The early morning sunlight revealed evidence that we were not the only creatures on the dune. Cracks were also evident in the sand, most likely the sand was falling under it's own weight after two days of 40 to 50 mile per hour winds stacked it a bit too high.
Left over from the days of coal fired steam engines, this concrete coal tipple can still be seen in Michigan City, Indiana. Coal (or grain if this was used after the steam age) would be sent up the conveyor at the left, to the top of the tower. It would then drop into the open topped rail cars below.
Too bad there isn't a water tower in the vicinity as well........
The 125 foot tall Mt. Baldy sand dune in Michigan City, Indiana is washed with early morning sunlight on a crisp, October morning. This is a living sand dune, meaning it is constantly changing and moving inland - driven by wind and erosion. It is slowly taking over the woods on the back side of the dune, at the rate of about four feet a year.
The blowout is evident on the left side of this image. Marram Grass and some trees are able to hold the sand in place on the high portion of the pictured dune, but this grass is unable to take hold on the rest of the dune. Since nothing can hold the sand in place, it blows over the top and eventually falls down the dune and covers whatever is in it's path.
Created at the end of the last ice age, Pinhook Bog is a kettle shaped depression lined with clay made by the advancing glacier. The depression filled with water and the clay prevented it from soaking into the soil.
Over time, sphagnum moss took hold and began to make the water acidic, and unsuitable for most plants. Now, only certain plants thrive here, many normally found farther north, are not seen anywhere else in Indiana.
The moss continues to spread today, and is several feet thick in places. It floats on water up to 60 feet deep, and can support shrubs and some trees such as Tamarack. The moss also helps keep the area more humid than the surroundings by holding a remarkable amount of water. It was actually used by the Native Americans for many things including diapers.
Here, a park ranger squeezes the water out of a handful of moss.It took three squeezes to get the majority of the water out.
Among many other interesting species in Pinhook Bog are the carnivorous plants. One in particular is the Pitcher Plant.
This plant attracts insects into it's "pitcher" filled with water. Once the insect drops in, small hairs pointing downward on the plant prevent the insect from escaping. It is then dissolved and ingested by the plant. These plants require nitrogen and minerals, and since a bog is not a good source of nitrogen, it gets it's nutrients from insects.
Looking into the plant, you can see some insects trapped inside.
Pinhook Bog is an interesting place to explore. It's only open on select weekends, and tours are guided by park rangers.
Approaching the beach minutes after sunrise, I stumbled upon a piece of driftwood on the shore. An interesting enough object to photograph, but as I got closer, I noticed a few ladybugs on it. Each of them had drops of dew on their backs, mimicking their black spots. I'm sure after a few more minutes, the dew evaporated and the ladybugs flew away.
Mt. Baldy
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Gale force winds and heavy surf pounded the LaPorte County shore of Lake Michigan Monday. The surge of water was at least 50 feet further up the beach than normal, and at times surged yards past and forced us to grab our gear and run!
Once to the shore, the 50 mile per hour winds weren't too bad, but anywhere downwind of the beach was brutal as the sand acted like tiny missiles. If you look at any painted surface along the beach, you'll notice that it has been stripped on paint on the lake side - naturally sandblasted!
Once we reached the breakwater, the winds seemed to pick up, and it was very difficult to stand still. I managed to place the camera downwind of the steel column holding up the catwalk so at least the camera wouldn't get pounded by the wind, waves and sand. It was also very difficult to keep the camera steady - even on a tripod.
On my usual venture up to the catwalk, I experienced what it must have been like for lighthouse keepers to service the light in these conditions. The steel staircase was swaying in the wind, and I was being pushed to the railing by the wind. The stairs moved back and forth a few inches, maybe more; I probably wasn't helping the situation any since I most likely acted like a sail.
Time to clean the camera.
The setting sun reflects off of wet slabs of clay recently uncovered by the waves of Lake Michigan. This erosion took place within the last week and has exposed clay that looks a lot like rock.
Fall seems to be the time of year when a lot of erosion takes place by the increasing wave activity. The face of a dune can change dramatically in just a few days, and the beach can almost disappear overnight.
Now that fall is here, when standing along Kintzel Ditch, the sun sets a bit more to the south and not directly over Lake Michigan. This creates some variations in lighting from highlighted sand to dark shadow along the stream.
Fall is a great time to visit the dunes, especially the trails through the forests.
Image created by stitching together six separate photos.
The Chellberg Farmstead is a restored farm within the boundaries of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The house is used to teach people about farm life in the early 1900's. Festivals are held on the grounds each year, complete with demonstrations on cooking and farming.
To me, this moth looks like a little doll in a dress. If you look, it even has two eyes, two arms and long, flowing hair.
It's a Tolylpe Velleda, and can be found all over the eastern US. This one was found in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore over the weekend.
Seen from one of the lower portions of the cemetery. Built in 1833, St James of Sag Bridge in Lemont Illinois, is the oldest parish in the Chicago Archdiocese.
Called "Monk's Castle" by children, this cemetery and church are a famous place for teenagers to trespass on Halloween night. Rumor has it that the monks will catch you and either make you kneel on broom handles or in salt until morning.
There are no monks here - never have been. It's a shame it's a target for teenage pranks, but at least it's maintained extremely well and shows no signs of vandalism.
Thousands of these flowers dotted the landscape of the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Preserve.
One of the closed trails at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Preserve. It's been closed for two summers while they build a new structure for education.
Let's hope they put back the garden and this time plant vegetables in it rather than wild weeks like they've been doing the past 10 years. There is enough space outside the garden for wild and weedy plants, let's show the children what a REAL garden looks like!
The annual Civil War Days took place over the past weekend at Dellwood Park in Lockport, Illinois. It's a great little festival and it's free! The battle is always interesting and informative, and the setting is great as well - no modern lamp posts or antenna to distract you.
The rebel forces captured the Union artillery fairly quickly, but Union reinforcements arrived to recapture and win the battle.
The boys helped build the 8 foot tall Lego Yoda at Orland Square Mall. Each child was given the opportunity to build a single Lego rectangular brick (about 10 x 4 inches). Then the bricks were put together to build the giant Yoda. Lot's of kids participated over the weekend.
By Sunday, the Yoda was ready for the last piece. Along with some fanfare, two store employees who helped build the Yoda were on hand to put on the top of the head.
The kids enjoyed helping out and watching the Yoda take shape.
Marram Grass (seen here from a worm's eye view) is one of the first plants to take hold on a Great Lakes sand dune.
Once it takes hold, it's roots not only keep the sand from blowing away in the wind, the decaying grass begins to condition the sand. Once the sand has enough humus, it begins to support additional plant life, and that in turn offers more humus and shade so larger plants can survive.
Over hundreds or thousands of years, the dunes become rich in plant and animal life.
Following the 2.6 mile hike along the Cowles Bog trail, we finally reached the beach. It seems there are plenty of boaters who anchor off shore to use the beach - I guess it's a great idea since there aren't many people who attempt to walk to this beach from the parking area. I think it's a perfect hike through a wide variety of environments.
You can really get a sense of how the beach turns from sand to Marram Grass to forest by looking from left to right in this image.
Still water and floating leaves created an icy look to the surface of this wetland. Technically not a bog since the water is not acidic, Cowles Bog trail leads you through many different progressive environments in a 4 mile loop.
A walk through the Cowles Bog Trail revealed the first signs of autumn - red leaves. It must be the stress on the trees (water or poor soil) that makes these leaves turn a bit sooner than most.
I'm guessing this trail will be a great place to view the fall colors in early October.
