Dee Koestering Park
The Meramec Highland Quarry Trail
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After 15 inches of snow, the great thaw had begun. Most trails were clear. To cure my cabin fever, I went to Dee Koestering Park, a place I had never been to before.
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The paved trail was listed as .8 miles out and back. Since it was once a quarry, I was not surprised to see boulders near the trail’s entrance.
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On one of the rocks, I found a sparrow. It looked like it was sleeping after a hard winter's day. I took a few pics. No matter how close I got, it didn’t fly away.
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It turned out to be dead. There were no signs of decay, but the eye was missing. I quickly moved on.
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Houses, privacy fences, and power lines were on either side of me.
I counted two sets of railroad tracks. Fortunately, no trains went rumbling by. However, I couldn't escape the traffic noise from I-44 and Marshall Road.
Before me was a pie wedge of forest surrounded on all sides by suburbia.
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The Paved Trail
Bench and Blue Sky
Moderately Strenuous
Ascending a steep hill, I reached the overlook and interpretive area. From the railing, I could see blocks of abandoned quarry stones that were mined over 100 years ago.
To access these silent sentinels, I left the deck to walk among them. They have been described as Kirkwood's version of Elephant Rocks. However, they look nothing like their southern counterparts. (To be continued.)
Blocks and Bramble
Scenic Overlook