March 27, 2022 – Rock House Hike Summary

Sunday, March 27th, The River to River Trail Society tried something a bit different. We had not attempted a “Sunday afternoon” hike in about 10 years. It went very well.  Mark Motsinger led 27 other hikers, with, again, several new hikers, from the parking lot at the old Shawnee Mart at Eddyville, to Ragan Rd, then into the forest to find the “Rock house, and other structures, just around the bluff from it, with accompanying wonderful views of Lusk Creek. It was an Excellent day temperature-wise. We hiked about 3 miles in all, in just about 2.5 hours. Lusk Creek was flowing gently, with a few ripples.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Drone

Another Fastest Known Time Attempt

Lindsey Godby Roberts just completed an unsupported Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt yesterday morning. She did the entire R2R trail in 71 hrs, 48 mins, 42 secs and finished first thing in the morning after hiking all night. That’s dedication. If the trip is accepted by the FKT website that will be approximately 16 hours faster than the previous leader. The following link is to her Strava track log of here entire trip.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6907306217?fbclid=IwAR2UOBqJlzQdLg98qGyyctAlbCgifZySeOm5FpoYRIN50HoHJz3oH81tqKM

March 25, 2022 – 4 Waterfall Hike Summary

We had 23 hikers Saturday in the Packentuck- Camp Ondessonk area, to see 6 waterfalls, Yes!!! That many. They were all flowing. When we started, the wind Was blowing out of the North. But, as the old adage says, and was Proven yet again, once you get moving, and get into the woods, you get warmed up. We had probably 6 or more brand new Trail Society hikers, several from Missouri, 1 from Kentucky. 

In Order, we saw “Indian Falls, then the top of the Arch, Little Cedar Falls, the ‘underside’ of the Arch, ate lunch & took the group picture at Crevice Falls, Hidden Falls, Cedar Falls and last, Sycamore Spirit Falls. Bats were found at Cedar Falls(thanks to Melanie Kasson for pointing them out on the pre-hike), and the carving in the rock just before Cedar Falls. 

Many Thanks go out to Bill Gilmour for the map he sent me about this area, then to Sam Morales & Melanie Kasson for doing the “Pre-hike” on Sun. March 20th,(and following me until I found the top of the arch), Sam Morales & Fred Scott for being the ‘rear guard” today, and last to Bob Mulcahy, David Hilliard, and Tom Logsdon for having trucks at the gate when we got done,  to shuttle everyone back out. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Chris Drone

Saturday, April 2, 2022 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its fifth hike of the Spring, 2021 hiking season, on Saturday, April 2, in the western portion of Jackson Hollow, in Pope County. Society President Bill Gilmour will lead a challenging hike of about five and one-half miles, mostly off-trail.  This hike is rated as difficult and is intended for hikers in good condition who have done some hiking. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

    Hikers should meet at 10:00 a.m., at East Trigg Trailhead on Trigg Tower Road, about one mile north of Trigg observation tower and three miles northeast of Simpson, Illinois. For information or directions, call (270) 331-1553.

March 19, 2022 – Pounds Hollow Hiking Summary

Sam Morales led 9 other hikers on a damp cloudy day in the Thacker Holllow & Pounds Hollow lake area. We met at the horse arena adjacent to Double M Campground, and left heading south. There are a Lot of trails that intersect, weave and ‘switchback’ around  the area, so, it was a Good thing we had a guide. We had several views of Pounds Hollow lake and took our group picture at the Pounds Hollow Arch. This was Sams’ 1st time leading a hike, and he did an Excellent job. We did not have any ‘new’ hikers this week, although we did have a ‘returning’ new hiker. Next week, there are 2 hikes. Saturday, March 26th, in the Ozark/Camp Ondessonk area, at 10 am, then Sunday, at 2 pm, in the Rock House area of Lusk Creek.

See ya’ll on the trail.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Drone

Saturday/Sunday, March 26/27, 2022 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its third and fourth guided hikes of the Spring, 2022 season on Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27. Both hikes are free and open to the public. Saturday’s hike will be a hike to view the waterfalls along Cedar Creek between Indian Falls and Cedar Falls This will be a hike of about four hours in length and will be a hike of moderate difficulty, intended for people in good health who have done some hiking.  There will be several stream crossings. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Ozark Baptist Church, 632 Ozark Road, Ozark, Illinois. For information or directions, call (618) 926-3250.

    Sunday afternoon’s hike will be a shorter and easier hike to the Rock House, a cave and rock formation which was once a popular picnic spot in Pope County. This will be a hike of lesser difficulty, perhaps two to three hours in length. Meet at 2:00 p.m. at the former Shawnee Mart on Route 145 in Eddyville, Illinois. For information or directions, call (618) 269-0369.

    For both hikes, the Society strongly recommends hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

March 12, 2022 – One Horse Gap Hiking Summary

What a Day to HIke!! (Can I write that again??) What a Great Day to Hike!!  We started off the Spring 2022 Hiking season with a Bright, Sunny, Blue Sky, but Very cold & breezy. It had snowed the afternoon & evening before, but nothing was on the roads, and, in the One Horse Gap lake area, some slopes had No snow. Some thought the hike might get cancelled. Instead, 14 other hikers came, to be led by Todd Carr. We had Lots of “new” hikers, for the River to River Trail Society today. Our hikers ages ranged from 8-74 years old. We had 3 from Owensboro, KY and 2 from Mid-Wisconsin. The Wisconsinites were here to do about 1/3rd of the River to River Trail. Several members showed them how to use the Avenza app on their hikes this coming week. And, we had 2 other local gents, who were not ‘new’ to hiking, just ‘new’ to hiking with the Trail Society.

We went from the boat launch area of the lake, left, partially around the lake, found the Rocky Top lookout, and ate lunch on top of the glade at One Horse Gap.  The wind died down somewhat, the sun continued to shine, which made for a very pleasant day of hiking. We covered about 5 miles in 3 hours.

Next weeks’ hike will be in the Thacker Hollow area, led by Sam Morales.  See ya’ll on the Trail.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Drone

Saturday, March 19, 2022 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its second hike of the spring hiking season in the Thacker Hollow area on Saturday, March 19. This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of about four hours and five and one half miles, and is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking.  Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

   Hikers should meet at 10:00 a.m. at the pole barn a quarter mile east of Double M Campground. Please do not park on the grass. Double M campground is located at 5320 Thacker Hollow Road, about a mile west of Route 1. For information or directions, call (618) 384-1321.

Saturday, March 12, 2022 Hike Announcement

The River-to-River Trail Society  announces its first guided public hike of the Spring, 2022 hiking season, on Saturday, March 12,  in the area between One Horse Gap Lake and One Horse Gap itself. This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of moderate difficulty, of about five  miles in length. It will be a loop hike, so that no car-pooling will be needed. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please. 

    Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the parking lot of One Horse Gap Lake. To reach the meeting place, turn west off Route 34 onto Dutton Chapel Road at Eichorn, Illinois, and proceed about five miles miles. Alternatively, turn north off Route 146 at Lusk Road, between Rosiclare and Golconda,  and proceed about four miles. For information or directions, call (618) 499-9629.