footsteps of the giant

see him ?

Yep!

Where the Wild Things Are comes to mind.

It took me a while to see them. Nice shot of a pretty area. Where is this?

That giant has skinny legs! Nice catch!

Nice photo and good imagination. Skinny elephan feet???
the fisch

thanks guys, this is in prairie hollow near eminence, MO.

Drew, interesting shot!

I can see where the giant has suffered nicks and bruises while negotiating through Prairie Hollow Gorge Natural Area. This igenous shut-in is a terrific place, especially when there is a good flow of water through the gorge. Lots of waterfalls and cascades. I sometimes just wear sneakers and prepare to do some wading rather than negotiate the slick rocks. I think I recognize that particular mini waterfall. I'll have to pay the giant a visit the next time I'm in the vicinity.

Best,
Don

This must be a pretty cool place - a gorge AND prairie?? Interesting shot Drew - nicely done.

That does look like the same type of rocks and cascades as are pictured in the Missouri's Natural Wonders Guidebook (page 138). Amazing how many great places there are just across the border from us in big Mo - THANKS Don for putting this guidebook together! (I live in Arkansas but have at least 30 bent-corner places marked in your guidebook to visit and photograph in the coming years - and I have a feeling that the more I visit, the more new bent corners will appear!)

Thanks Joe! Yes, that is one of the areas in my book.

For Bill: The name is a bit misleading. There is no prairie at Prairie Hollow Gorge. I guess someone seeing the little bluestem grass on the igenous glades found along the ledges reminded him/her of the prairies further west. That is the only prairie-type plant there but there are other interesting plants to be found in this desert-like environment. Also, "Hollow" and "Gorge" are a bit redundant in one title but the gorge definitely stands out as the deepest and narrowest in the state!

Best,
Don

i hiked the entire gorge in felt bottom neoprene booties. it was very helpful for navigating through there. have some more shots will post soon. by the way don, i do have your book as well, great resource and thanks! and used it to get to klepzig mill, but i want to mention that there is an error on the klepzig mill directions, i dont have the book in front of me, but where you mention to take a 2xx(A) route, it is actually the non (A) route that gets you to the mill...

Hi Drew,

Thanks for bringing the road sign to my attention. I haven't been there in about 14 months so maybe something has changed. I remember the sign saying 522-A, my field notes confirm that, and the Google Map also currently confirms that. Maybe the county decided to make a change? I'll be sure to check that out sometime this year. Nothing stays the same...

You'll have to check out Mill Mountain Shut-in. Just pull off along side the road going down Hwy. NN before the turn off to Klepzig Mill. It's in the book. I wouldn't recommend driving down the old field road unless you have four-wheel drive. The shut-in has a more interesting and visible water flow.

Best,
Don

at the V, 522A goes to the right, and 522 goes to the left. the reason it is concerning is because 522A is actually quite a dangerous road with river crossings and narrow parts with steep crumbling drop offs...quite hair raising!!! at any rate, i certainly plan to get down there for some more shooting. i am worried about enough water flow during the summer though, so unless we get some good rains...or even better would be a nice rainy fall! anyway enjoy your book very much and would have never found this gorge without it, and it is certainly one of my favorites in the state at this point! mill mountain is officially on my list!

good eye Drew.

Drew, I'll give you a little tip that could save you some time this summer. Rocky Creek flows through three shut-ins: Rocky Falls, Mill Mountain Shut-in, and Klepzig Mill. When you go down Hwy. NN and pass the turnoff to Rocky Falls, NN soon crosses over Rocky Creek. If the creek fills the tube under the road and is flowing over the road, you know there will be plenty of water flowing through the last two shut-ins downstream.

Even if there is a minor flow over the road, the shut-ins will be looking good. Of course, be carefull that the water isn't too deep over the road to safely cross.

Best,
Don

thanks don...only prob is im 3.5 hrs away from eminence so i cant really go down there and check the flow...i need to hedge my bets and go after some good rains :) thanks again for all the tips though! will post more as i get them.

ah, there is some, but it doesn't rival arkansas.