Possible Bear Attack at Itasca State Park

Story in the Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1204502.html

Weekend Hiking at Banning and Jay Cooke

This weekend I got so spend some time hiking at Jay Cooke and Banning State parks. In the coming days, expect to see an overview of Banning State Park, and a four part series exploring Jay Cooke State Park in detail. Because Jay Cooke is one of the top parks in Minnesota, I spend some time talking with visitors and rangers to help formulate a detailed report on what the park has to offer. I will write about a park overview, hiking in the park, recreational activities in the park, and finally about the geologic and more recent history of the park. Jay Cooke is what I consider a destination park, in that the park has so much to offer, one could spend an extended period there.

Check back for updates

Proposed 50 Mile Whitewater Bike Loop

Here is a link to information on a proposed 50 mile bike loop connecting Rochester to some of the surrounding parks and communities. Of course, everything is dependent on funding.

Minnesota DNR

I am a fan of bike trails because they do a few things that I think are very important.

• They get people into the outdoors.
• They offer healthy recreation opportunities for all ages.
• They bring people to areas of interest.
• They offer seasonal commuting alternatives.
• They provide a significant boost to local economies.

If you want to see just how powerful the economic effect is, look no further than the communities along the Root River trail in Southeast Minnesota.

Minnesota's Best State Parks from About.com

About.com has Itasca, Blue Mounds, and Forestville as the top three state parks in Minnesota. I give them credit for their choices of Itasca, which was Minnesota's first park and Blue Mounds, which I found to be very unexpected. I however was surprised to see Forestville in that mix. Forestville (which I have previously written about) is not a bad park, but there are some others even in that region that got overlooked.

Itasca was Minnesota's first park as mentioned above and within the park is the headwaters of the Mississippi River (Lake Itasca). Ironically the park is NOT in Itasca County. The park in near Bemidji and is one of the largest parks in Minnesota. I have been to the park, but that was many years ago. I do plan on spending a weekend there this summer. I will write in depth on it after I visit that park.

Blue Mounds is also a great park. I would describe it as very unexpected. The park is in the middle of the prairie of Southwestern Minnesota near Luverne. Among other things the park has rock climbing on a Quartzite quarry wall, a herd of buffalo, and some great trails. Also because it is prairie, it is also a park that is best seen in the late summer, which is rather unique.

Where I think the article comes short is in its pick of Forestville. Just in that part of the state, I prefer Whitewater, Beaver Creek Valley, and Great River Bluffs. In addition the article ignores the great North Shore parks such as Tettegouche, Judge Magney, Gooseberry, and George Crosby Manitou. Other parks that I rate highly include Glendalough, St. Croix, and Myre Big Island. Obviously there are many great parks and this is very subjective.

About.com

More Information on the Murderer of Carrie Nelson

Here is a link to the Star Tribune (selected excerpts are shown below):

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Reviewing What Happened today:

Randy Leeroyal Swaney, 36, was charged with four counts of second-degree murder in the May 20, 2001 beating death of Carrie Nelson, 20, at Blue Mounds State Park.

It sounds like the authorities did an excellent job. Unless this is O.J.'s jury, this should be an open and shut case. I am grateful to whoever provided the information that led to Randy's capture.

Investigators found two pieces of evidence at the scene: a man's watch with a broken band and a pack of Doral cigarettes, the complaint says.

Investigators said they were able to match DNA taken from the watchband to Swaney.

They also obtained an Easter 2001 photo from the Swaney family that showed Swaney feeding ducks with his left arm extended.

"That photo shows a wristband to a watch, which is identical to that recovered at the scene," the complaint says.

When the photo was enlarged, investigators were able to determine that the watchband had been fastened in the fourth hole from tag end.

That watchband found at the scene had been fastened in the fourth hole.

The Doral cigarettes were purchased in South Dakota, according to a revenue stamp on the package. Swaney lived in Sioux Falls at the time. Another family photo taken around April 2001 shows Swaney sitting at a table with a pack of Dorals near his hands, the complaint says.

Investigators said they also learned that Swaney's wife, Dawn Marie, was at work in Sioux Falls during the time of the killing.

That meant that Randy Swaney had access to a cream-colored or off-white 4-door Delta 88, described as a "boat," by a relative, the complaint says.

On the day of the killing, a visitor to the park told investigators that she was heading back to the park building when she heard a loud noise, "looked to the west and saw an older white 'boat' -type of vehicle speeding northbound on a gravel boundary road going away from the park entrance," according to the complaint.

Randy in our legal system you are innocent until proven guilty, however on this blog you have just been convicted. I'm wishing you a life sentence, an awful experience in prison, and a quick end you your miserable life.

Arrest made in 2001 Murder of a State Park Employee

This was posted in today's Star Tribune. This is the only such event in the history of Minnesota State Parks so closing this chapter would be good news. More information to come. Here is a link.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1170057.html

Carley State Park Revisited

As promised I returned to Carley State Park to check on wildflowers. As of Saturday, there were still many flowers yet to bloom, but the Blue Bells were out in force.

Here are some Pictures:

Leaves returning to the trees near the Whitewater River:
Blue Bells on the Forest Floor:

Large areas filled with Blue Bells:

Carley State Park

Carley State Park has been affectionately referred to as Whitewater State Park's overflow. And about 50 weeks a year I completely agree. The park is often neglected as Minnesota continues to not allow conservation funding to keep pace with inflation. I don't think I have ever seen a ranger when I have visited the park. Some of the trails are sorely in need of maintenance. Pictured on the right is the Whitewater river which passes through the park on its way to Whitewater State Park.

But for a couple of weeks every spring Carley is a superstar. Carley has some of the very best wildflower displays in the state of Minnesota. On this visit we were too early. Based on the appearance of the forest floor there will be an incredible wildflower display around the first week of May. The picture on the left is an image of one part of the forest floor. Everything you see is a growing wildflower. When they bloom it is spectacular. In particular Carley is famous for Blue Bells.

This is one park that I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I have hiked every mile of trail. Really, this park has only about 6 miles of trail and the trails are not particularly difficult. As for recommendations, I would recommend doing the hiking club trail in the spring when the wildflowers peak. Also take a little time and just relax down by the river. There is camping at this park and the campsite is usually not crowded and is quite.

I did notice that some trails are currently closed and it appears the the park boundaries have recently changed. The park was originally formed after the state received the land as a gift. On of the key reasons the land is significant is the presence of native White Pines. While White Pines are native, they are now rare in Southeastern Minnesota. The DNR recently announced long term plans to include Carley in a 50 mile bike loop.

I number of birds can also be seen at Carley. The link below will bring you to a through checklist. I don't claim to be a birder, so I'll let you look at the list and make your own judgments.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/outdoor_activities/state_parks/carley/bird_checklist.pdf

The town on Plainview is near by and is also a neat town to visit. The town is thriving due to a surge in corn prices, strong local businesses, and it's proximity to the high paying jobs of Rochester. Lodging and Food is available in Plainview or Elgin.

As was the case at Forestville and Whitewater, spring flooding did some minor damage in the park. The picture to the right shows a concrete segment that has been moved by high water.

I can't emphasis this enough. Get too Carley at the beginning of May to see the awesome display.