Missouri's Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park

The Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Missouri is the perfect destination for those outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy bicycling, camping, hiking and horseback riding.

• Bicycling - Enjoy the challenges of the 1.75 mile paved bicycle trail with some steep grades and inclines of more than 10 percent.  This trail also features a Civilian Conservation Corps tunnel that was built in the 1930's.
• Camping - This park has 75 campsites with access to water, restrooms, shower houses, vaulted toilets and dump stations.
• Hiking - The two mile long hiking trail leads you over and through some water crossings  as well as down some inclines that are at times steeper than a 10 percent grade.  One spur on the hiking trail will even lead you to a small cave!
• Horseback Riding - The equestrian trail is a total of six miles long and leads over steep grades of more than 10 percent as well as over bridges and natural surfaces.

The Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park in Missouri is a great place for bicycling, hiking, horseback riding or just to kick back, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.  For more information on this State Park check  it out on the Missouri State Parks Website. 

If you like this post you may enjoy Truman State Park - Missouri. 

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

The Danger of Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca Sativa)

Wild parsnip particularly the (Pastinaca Sativa) can have horrendous effects on the skin of an individual who happens to come into contact with it.  Many people who are affected by this plant believe that they have been exposed to poison ivy.  

One major difference between poison ivy and wild parsnip is that poison ivy can affect the body anywhere there is exposure to its oils, but the wild parsnip requires sunlight to be present in order to have an affect.  This is not to say that wild parsnip can't cause a rash or burn on your skin if it is cloudy outside.  Just as you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day, you can also have a serious reaction to wild parsnip on these days.  The burns from wild parsnips can leave you with a discoloration of skin for anywhere from a couple of months up to a couple of years.  

Another difference between the two is that while poison ivy will leave you itching for up to a week or more, the wild parsnip will cause a severe burn that doesn't last nearly as long.  The burning from exposure to wild parsnip will begin within 24 hours whereas the itching rash from poison ivy may take up to two days to begin.  

For more information and photos of the wild parsnip, check out the USDA Website.  By studying photos and video of wild parsnip you can make sure to avoid it while on your adventures in the great outdoors! 

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day