Saturday, April 6, 2024 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 6th public hike of the 2024 spring hiking season on Apr. 6th. Hiking: Cove Hollow/Splatter Stone Falls (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a difficult loop hike 4 miles in length (3.5 miles trail, 0.5 miles bushwacking), 3.5 hours hiking time. The leader of this hike can be reached at 618-384-1321 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at East Trigg Trailhead. This hike is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and snacks. No dogs please. There is a steep grade hikers will need to navigate on this hike. There are two stream crossings which requires hikers to walk rocks in order to cross. If it rains prior to this hike, hiker’s boots/shoes may become wet when crossing the streams and a section of the hiking trail may also become muddy. For a map to the meeting location at East Trigg Trailhead click this blue link East Trigg Trailhead and a map will open up, and then click the Directions button and a driving map will be created which will allow you to plan your driving directions to the meeting area. Prior to participating in any hikes, the River to River Trail Society requests that all hikers read the 2023 Trail Society Waiver which can be found on the River to River website at the following link River to River Trail Society Information and then sign off on this waiver prior to the beginning of the hike. A copy of the waiver will be at the East Trigg Trailhead meeting area for your signature.

Saturday March 23, 2024 Hike Summary

On a windy, somewhat cool Saturday morning, Bob Mulcahy got started early.  He, Debbie Townsend, and Sam Morales met at the West end of the Godwin trail to park 2 vehicles to bring hikers back to the start of the hike…the East end of the Godwin trail, which is a few miles West of Alto Pass, Illinois. (Did you follow all that, hehe??). Bob led 14 other hikers on a 7 mile trek. It was a blustery day, but, as usual, once we got started moving, and into the trees, we warmed up and the wind was much less noticeable. We had 2 New hikers from the Carlyle area. We kept a pretty good pace. The trail was easy to see and a lot of it, but not all, was on a ridge. We did descend a few times into creek areas, that had some water, but nothing that impeded easy crossings. The creek beds are of different substances in this area, still sedimentary rocks, but of much finer material than sandstones that are found in the middle and eastern parts of Southern Illinois. We did meet up, in the afternoon, with 4 young gents from the Bloomington area of Illinois, doing the exact opposite hike we were doing They had parked vehicles at the East end, and started from the West end. The hike was 7 miles. The ride back to the starting point…was 12 miles. 1 group did go on out to Inspiration point to take in that view.. 

Next weeks’ hike is “out of state” at Mantle Rock in Kentucky, part of the Trail of Tears. For the meeting point, and directions, be sure to consult the post sent out Saturday March 23 from the website. Cathy Jennings will be our leader.  Mantle rock is The Largest Natural Arch East of the Mississippi river. And, just a few hundred feet from the parking area, is a neat, sandstone glade waterfall..if there has been enough rain.  Come along and join the fun. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”