PURPLE MOUNTAIN REFLECTIONS PHYSICAL FITNESS An early morning dusting of

An early morning dusting of snow in Northern Illinois brings a beautiful winter scene to this prairie landscape along the South Fork Kishwaukee River with box elder trees standing precariously alongside the banks and some charismatic peachleaf willow trees off to the right at Wildflower Park

takes off from Wildflower Lake continuing their migration north on this cool winter morning at Wildflower Park

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I notice how beautiful this area is with a peachleaf willow tree in front off to my left

purple and yellow coneflowers

PURPLE MOUNTAIN REFLECTIONS PHYSICAL FITNESS An early morning dusting ofIt was a cool August summer morning when I arrived at the trailhead to Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. I started up the steep trail at 5: 15 am to catch the sunrise at the lake and the Continental Divide. It would take me just under an hour to reach the lake. There are numerous switchbacks leading up the mountain through some stands of aspen trees. After about 20 minutes, I no longer needed my headlamp to guide my way up the mountain.