Jogging Mcdowell: Discovering Chicagoland Wilderness

A large eight-point white-tailed buck in a dignified walk crosses a winding trail. A white-tailed doe stands in front of a mist-strewn river. White wing-shaped blossoms of Dutchmans breeches grace the trails edge. Great horned owls hoot in the morning twilight. A coyote sings in dawns early light. There is more to a mid-western forest preserve than a place to walk your dog or have a family picnic! McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Dupage County Illinois is no exception! Fortunately I live only a short jog from McDowell in my condominium home in Naperville Illinois not far from Chicago our nations third largest city. In combination of exercise and seeking out solitude and photo opportunities I have spent several years doing pilgrimages through McDowell Woods. My adventures and discoveries along with photographs of her wildlife wildflowers autumn colors and forest and prairie landscapes and a brief human history are all combined in the book Jogging McDowell: Discovering Chicagoland Wilderness. There are also quotes from famed author Henry David Thoreau and legendary singer-songwriter John Denver.This is the wilderness in my backyard Jogging McDowell.