Saturday, November 16, 2024 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 7th public hike of the 2024 fall hiking season on Nov. 16th. Hiking: Secret Canyon (Pope County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a moderate loop hike approximately 4 miles in length, 3 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 the New Liberty Blanchard Cemetery. 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 one wide stream which will need to be crossed and hikers may need to walk rocks to cross this stream and their shoes and or boots may become wet if it has rained. If you are using Avenza for tracking you can use map #8 of the River to River map bundle which can be downloaded from the Avenza map store. For a map to the meeting location at the New Liberty Blanchard Cemetery click this blue link New Liberty Blanchard Cemetery 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 New Liberty Blanchard Cemetery meeting area for your signature.

Saturday November 2, 2024 Hike Summary

Ok, so, the leader of the hike on Saturday November 2nd was “almost late” getting to the meeting spot on Rocky Comfort road, and, to Top that off, the leader ( and writer of these summaries) is late getting the summary written. 

First off, I want to say a Huge Thank You to Crab Orchard National wildlife refuge for letting the River to River Trail Society use their parking spot on Rocky Comfort road for our meeting & parking spot. Secondly, I want to Thank all of the hikers, old, new, returnees, first-timers for coming to the hike. We had 25 hikers. Holy Cow!! (as Haray Caray used to say). It was a Wonderful day for hiking, with temps almost perfect. We made introductions, then loaded into vehicles to move to the Panther Den parking area, with several other vehicles already there. We hit the trail then branched off onto Trail 371. We got to the “sliced rocks” area, and Bob Mulcahy guided some hikers to the upper/top area to yell back down to us. We moved on, crossing several dry streambeds. We saw several pairs of other hikers out for a good walk. Getting to the big shelter bluff, we took the lunch break, took the group picture, then climbed up, out and wound our way back to the parking lot. We all loaded back into the vehicles, back to the parking lot on Rocky Comfort road, and many dispersed towards home. A few, led by Bob Mulcahy, did a short “after-hike” finding a Huge fireplace out in the woods. It was a beautiful day for a good hike. Thanks to all who came.  Until next time, “See ya’ll on the Trail. 

   The hike of Sat. November 9th, led by Cathy Jennings, will be in the Cove Hollow area, on the West side of Cedar lake, meeting at the end of Boat Dock road, west of Rt. 127.