Saturday, November 30, 2024 Hike Announcement

The River to River Trail Society announces its 8th public hike of the 2024 fall hiking season on Nov. 30th. Hiking: Red Cedar Trail (Jackson County). This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a loop hike of moderate difficulty 12 miles in length 6 hours hiking time. A shorter hike can also be done of 6 miles in length and 4 hours hiking time. Hikers who perform the shorter version will need to shuttle back to the meeting location. The leader of this hike can be reached at 708-471-7500 for more information. Hikers should meet at 10:00 am at the Giant City Campground. 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 are two stream crossings which may be flowing water if it has rained and the hiker’s boots/shoes may become wet. Some steep grades. Hikers who perform the 6-mile version of this hike will need to shuttle back to the meeting area. If you are using the Avenza app for tracking your hikes, map #21 of the River to River bundle can be used for tracking this hike. For a map to the meeting location click this blue link Giant City Campground Red Cedar Trail 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 Giant City Campground meeting area for your signature.

Saturday November 9, 2024 Hike Summary

Hikers this Saturday met at a “pull-off” area on Boat Dock Rd, east of IL. Rt. 127, South of Murphysboro, Illinois. It was overcast and almost a drizzle when 16 hikers, led by Cathy Jennings,  including 3 new hikers, set off, working our way on the trail in a Northerly direction. Soon, most worked up enough body heat to stop and remove a layer of clothes, or a light jacket. Much of the time, we had a cove of Cedar lake in view to our right (east).  Early, we were on trail 378, Wolf Den hollow, then later on trail 385.  Right before breaking for lunch, hikers found a “tunnel” through some broken apart rock formations to explore through, from 1 end to another. At lunch, we were close to one of the many coves of Cedar lake, then we took the group picture, with a sandstone rock wall in the background. We did find 1 dripping waterfall, and a nice, but small shelter inset. We got in just over 4 miles of hiking.  Cathy & 3 other hikers had spotted 3 vehicles at the North end of the hike, to ferry us all back to the beginning.  We all were able to stay dry.  Another good hike and day out on the trail. 

Next weeks’ hike will be in Secret Canyon, Northeast of Eddyville, Illinois. 

We only have 2 hikes left…this one next week, and the hike just after Thanksgiving. We do have a trash blast at Garden of Gods scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd.  See our official website for details. 

Until then, See ya’ll On the Trail. 

New Book on Hiking the R2R with Kids

Back in 2019, Jim Schroeder started section hiking the R2R Trail with his kids who were between 9 & 13 at the time. They finished the trail 4 years later in 2023.

He has published a new book entitled On the Trail With My Kids:  From the Ohio River to the Mighty Mississippi.  It can be purchased on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle version.  Here is the synopsis:

It was the fall of 2019, and our oldest kids and twins, Zach and Emma, were in their 8th grade year. As they were approaching high school, I realized that the window to do things with them before they entered the world of adulthood was rapidly closing. Many years prior, I had done a few overnight backpacking trips with a couple of friends on the 157-mile River to River Trail (R2R) in the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. While brief in nature, it had whetted my appetite for the scenery and history that was part of this trail. As the leaves turned colors, signifying another season passing by, I suddenly felt the call to go back to the trail, but this time with one goal in mind: to section hike the entire R2R, with my oldest four kids and other friends and family, before Zach and Emma graduated high school. Although I had enough experience with backpacking to understand the logistics required, I had no idea how this all would work out in the midst of a very busy schedule, with eight kids at home, and a long trek for all involved. But deep down, I knew the journey would be worth the effort, and that the memories and impact would last long after we stepped off the path for good.

On the Trail With My Kids is a story of this journey, from the perspective of a husband, father, and just one man trying to find adventure in a world of constant demands and responsibilities. It is also the story of a family hoping to find fun and meaning in quiet, scenic places where others had come to live and raise their kids, and escape the stressors of everyday life. Part comedic travelogue, part historical commentary, part personal reflection on life’s uncertainties, and part backpacking guide, On the Trail With My Kids is a book for those who would like to experience the richness and rewards that a long walk and a night in the woods can have for mind, body, and soul.

Here is the link to the book on Amazon “On the Trail With My Kids: From the Ohio River to the Mighty Mississippi”.

If you want more information about Jim and his kids, see the trail story he has on our website at this link or his previous post on our home page from November 2023