what I was thinking.. but it seemed like a good idea at the time. So after a short break of sketching, I figured I'd head down another path I hadn't previously hiked on. It was quite nice, a variety of prairie, forest, and swamp like land. Not a whole lot of wildlife other than a crane and some geese. After awhile on the trail I came upon glacial rock, a massive rock in the middle of a prairie. I really wish there had been some kind of information post explaining how it got there.. It really seemed so out of place. I continued down the path and noticed a sign mentioning the ones trails bridge was out, but I was on a overgrown road that seemed as though it were heading in the proper direction so I followed along this road. I traveled for about a mile and a half or so until I came upon someones private property.. I really didn't want to head back from where I came because my water was running out. I wandered through what looked like a path on the property... not a good idea.. but I thought it was the best thing I could do. I passed through some pine trees and over some barbed wire. I noticed an old broken down road that seemed to have been abandoned for some time and then I noticed a big run down house.. I figured I had had enough adventure for that day. I turned around and noticed a different road, so I walked on that for a while and eventually wound up by the interstate I had driven on to get to the trail. It was after midday and I was in the wide open hiking next to the interstate with the sun beating down upon me. My water unfortunately ran out, so I had to stop and rest several times. I was completely spent and I'm sure the people driving past me at 65/70 mph thought I was a crazy person. I traveled next to the interstate for nearly 3 miles and when I finally saw the road I turned off on to go the trail, I was almost unable to move. My left leg was locking up on me and didn't wish to move anymore. Other cars passed me by and eventually I just came to a stand still for about 8 minutes or so. When I looked down I noticed a rusty old coin. I bent down and picked it up. It was a rusty old quarter from 1985 (my year of birth) I just kept thinking of what are the odds of that? That I would take a wrong path and tire myself out and then happen to stop at this very point and find a quarter with my birth year. I felt there was something to it, so I pocketed it and then when I looked back down, I noticed a penny lying face down.. I decided that this other penny was perhaps for someone else... I know it sounds strange.. but that is just how it made me feel. I eventually reached my car and was really hurting. Luckily I always keep a few bottles of water in the car. After that I went home and passed out in bed. I'm still pretty swore. Turns out I hiked about 9 miles. It's my personal best so far... but for now.. I think 8 miles will be my max when I plan my hikes.. and no more taking fake "possible" trails for me haha. Though I did enjoy the adventure of it all.

Not sure where I'm off to next weekend. Time will tell.

Hope all is well with everyone else in the world.

Back from Vacation

Well I have returned from Illinois. The trip was alright. Despite taking roughly eight hours, it wasn't too terrible of a drive. There were lots of of lovely landscapes. I only wish I had, had more time to enjoy it. Next time I'll have to stop off at some of the state parks in Illinois and Wisconsin. Being back in Illinois was sort of surreal, almost as though nothing had changed. I really don't like being stuck around big cities.. I feel as though my life force is slowly being drained. I love Chicago.. I just don't desire to spend a lot of time there anymore. I really wish I had more time to visit some areas in Illinois.. but alas, time flies.

This weekend I'm planning on visiting White Water State Park in southern MN. It's home to the timber rattlesnake.. maybe I'll see one. I'm just itching to get out of here and back to nature.

Homeward Bound

Tomorrow I'll be going on the longest solo road trip I've ever taken. Granted it's only an 8 hour drive to Illinois, it's long nonetheless.  Instead of seeing beautiful forests and bluffs, I will see endless miles of open prairie. I'm rather looking forward to the trip and hope to stop quite a few times along the way, visiting numerous small towns. My posts will be a little scarce once I'm back in Illinois. I have to get ready for my best friends wedding, which should be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I won't have much time to go hiking this coming week and weekend, but after that I'm hoping to go up to Jay Cooke State Park and go hiking with a good friend.

Here's a playlist I'm planning for my trip.. Just artists names rather..

Eagan, MN ~ Lifter Puller

Until MN State Line ~ The Cooper Temple Clause

Wisconsin State Line ~ The Seedy Seeds

Heading into Black River Falls, WI ~ Murder by Death

After Black River Falls to Madison, WI ~ Regina Spektor, Leadbelly, Haley Bonar, The Rolling Stones, Violent Femmes

After Madison, WI ~ Tapes n' Tapes, Cursive

Illinois State Line ~ Radiohead, Simon & Garfunkel

From Rockford to Chicago ~ Shiny Toy Guns, The Ting Tings, Muse

From Chicago to Home ~ Random music/Radio possibly?

Or.. I may go to Starved Rock State Park in IL. It's a bit out of the way.. so we'll see.

Not about Hiking or Nature

Today I would like to talk about the only thing I love more than going on hikes. Music. Music has played a huge role in who I have become. Growing up I didn't really listen to music. I heard what the other kids were listening to in the early years of grade school and I never really cared for it. So for quite a few years when people asked me, "What kind of music do you like?" I'd just say, "I don't listen to music." The problem wasn't that there was not any good music out there.. it was more the fact I hadn't been exposed to the right music. In sixth grade that All changed when my father fixed his record player. I put on Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and instantly fell in love. I had never heard music like that before. It opened up a door to all sorts of other musicians like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, etc. Then in high school, I felt sort of out of the cliques and started listening to Nirvana. The music and lyrics felt close to my feelings. As time went on I continued finding new music that I would fall in love with. Radiohead really changed my taste for the more experimental side of music. Then I reached a point where I  basically said, "Ok. That's it... there's no more decent, recent music out there." And so I delved into the past. I started listening to Huddie (Leadbelly) Ledbetter, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Hall and many others. Now I'm probably a bigger fan of music from the 20's - the 50's than I am of the more modern music. But lately I've been on a modern folk music kick. The Seedy Seeds are an amazing folk band that utilizes computer synths and drum machines along with banjo and acoustic guitar. They're truly revolutionary. As for more traditional Folk music of recent years, I have to say Haley Bonar is by far my favorite. Her songs tell countless stories and I never tire of hearing them. Today I had the pleasure of seeing her perform and talking with her for a minute afterwards. She's just a wonderful musician and amazing lyricist. I'm terribly saddened that she is moving out to the West Coast, but at least she will be back to perform a show in August.

I have all of her albums and today while I was at the performance I bought her vinyl of "Big Star" and she got all excited that I was buying the vinyl. It made me smile :) I also asked if she wouldn't mind signing it and she did. She told me how she keeps waiting for someone to come along and tell her they want her to sign really big over her face on the cover hahaha :P I can't wait for her next album and performance. I'm highly anticipating both.

If you don't know who Haley Bonar is, check out her website:

Haley Bonar | Big Star

Frontenac State Park

Today I left with the intention of going to Frontenac and then after that, the Barn Bluff in Red Wing, MN.. I however did not expect the hike Frontenac gave me. Had I stuck the hiking club trails, it wouldn't have been terribly difficult.. But I had taken a separate trail which took be down a steep, winding path. It brought me all the way down from the top of the bluff to the shore line of Lake Pepin. It was just beautiful.. If only there were not so many people out in their motor boats and jet skis.. it would've been peaceful. After that I had to hike back up the steep trail and it did a number on me. It's not the hiking I usually do.. but when I reached the top I felt much more accomplished than I usually do when I finish a hike. After that I hiked for another 3 or 4 miles on the regular trail.. It made me grateful that I went on the difficult trail. It was definitely a welcomed change to what I'm used to hiking at the state parks. Afterward I was quite tired and so decided not to visit the barn bluff, as I knew that was a bit of a climb as well and I don't think I would appreciate it's beauty as much had I gone today. So another day. Plus today was overcast.. I'm sure the view will be spectacular when I return in the coming months.

William O'Brien State Park

Last weekend I went out hiking in William O'Brien State Park. It was definitely a tougher hike than I thought it would be.. but that is mostly because I took all of the difficult trails. I came across a few animals, including some wild turkeys and a snake, not sure what kind. I need to try and have a lighter step while out hiking. I feel I'd have some better instances of observing animals. Here are a few images I took of the park. The landscape had so much variety and beauty that I wasn't really expecting.

This coming weekend I will be hiking in Frontenac State Park as well as the Barn Bluff near it. Henry David Thoreau said of this area this, "Too much could not be said for the grandeur and beauty of the region".

I'm really looking forward to this hike.