A few days ago, I went on a trail in Beaubien Woods. It was a guided hike organized by the Forest Preserve of Cook County. The day was quite windy, and I initially had trouble finding the start point of the trail. With the help of the organizer, Ms. Claudia Gunchur, I eventually reached the correct site near Flat Foot Lake. Fortunately, the weather improved as we continued on the trail.
Trail Start point
I’ve taken many hikes in the past, but this was my first super informative trail. Claudia and Angela provided me with a journal and some pens to write with. They also gave me a pair of binoculars and taught me the basics of how to use them.
With Claudia and Angela
It was amazing to observe birds, trees, and geese up close. We spotted egrets, woodpeckers, eagles, and Great Blue Herons during our hike.
We encountered a variety of plants and flowers, some indicating the arrival of spring while others were invasive species. The flowers showcased various colors, including white, violet, yellow, and pink, along with some wildflowers. One specific invasive plant we identified was garlic mustard, and we also noticed some wild leeks in certain areas.
Garlic mustard plant
There was a very old tree on the trail with many knot-like structures. According to legend, these knots represent the emotions experienced by the tree. We also found plants that showed signs of animal activity; it seemed that either a dog or a coyote had been rubbing against some of the stems or sharpening its teeth on them. Additionally, a section of the trail featured very long vines.
To my surprise, we saw several trees that had been partially felled by beavers. It appeared as though the beavers were trying to build a new home or expand their existing dam. They exhibited remarkable intelligence in cutting the trees in a way that ensured they would fall toward the river, making it easier for them to access the wood for their construction.
Beaver Dam
This was also the first time I saw an underwater filtration system at the dock.
Under water water filtration system
Alongside the trail, there was a long railroad track, and I noticed some milkweed seeds scattered along the path. These seeds were surrounded by silk.
Railroad track
Jose
Unfortunately, I also observed some construction waste dumped along the sides of the trail.
At the beginning of the hike, Claudia encouraged me to draw or take pictures for journaling. I didn’t take this advice seriously at the time, and now I regret not documenting my experience more thoroughly. Next time, I’m definitely going to take more pictures to capture the memories.
Claudia