My Autumn Hike

Written By Body Wipe Company

You know that autumn in the Midwest is in full bloom when the air becomes a little crisper and the leaves start to change color. It is during this time of year that I look forward to my hikes along the Des Planes River Trail in Chicago. In full disclosure, I mountain bike this trail all summer and snow shoe it in the winter, but it’s when I hike it during the fall that I really love! As I dress in layers and wear my thicker wool socks in my shoes, I head out to the trail. The first thing I notice is the path has definitely become harder than when biking on it over the summer. The leaves around me have turned vibrant shades of brown, red, yellow and orange. With each step I take it creates a distinct crunching sound from the dried fallen leaves on the trail. Unlike when I am mountain biking or snow shoeing on the trail, I make frequent stops to take in nature’s sights and sounds of fall. The Des Planes River runs along the trail and is much more visible through the trees than during the summer. You can see that the water has become darker while the colorful leaves on the surface are slowly drifting south toward Chicago. The sudden sound of rustling leaves on the ground from a chipmunk or squirrel frequently gets my attention. As I continue at a leisurely hiking pace down the trail, I think to myself how lucky I am to be apart of this spectacle of nature…even though I know in a few short weeks the autumn will yield to winter.