October 27, 2018 Garden of the Gods Wilderness Hike Summary

2 groups of hikers left the Backpackers’ Parking lot Saturday Oct. 27th…1 group of 5, led by Fred Scott, headed South out to Indian Point. We saw Lots of fellow sight-seers…people from 2+ hours away. We ‘welcomed’ them to Southern Illinois, told them to be safe and come back soon. The 2nd group, led by Brian DeNeal, headed North and hit parts of 3-4 different trails, including out to the “Big H”…they saw Plenty of “resistant rocks”..plenty of Liesegang banding. The morning was cloudy & almost foggy, but, by 11:30 am, began clearing off..and tree colors were starting to show nicely. We did have a couple of new hikers, including 1 from Ottawa, Illinois.

Saturday, November 3, 2018 Hike from Wolf Den Hollow

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its sixth guided hike of the Fall, 2018 hiking season, on Saturday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. The hike will be to and from Wolf Den Hollow, on Trails 385 and 378, on the western side of Cedar Lake in Jackson County, Illinois. The hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of at least moderate difficulty, lasting between three and four hours, and is intended for people in good health, who have done some hiking. Footing may be slick or difficult in places, with fallen leaves concealing roots and rocks, so boots or sturdy shoes and hiking sticks are strongly recommended. Because it will be quail-hunting season, wearing orange or brightly colored clothing may also be advisable. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

 

Meet at the parking lot at the eastern end of Boat Ramp Road, 1.4 miles east of Route 127 at its intersection with Pomona Road, which is nine miles south of old Route 13 in Murphysboro. For information or directions, call (618) 549-0372.

Saturday, October 27th hike in Garden of the Gods Area

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its fourth guided hike of the fall, 2018 hiking season, on Saturday, October 27, at Garden of the Gods and Indian Point. Two hikes will be offered that day, one a shorter hike to Indian Point and the other a longer and more strenuous loop through Garden of the Gods Wilderness. These hikes are free and open to the public, but in order to comply with rules of the Forest Service, reservations are required for the hikes on October 27.  Both these hikes are of moderate difficulty, intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Boots or sturdy shoes and hiking sticks are recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please. To register, and to obtain information about time and meeting place, call (630) 470-7692.

October 20, 2018 The Promise Land / Benham Ridge hike

We had 24 hikers today on the Benham Ridge hike, led by Bill Gilmour. We met at the Herod Post office, moved all vehicles to the new (huge) Forest Service parking lot on Benham Ridge Road, and condensed down to 5 vehicles from there. We started at the very end of Benham Ridge road. Bill led us on a “Figure 8” hike, in that we made 2 loops. Ate lunch at a nice overlook (I think Eric Johnson took a group there sometime in the last few years in the winter)(Brooks Bluff). Someone found a couple of small snakes still out, 1 of which was a small rattler with no rattles on it (according to the resident herpetologist Shawn Gossman). [Saw lots of mushrooms today, Vicki Mosberger Ferguson, but, not nearly as much conglomerate]. Also found a nice, small ‘cave’/hole in the wall. Sun out all day. Another Good day on the Trail.

Saturday, October 20th hike in One Horse Gap Area

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its third guided hike of the Fall, 2018 hiking season, on Saturday, October 20, in the North Benham Ridge area of Pope County. The hike is free and open to the public. This hike will be along a figure 8 trail, with the first half being about 4 miles and the second half being 2.25 miles. This hike will be of moderate difficulty featuring some hill climbs. Hikers who wish to do so will be able to cut the hike short after the first loop. The hike is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking.  Boots or sturdy shoes and hiking sticks are recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

Hikers will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Herod Post office, on Route 34, in Herod, Illinois. For information or directions, call (618) 499-2337.

October 13, 2018 Dutchman Lake Hike Summary

Excellent New hike today, with Jim Todd as the leader. 21 total hikers, with 3 new..2 from Joppa. Started at the Vienna Ranger station, out to the Dutchman lake boat ramp area, then reduced down to 3 vehicles to the private-property “take off”, the Webb family cabin. I had never been in most of this area before. Saw several nice shelter bluffs, probably a half dozen places, where, in the spring time, would be good water falls or flowing streams, a Niiiice ‘hanging-rock” (yeah, it WAS caught…(wait….) ‘between a rock & a hard place”..…and…well, since HikingwithShawn was with us for 2 in a row…a couple of us have figured we might start 2 more youtube channels…”Shrooms with Vicki” and “Conglomerate with Kris”…
Next weeks hike meets at 10 am, at the Post office at Herod.

Saturday October 13 Hike at Dutchman Lake

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its second guided hike of the Fall, 2018 hiking season, on Saturday, October 13 at Dutchman Lake. The hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of moderate difficulty, between five and six miles in length, and is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Boots or sturdy shoes and hiking sticks are recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

Hikers will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Forest Service Ranger Station, 602 North First Street (Route 45) in Vienna, Illinois. For information or directions, call (618) 499-2337.

October 6, 2018 Cove Hollow Hike Summary

We had 21 total hikers on today’s’ warm initial hike, of the Fall 2018 hiking season. Very Well led by Mart Watson. We even had 3 new hikers. Welcome to them. All others were ‘returning pros’….Down to the “Tin Whistle” then back thru and up to the River to River trail. We were “out” by about 1245 pm…Only a 4 mile hike. No waterfalls or streams…but, a few large mud puddles.. Next week: Jim Todd leads us at Dutchman Lake. Meet at the Vienna Ranger station at 10 am.