AllTrails – Crowdsourced Hiking Trails for Your Next Adventure

AllTrails is a website/app that features mapped hiking trails created through the power of crowdsourcing. This review is in no way affiliated with AllTrails. But it is a vital resource to birders and hikers. Let’s get started! First impressions of AllTrails is a great big wow! After creating an account you enter a digital map

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New Dekalb County Forest Preserve: Prairie Oaks

This past weekend we visited a newly opened preserve in DeKalb County, Illinois called “Prairie Oaks Forest Preserve”. Immediately we were impressed by the variety of habitat which included some wetlands, large stately oaks, and some restored prairie/savanna. There is also a fairly large, older forest that is far removed from the road. The preserve

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Red Admiral and a Shooting Star

Just a few shots from a recent hike to Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve. Didn’t bring my big camera lens so these are just with the sturdy point and shoot. Here is a Red Admiral: And a shooting star: Finally, a small spider (not sure if it is a “baby” or not):

Skechers Shape-ups AT Diamondback Trail Review – 1,000 Mile Project

For the next year I will be putting a brand new pair of Skechers Shape-ups AT Diamondback Trail through the gauntlet of “birder abuse”. I received this pair of shoes from Skechers to undergo this endeavor. At the end of the year (365 day period) I will see how the shoes hold up to my

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