It's a new year but some things never change. I love being outside with my dogs. Today's hike is at Marquette Park in Gary. It's a brisk 14 degrees with a strong north wind. Yeti is leading the way and he is heading straight to the beach.
I definitely feel the wind more as we get closer to the beach.
We finally got some snow on New Year's Eve, it is the lastest the Chicagoland area has ever had its first measurable snow of the season since records were kept. Some of the marram grass still has snow clinging to it.
In unprotected areas, the wind has blown the snow off of everything standing upright.
The wind has also blown any loose beach sand inland to cover the snow.
As you can see here, the protected backside of the dune is mostly white with snow.
My original plan was to walk along the beach to Lake Street Beach then take the Chanute Trail back to Marquette Park.
But the wind was brutal...
...but the waves were great.
Some of the waves were beginning to freeze before they could recede back into the lake.
A thin layer of ice on the beach.
All this sand is hard-packed, so there isn't any blowing sand now. But most of the snow is covered with sand. Even though the dogs didn't seem to mind the wind, I took the next trail opening in the dunes to walk back into the Marquette Park.
I almost always find something beautiful when I'm out hiking. The dune and swales covered in a mix of snow and sand looked beautiful to me this morning.
Since Yeti was leading the way, he let me know where not to step while hiking.
These two love being on hikes pretty much in any weather.
I loved the sky in this shot.
Looking west across the dunes.
Looking north toward Lake Michigan.
An old stone wall built by the WPA during the Great Depression.
The Friends of Marquette Park continue to do wonderful work here. As a history geek, I love these informative signs.
Nola doesn't care about history, but she does love a nice view.
I have no idea what this goofball smells...
...but Yeti disappeared into the snow-covered grass on Patterson Island.
These two spotted some deer across the park. Thankfully they were gone by the time we made our way back to the car.
The bridges are a great place to take photos here.
The Marquette Park Lagoons are the headwaters for the Grand Calumet River.
We walked through fresh snow on the backside of the Marquette Park Pavilion.
Back on the park road looking west on the lagoon at Patterson Island and the bridges.
Another informative sign about reversing the flow of the Grand Calumet River.
No comments:
Post a Comment