Two score and six TrailBlazers, both new and old, staged a mass invasion at Petit Jean State Park under the joint command of Judith and Ed. The day started out below freezing, but the temps gradually increased somewhat as we made the scenic drive on either Highway 22 or 10. There were so many trekkers in this Cecil B. DeMille cast at the trailhead of this loop that we decided to break into two groups. Judith and Ed led the counterclockwise contingent and Becky guided the clockwise group. 

Some hikers chose to start decked out for Operation Deep Freeze with hats, ear muffs, coats, and gloves and others chose to tough it out knowing that they would warm up once they started trekking and the temps warmed up. Either way it worked out fine because it was sunny and the weather was ideal for hiking. 

Yours Truly has been here several times and she must confess that she has never been sure where one hollow ends and the next begins, and has even spent quality time as well as loss of sleep wondering whether there really are SEVEN hollows. If this be heresy, YT was happy to learn that others have secretly entertained the same heretical thoughts! Surely the park wouldn’t put up a sign that wasn’t true with our tax dollars? 

One group lunched in the grotto where the waterfalls were conspicuous by their absence, and the other hikers munched up in the Turtle Rocks area. These rocks are always a fun and much-photographed playground as well as the Natural Bridge where everybody scrambles around enjoying the view. Even though there are lots of pine trees, we did manage to see several hardwood trees dressed in fall color.