On a warm Saturday morning, March 30th, 21 hikers gathered at Berry Ferry landing parking area, on the East side of the Ohio river, across from Golconda, Illinois. Cathy Jennings was the hike leader for the day. We then carpooled to the parking area for Mantle Rock. We had quite a few new hikers for the day. We proceeded down the trail for about a mile, then turned to our right, to bushwack over to a stream, and we followed the stream to a waterfall area known as Joy Falls, that, fortunately was trickling some water flow. It was a different way to get to the glade that is a few hundred feet down the highway from the Mantle rock parking area. The water drops into a pool, that has a nice deep, flat ‘cut-back” that was easily explored. We then headed back to the main trail. 4 hikers decided to leave the group. and proceeded back to their vehicle. 17 hikers continued on  the trail.  The front part of the group passed right by a nice, long rat snake, brown, that was sunning itself on a log within a couple feet of the trail. It took off and most watched it climb a small tree. The trail is very well marked. We stopped for lunch, then wound around, seeing a nice ‘wading’ pool area,a nice overhang area, and then Cathy led us off trail for a few hundred yards to some flat rock areas that had petroglyphs. We then continued on the main trail until we got close to the arch of Mantle Rock. Sam Morales took some hikers up on top of the arch, which is over 180 ft. long. Once everyone was back together, we took the group picture under the arch, and then it was only about another half mile, and we were back to the parking area. 

Next weeks hike will be led by Sam Morales, meeting at the East Trigg Trailhead, which is about 1 mile North of Trigg Tower. 

Until then, “See ya’ll On the Trail”.