Redbud Valley Nature Preserve
This tale will be less of words and more of images. Why? Well, that is because that is very much how this hiking adventure played out. Though I saw a decent amount of wildlife, this journey yielded more of a scenic stroll, offering me much in the way of nature itself. North of my home, hidden away, lay a large piece of land that was a joy to visit. Entering the forest, winding back through trees and boulders along a rugged trail, one would find large prairie like clearings with tall grass filling the majority of the ground, hiding cacti and flora amid its blonde waves. These were perfect spots to use my new binoculars, and even more exciting was seeing a doe and a fawn across the breadth of land, watching me from afar as I did them, neither party stirring from their spot for a while. After the doe disappeared, I moved on, back into the forests, the rain having made the path muddy yet I wanted to move slow, I took my time on this journey, really taking in the surroundings. In the next clearing, I heard two distinct bird songs emanating from a strange tree that bore little leaves compared to all around itself. It was a peculiar sight however the tree, though different, was still sought after for whatever reason, perhaps a stage to be viewed while singing their song. I watched and listened for a time before moving on, back into the forest.
This tale will be less of words and more of images. Why? Well, that is because that is very much how this hiking adventure played out. Though I saw a decent amount of wildlife, this journey yielded more of a scenic stroll, offering me much in the way of nature itself. North of my home, hidden away, lay a large piece of land that was a joy to visit. Entering the forest, winding back through trees and boulders along a rugged trail, one would find large prairie like clearings with tall grass filling the majority of the ground, hiding cacti and flora amid its blonde waves. These were perfect spots to use my new binoculars, and even more exciting was seeing a doe and a fawn across the breadth of land, watching me from afar as I did them, neither party stirring from their spot for a while. After the doe disappeared, I moved on, back into the forests, the rain having made the path muddy yet I wanted to move slow, I took my time on this journey, really taking in the surroundings. In the next clearing, I heard two distinct bird songs emanating from a strange tree that bore little leaves compared to all around itself. It was a peculiar sight however the tree, though different, was still sought after for whatever reason, perhaps a stage to be viewed while singing their song. I watched and listened for a time before moving on, back into the forest.
Having read about the area before hiking, I knew there was to be a fork ahead and that the path to my left would lead to a bluff area adorned with caves, crevices, and crags. Due to the rain, this was quite arduous and I relished the difficulty of the path. Navigating between dry and wet spots, I wandered this area for quite some time, not realizing how expansive it was from the description. Halfway through I discovered that a large sum of trees had fallen from the top of the bluff and laid themselves across the path, challenging me its twisted remains. I did not turn back, I scaled the downed limbs and made my way back onto path nearly spilling myself against the rocks as I lost my footing...it was exhilarating. This place offered the kind of adventure and terrain that I sought and it made me laugh that it was so close compared to my other outtings. Continuing on, I followed the path between boulders and under great overhangs, yet always surrounded by dense forest and the caws of crows. On the last ascent I made, one of the boards broke loose however I managed to catch myself and avoid any mishaps. I made sure to actually avoid the old wooden steps from then on, maneuvering up and down the rocky terrain. Eventually, this lead my back to the forest and out to the parking lot, the fork there meeting with where I had started. Perhaps next time I will trek it in reverse. As I scrapped my boots before getting in my car, there was a disturbance in the leaves before me. Rustling and thrashing, I saw a skink with a grasshopper in its mouth, smashing the insect against the ground to subdue it. It paid me no mind and so I watched for a time, chuckling at this final and odd encounter. After a while, I left the creature to its life and returned to mine, hungry for more adventure.