Phantom Forest

 

 

If not for the sign, there would be little way of knowing about this hidden gem nestled inside these otherwise unremarkable suburbs about midway between where I grew up and where I now reside.

 

 

 

Thank you, Ray and Claire Moore!

 

 

 

Good to know...

 

 

 

The briars here are quite thick, and even some relatively open areas are made impassable by a mix of  barely visible but very nasty thorns.  You've been warned. 

Thank goodness for the fairly well kept walking trails.

 

 

 

An abandoned pumpkin

 

 

 

The trail ascends.

 

 

 

Looking back down

 

 

 

Awesome!  It's not long until opening day, St. Louis fans!

 

 

 

Speaking of red, look at that ivy!

 

 

 

Monkey heaven?

 

 

 

Fit for a king...

 

 

 

White oak

 

 

 

Red oak

 

 

 

Green moss

 

 

 

Reddish fungus

 

 

 

A tree has fallen across the foundation of whatever little building this once was.

 

 

 

A corner of the foundation has collapsed, as well.

 

 

 

The bathtub seems in fair condition.

 

 

 

Um, maybe not so much...

 

 

 

That's the horniest stump I've ever seen.  (Oh, quiet.)

 

 

 

Beautiful decay

 

 

 

Phantom Forest is very aptly named.  For being the middle of the day and the middle of the suburbs, there were moments when I felt quite... well... haunted.  There were certainly some sounds that I heard for which I could not account.  Just sayin'.

 

 

 

At first I thought these were a weird pollen, but they are in fact feathers.

 

 

 

At this point I left the trail, possibly breaking some rules.  Life is short. 

Having learned my lessons at Minnie Ha Ha, however, I was VERY careful making my way down into the icy creek.

 

 

 

Ripples frozen in time

 

 

 

Just amazing

 

 

 

Do you see the pair of eyes?

 

 

 

"Moss Icely"

Sorry, couldn't resist; I'm a child of the '70's.

 

 

 

I love the reflection in the melted area.  For the record, the temperature today was in the 50's, but it's colder down in the creek bed.

 

 

 

Another nice reflection in between fallen trees

 

 

 

The dry leaves were deceptive, with super-slick mud beneath.  Still, I didn't fall (this time), but did learn a new lesson about hiking in my nice white shoes.

 

 

 

Great bark

 

 

 

Oddly, I never saw any other people.

 

 

 

Even so, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that I was not alone.

 

 

 

I took this last look over my shoulder before getting back in the car... and quickly locking the doors.  What?  I wasn't scared!