Mesa Verde National Park

Today we hit up Mesa Verde National Park (only 1 hour from our house) in southwest Colorado.  Pete, Erin, Chris, Arnie, Aspen, and us all went up for the day to explore a little.  The pictures below are from the Mesa Verde Spruce Tree House.

Did you know that there are over 600 cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde NP?

 A view from the Mesa.

 Approaching the Spruce Tree House Ruins.

The Ruins.  The ladders lead down to the kivas.

Cheaha Mountain

Our second highpoint was a part of 3-highpoint trip.  We came across the adventure of highpointing when we were making plans to meet up with family in Florida in the summer of '04.  After hitting up Mississippi's highpoint first, we made our way to Alabama.  A little more exciting than MS as Alabama's highpoint is actually a state park (Cheaha State Park) and reaches an elevation of 2,407 feet.

The Drive: From Birmingham, take I-20 east to Exit 191 and turn south onto US 431.  Continue 3.5 miles before turning right onto a road with a sign pointing to SR 281.  Drive .6 mile and turn left onto SR 281.  Drive 12 miles on SR 281 to the park entrance on the right.  Take the one way road to the right and drive up to the parking area where you will see the sign pictured below.

The Hike:  The hike is more like a leisurely walk as you only need to walk a short distance from the parking area to the tower you see pictured below.

 Emily at the State Park sign and parking area.

Here we are at the tower/highpoint.

Our Highpoint Adventures

We are gonna start a series of posts about Highpointing Adventures.  If you don't know, Highpointing is trying to reach the highest point in a state.  We started our journey on June 20, 2004 and have reached 41 Highpoints in the U.S. so far and have a few more coming up soon.

Let's begin with our first:  Mississippi (6/20/04) - We'll have to admit, not an exciting first highpoint but we had to start somewhere.

The Drive There:  In the northeast corner of the state you will find Woodall Mountain by taking US 72 east into Iuka, MS.  In Iuka turn right onto SR 25 (south) and then a quick right onto Fairground Road (CO 187).  Follow Fairground Road for 1.1 miles to CO 176 and turn right onto CO 176.  You will see the sign pictured below at this turn.  Continue .7 mile to another sign on the right and turn right onto the gravel road.  Follow the road for about 1 mile before reaching the highpoint.

The Hike: No hiking required.  Take a look around. Pretty boring.  Our next posts will be a bit more exciting.

 First sign pointing towards highpoint.

The highpoint survey marker.

Angel Peak

Today we visited the Angel Peak Scenic Area just outside of Bloomfield, NM.  A part of the San Juan Basin Badlands, Angel Peak is almost 7,000 feet above sea level.  A lot people think it isn't as "cool" as the Bisti Wilderness Area because it doesn't have as many hoodoos, we would disagree.  The landscape was very similar to South Dakota Badlands which we loved.

From Farmington, we drove 27 miles to the turn-off.  We turned east onto the signed "Angel Peak Scenic Area" road and drove to the campground.  From the campground we took off hiking and made our way all the way to the bottom floor of the Badlands.  Check out some pics:

 Angel Peak

 Hiking down  the ridge.

Making our way to the valley floor.

Book Number 2 Due Out in February

Get 'em while they're HOT!

Our second book revision is due to hit shelves in February 2010.  Emily's second cover photo graces the front and the VERY photogenic JD is in the shot again.  Hmmm... the first cover photo was of his back and you can barely see him in the second cover photo.  It doesn't get anymore photogenic than that.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hiking-Grand-Staircase-Escalante-the-Glen-Canyon-Region-2nd/Ron-Adkison/e/9780762760619/?itm=1&USRI=hiking+grand+staircase

Bisti Wilderness Area

This Thanksgiving we visited the Bisti Wilderness Area just south of Farmington, NM.  The Bisti is the Four Corners version of the Badlands and covers almost 40,000 acres.  Check out the trip details and photos at our link to National Geographic Maps' TOPO website HERE.

Lunchtime!

Casting our shadows over the Hoodoo city.

The desolate landscape.

A Semi-Interesting "Fact"

A few years ago (December, 2005), we led a backpacking class from SEMO from Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park via the Ozark Trail.  Only DAYS after we came off the trail the Taum Sauk Reservoir broke and released a catastrophic flood directly through the area we had just hiked (that was a close one!).

In October, 2010 the section of the Ozark Trail that was wiped out by the flood finally reopened and we were on the trail hiking it for our hiking guide to Missouri the next day.  The semi-interesting fact is that we were probably the last ones to hike the trail before the flood and the first ones to hike it when it reopened after the flood.

Some trail wisdom:

An Ozark Trail blaze/marker.

This tilted blaze/marker indicates a sharp right turn in the trail.

Pico de Orizaba

Pico de Orizaba

Our training for Pico de Orizaba has officially started!  Oh yeah, if you haven't heard, we are headed to Mexico in March 2011 to climb Pico de Orizaba.  The trip will be a class that is offered through San Juan College's OLER Program (JD's job).  Pico is an 18,000 ft plus volcano!  It is the third highest mountain in North America and is the second most prominent volcanic peak next to Kilimanjaro in Africa.

Training right now consists of 4 to 5 four-mile runs a week, about 30 minutes on the stair-climber (4 times a week), and weight lifting.  Once more snow hits the peaks up north we'll be spending several Saturday's climbing at high altitude.

After the first of the year, the training will intensify a bit with a lot more cardio, core work, and some Mountain Athlete workouts!  We are gonna be jacked and tan for Pico!

We'll keep you posted.

Come and Get 'em!

Our first Falcon Guide book is out on the shelves! Okay, so it is a revision of an already written book but our names are on the inside cover and JD and Aspen are gracing the cover.  Our second revision is due out soon and it will be chocked full of Emily's photos.

Get 'em at places like Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.

Our fully authored and photoed Best Easy Day Hikes St. Louis and Best Hikes Near St.Louis will be hitting shelves next year.  Best Easy Day Hikes Springfield, MO and Best Easy Day Hikes Ozarks might be out as early as next November as well.

Let us know if you need an autographed copy. HAHA!

Purgatory Creek

We are trying to get settled into our "grown-up" jobs here in NM and still get some playtime in.  Last weekend we hit the road and drove up to Durango.  We took a little hike down the Purgatory Creek Trail just north of Durango.

After hiking about a half mile down to Purgatory Creek we decided to take the trail less traveled.  We bushwhacked our way north up the canyon and then west to hook back up with trail.  We saw a ton of wildlife and Arnie and Aspen were in heaven.

Emily and Aspen at the trailhead.

JD and Arnie near a secluded lake.

Emily and Aspen pose for a pic.

Our First Road Trip Out of Farmington

So, we finally got settled in here in Farmington and took a 4 day road trip up to Frisco, CO.  We arrived late at night just outside of Breckenridge and decided to crash in the car (just like our old Traveling Trainer days).  We woke up to these guys outside of our car.

Four of the 20 plus mountain goats we saw that morning.

We're Headed Back Out West!!!

JD has landed a job at San Juan College in Farmington, NM as the new Coordinator for Outdoor Recreation (we will still be writing for Falcon Guides as well).  We are super-excited!  Farmington sits just miles from the Four Corners and looks a little something like the picture below:

Colorado 14ers will be to our north and northeast, Utah canyons will be to our west and northwest, New Mexico Rockies to our east, and Arizona desert to our west.

Can't wait!!!

Missouri Buffalo

Check out the buffalo at Lone Elk Park, just outside Eureka, MO.

Poison Ivy 101

So, we get asked things all the time about the outdoors.  One thing we hear a lot is, "what does Poison Ivy look like?"

The general rule of thumb is, "leaves of three, let them be."  That is a pretty good rule to follow, but there are a lot of plants out there that have three leaves and are not Poison Ivy (PI).  If you try and go hiking and not touch any plants with three leaves, you may as well wear a Haz Mat suit.

All that being said, here is a picture of classic PI.

The leaves tend to be (but are not always) waxy looking.  The middle leaflet's two sides are symmetrical and the two leaflets opposite each other are mirror images of one another.  The plants can be small or up to 6 feet tall.  The other form that PI comes in is a vine that tends to cling tightly to other trees and plants.

I hope this helps.

Critter Pictures

Here are some Missouri wildlife pictures from our last few days of hiking:

This rat snake (i believe) was invading bird nests.

Bull elk

Turtle crossing!

Emily almost stepped on this guy.

Sun bathing.

A Great Blue Heron hotel.

This raccoon was a little camera shy.

High Peak Shots from Recent Years

Enjoy

An Unexpected Surprise

We went for a hike at Horseshoe Lake State Park the other day near Collinsville, IL.  We hadn't planned to include it in the new book until we got a mile or so into the hike.  It's not your typical worn dirt path hike.  In fact, there was no dirt path at all.  The entire 3.7 mile trail was a mowed-down grassy loop around the 'horseshoe' that followed the lake shore for most of the way, took us through a swamp, and offered more bird viewing than any bird watcher could dream of.  We are pretty sure it will make the book.

You gotta love the swamps.

Mooner's Hollow

Mooner's Hollow trail in St. Francois State Park, MO is a great place to learn about Moonshinin' and Boot-leggin'.  The trail goes back into what was once a popular Moonshinin' hollow.  After hiking along the 'crick', the trail climbs up a ridge as it circles back to the trailhead.  Plenty of open spaces that are full of wildflowers during the ridge line portion.

Everything you need to know.

Follow the blue blazes.

Emily, gettin her wildflower on!

Pickle Springs

Pickle Springs Natural Area near Farmington, MO is quite the interesting place.  A National Natural Landmark, it's rock formations are very rare.  It also houses some rare plants and animals.  We hiked the 2-mile loop, picked a few ticks off the dogs, and headed on to St. Francois State Park.

The parking area.

Twin Arches.

The Keyhole.

Panther Den, a Southern Illinois Classic.

This one is a pretty good drive from St. Louis, but we are gonna throw it in the Falcon Guide anyway.  I think most will agree that it is worth the drive?

We get asked for directions to Panther Den Wilderness all the time, so here ya go: Coming from Giant City Road in Carbondale, you turn left on Grassy Road and then right onto Rocky Comfort Road (watch for the Y and stay right on Rocky Comfort).  Pass the Blue Sky Winery and take the next left onto Panther's Den Road and then left onto Panther's Den Lane.  The forest service has made this area over and there is now a parking area at the end of the lane.

Park at the new trailhead and take forest service trail 371 to Panther Den for some sweet explorations!

Arnie, navigating the "maze".

Rat snake, I believe.

The high rock walls of Panther Den.

The Best of Missouri

So, we've heard that the Whispering Pines Trail in Hawn State Park is arguably one of the best trails to hike in Missouri.  We would have to say that those people make a pretty good argument.  Today we took a stroll on the 6 mile North Loop.  What a great trail!  The constant scent of pine trees and rocky landscape made it feel like a hike in Colorado.  We plan to head back and hit the South Loop pretty soon.

A view of the Ozarks.

Pickle Creek.

Plenty of wildflowers.

Rock Art in Illinois. Who Knew?

A few days ago we visited Piney Creek Ravine near Campbell Hill, IL (drive 8 miles from Route 4 in Campbell Hill, just follow the signs).  The State Natural Area was pretty amazing.  When you start the hike, you are walking through a typical Southern Illinois field that is full of bugs and making you wonder if you are in the right place.  But after just a short distance you quickly drop down into the Ravine and travel through a small cedar grove into a forest of hardwoods.  About a mile into the hike you come to the rock art.

A pictograph is a drawing like this one.

A petroglyph is a carving or engraving like this one.

Flint Quarry Trail

Here's one for anybody that likes to have the trail to themselves.  The Flint Quarry Trail in West Tyson County Park is perfect if you can get there on a weekday.  A nice 2.5 mile loop that climbs up and then follows a ridge around the Quarry and then descends back down to where you started.  It has a lot of shade for those hot midwest summer days.

Emily at the trailhead.

The only open view we had.

Columbines.