Yellow River St. Forest hike, Iowa, Apri l 2-4

“Lizs....I can't miss my own party!!!!!!!!

Snake eyes...I am afraid with the group coming I will not escape spankings.........if you think this group is bad sometimes....you need to meet my chatter friends :0”

“Bring the party WITH!!! hehehe”

“Maybe we'll book VERY SURPRISING ENTERTAINMENT for you Div.

(anyone know? Is William Hung "She Bangs" available?)”

“LOL.......awww...thanks........but I have to attend my party my room mate is giving for me......send the stripper there!!!!..she has told all the men they have to kiss me....wooohoooo........and I am sure my a$$ will be sore for awhile...( from spankings....sheesh...you pervs....)”

“LOL!”

“bump,just for fun. hehheehee”

“Lizs Mike wants you to call him!”

“LMAO... now he's got YOU doing that! Gimme the number and don't worry... it's public knowledge on this board.

It'll be after 7 Central before I call...”

“HELLOOOOOOOOO???!? Phone number?

I called some number I got on the website last night around 10 and got a machine that said it was the hiking club.

So, Ms.NoButt... heheehehe... or CMB, gimme a number. Thanks! :-)”

“and No Butts about it.”

“Certainly no butts about it!

PHONE NUMBER??????!?!?

(where are the CMBs?!??!)”

“lm?o you called the right number.”

“CMB... call me. Number's on your machine. Good luck in your mission!!”

“1-219-932-4030”

“OK, attendee update:

"For sure's"
1. Prosecutor (coming to hike on Friday)
2. T-Mac (coming to hike on Friday)
3. mataharihiker
4. gojo, sarabelle, gizmo
5. Local gal (a great hiker... will be first backpacking trip)
6. Local gal's brother (he's a backpacker)

"Maybe's"
1. Crazy Mike
2. Ms. Crazy Mike (I need to CALL THEM, lol... might find out more on status)
3. Omahiker (says she's trying, TRYING to get this to work)
4. Nullen-Void
5. hubcap

And although they don't know it yet, I'll be mentioning this to a local backpacking couple that spend most of their time doing trips and service work in national parks all over the U.S.; a semi-local gal who backpacks; and our town's EDA director, who told me a tale of trying to get his wife to backpack... lol.

Don't know that I'll be out scouting trails this weekend. Rainy and gonna turn to snow. Late spring weather that for ME could only be enjoyed in the company of other backpackers! lol”

“Hope I didn't miss anyone. I wasn't look at the "Trips" page when I wrote this up.

Again, come one, come all!! You're sure welcome.”

“Lizs is trying to start a cult...beware!!!!! :P :)”

“LMAO... that's right, a "cult!!"

hahahahaahahahaha”

“Update! Add pissant to the "For Sure" list. lol”

“HEY!! YA FORGOTS ABOUT ME!



IF I come, will I see lizs, gojo, & co. actually hiking on this trip? LOL!


. . . and what on earth happened to the R-T-R Trail trip????”

“What? Am I not welcome now? ;-)

So has anyone decided what the trip is going to look like? Just curious so I can make plans to be up there.”

“Sorry wackorobie.. YES, I know you're a "maybe." What kind of stuff are you wondering?

1. It sounds like prosecutor and T Mac are arriving either Thursday night or Friday morning. I need to check with them to see if on Friday they will be happy hiking, say, at Effigy Mounds -- a beautiful national monument that's maybe 10 miles away -- or if they want a forest hike either in the Paint Creek Unit -- where we'll be hiking -- or in a different unit. HEAR THAT, PROSECUTOR AND T-MAC. Which do you guys want?

2. Friday (afternoon to night) people can park at the backpacker's parking lot (also forest headquarters) and backpack into a camp. Although I haven't yet mapped it, I envision that hike will be anywhere from around .75 of a mile to around 2-3 miles (choice of . Any way you go, it'll be a good uphill.

We're easy. Get there when you can. I'll send you maps, probably by e-mail... and printed ones will be available at the parking lot.

YOU DO NEED TO REGISTER at that parking lot. You'll see the area. They just want to know where a person will be and how long, and which vehicle is yours. Unlike many trailheads, I've never heard of any break-ins here. There are NO FEES.

2. At least one or two people will arrive Saturday morning. They will be given directions and a map to our Friday night campsite, as well as our intended trek for Saturday. There are roads in the forest that intersect the trail, so finding our group should be no problem.

3. I anticipate anywhere from 6 to 10 miles a day, sometimes flat, but sometimes big, bad climbs. They're probably only 200 to 300 feet but, trust me, they can be killers.

4. Yellow River State Forest advises a person NOT use or filter water from the creeks due to ag chemical runoff. You can make your own choice. (They do say you can swim/bath in Paint Creek... and it is the great stream for catching trout, however). I will plan to cache water at our nightly campsites (as well as perhaps **OTHER** liquid refreshments). This will be easy to do with the road system.

I WILL PLAN ON BRINGING AND CACHING WATER FOR ALL. LOTSA WATER.

4. If you want to contact me, my e-mail is on my profile. Just type it out c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y. People often screw it up. I'm not gonna post my phone number here.

5. What time would people like to be done on Sunday? Back to the cars by 10 a.m.? 1 p.m.?

6. Also, so you know, there is cut wood at the backpacking sites, however it will have been sitting there all winter. Maybe I'll need to cache in some wood, too?

7.I'm trying to plan this so we stay at Brown's Hollow one of the nights. It's under 3 miles from the trailhead, if I decide to make it the first night. Otherwise, I'll have to do some loops to hit for Night No. 2 (or run the trail the opposite way, hmmmmm, which could be interesting) That campground is flat, spacious and has a HUGE fire ring. I was on a backpacking trip with a Sierra Club group at Yellow River one year ago and was disappointed we didn't stay there.

8. Any questions?

And G-Force, hey, come to this one! :-) I'm still hoping for Southern Illinois. Been waiting on Mnutz for more info. A guy on the "other side" gave me some info for a two-night, *LOW* mileage backpacking trip in Jackson Hollow. I still think you could probably easy go cross-country from there to Bell Smith Springs, which is also gorgeous. BUT I don't live there, nowhere near, so can't scope out the trails I'd like to. Hope to see you at THIS hike, g-force. lol”

“T-Mac, if you are arriving Thursday night at 10:00 p.m., maybe we should camp in the car campground Thursday night? I am planning on getting there before dark on Thursday. The full moon will be Monday, April 5, 2004, and a near full moon will be high in the sky Thursday April 1, 2004 evening, but it would still be tough trying to find the Glen Wendell camp about a mile up the hill in the dark. Sunset is 6:34 p.m., Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time starts Sunday morning, April 4, 2004 by the way. I suggest we hike Effigy Mounds Friday. I'll go along with what ever you want.

Liz, I agree with you that the Browns Hollow Campsite is the best of the five areas to camp. Hefferns Campsite has trout fishing near by, but Camp Glen Wendell is more remote.”

“Glen Wendell is pretty easy to find and walk to in the dark if you walk up the wide, forest access road (that is gated) that takes off from the A-frame where you get water (adjacent to the parking lot).

There's a number of entrances into that campground, which is weird, but I don't think you'd miss it. Did you hike in to it that way, or off the marked backpacking trail?

Also, John Schultz is the other option, taking a left from the trailhead at the trail split to go up the long hill, then a right at the next junction on top. It's easy.

OK, I think I'll grab a beer and go plot. Unlike Ms. CMB, I haven't had two. LOL!! (I like to pick on Ms. CMB... hehehe)

Prosecutor, I saw something interesting on the winter snowmobile/XC ski maps. It showed a marked campground somewhere on the hill between the two car campgrounds. I need to see just what THAT is! That's new or a misprint!”

“THE HIKING ROUTE (wow, and I only sat down with the beer NOW... lol!)

FRIDAY, APRIL 2
Evening Campsite: Heffern's Hill It will give an opportunity for trout fishing the first night out, or early Saturday morning.

You have two options for getting there:

1. This would probably be the best>> Park at the backpacker's parking lot. You will have approximately a 1-mile EASY hike to the campsite. You'll follow an old railroad bed that is FLAT and very easy.

It does have one small stream crossing. (I crossed it a couple Saturdays ago when snow runoff had it higher than normal and easily made it across on rocks. It was maybe ankle high.)

I'll mark the turnoff.

2. You could also drive to within a half mile of Heffern's Hill campsite and park. It's not a designated parking area, but I've done it before. (If enough people chose to do this, I'd suggest we shuttle all the cars but one back to the backpacker's lot.) This would be an easy, EASY **EASY!!** option for people getting there late.

SATURDAY, APRIL 3
Evening Campsite: Heffern's Hill

We'll hike around 8 miles on Saturday, including options like a big hill for those who like... and a little bushwhacking. Trails will include those used by horses.

This day will include going into the northwest portion of the hiking trails, coming by the backpacker's parking lot (HEY, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO GRAB SOME MORE WATER YOU MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT ALONG.... OR PICK UP MORE FOOD, IF YOU'D RATHER NOT CARRY IT ALL THE WHOLE TRIP.)

We'll head up to the fire tower, then combine foot and horse trails, as well as a short bit of bushwhacking (which should have no problem nettles this early!!) to get to the campsite.

If you want to trout fish, this campsite is within one-half mile of Paint Creek (the same creek you saw the first day).

SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Evening Campsite: Heffern's Hill

We'll have a hike of around 3 miles to get back to the parking lot, if this sounds OK.
---------------------------------
HOW'S THAT SOUND EVERYBODY?

This should allow easy access for people coming at various times, as well as allow for optional loops and trout fishing... I don't know that I like going by the parking lot on Saturday, however, I guess it would be nice to restock.

If a person gets to camp pretty early on Saturday afternoon, I can suggest some day hikes in that vicinity. This route does not get to the Mississippi, but I can send Crazy Mike on a route to see it, if he comes and so wishes. LOL!

Any more questions? Please send me your e-mails and also your REAL NAME (omg!), address, and phone. I may be sending out maps that are marked. Also, I'll give more explicit directions for turns, etc. then.”

“#&%!$!!! I copied and pasted, dang. THIS IS CORRECT (the first one had the second campground wrong!) (Blame the beer. LOL!)
----------------------------------

THE HIKING ROUTE
(wow, and I only sat down with the beer NOW... lol!)

FRIDAY, APRIL 2
Evening Campsite: Heffern's Hill
It will give an opportunity for trout fishing the first night out, or early Saturday morning.

You have two options for getting there:

1. This would probably be the best>> Park at the backpacker's parking lot. You will have approximately a 1-mile EASY hike to the campsite. You'll follow an old railroad bed that is FLAT and very easy.

It does have one small stream crossing. (I crossed it a couple Saturdays ago when snow runoff had it higher than normal and easily made it across on rocks. It was maybe ankle high.)

I'll mark the turnoff.

2. You could also drive to within a half mile of Heffern's Hill campsite and park. It's not a designated parking area, but I've done it before. (If enough people chose to do this, I'd suggest we shuttle all the cars but one back to the backpacker's lot.) This would be an easy, EASY **EASY!!** option for people getting there late.

SATURDAY, APRIL 3
Evening Campsite: Brown's Hollow

We'll hike around 8 miles on Saturday, including options like a big hill for those who like... and a little bushwhacking. Trails will include those used by horses.

This day will include going into the northwest portion of the hiking trails, coming by the backpacker's parking lot (HEY, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO GRAB SOME MORE WATER YOU MIGHT HAVE BROUGHT ALONG.... OR PICK UP MORE FOOD, IF YOU'D RATHER NOT CARRY IT ALL THE WHOLE TRIP.)

We'll head up to the fire tower, then combine foot and horse trails, as well as a short bit of bushwhacking (which should have no problem nettles this early!!) to get to the campsite.

If you want to trout fish, this campsite is within one-half mile of Paint Creek (the same creek you saw the first day).

SUNDAY, APRIL 4
Back to the cars

We'll have a hike of around 3 miles to get back to the parking lot, if this sounds OK.
---------------------------------
HOW'S THAT SOUND EVERYBODY?

This should allow easy access for people coming at various times, as well as allow for optional loops and trout fishing... I don't know that I like going by the parking lot on Saturday, however, I guess it would be nice to restock.

If a person gets to camp pretty early on Saturday afternoon, I can suggest some day hikes in that vicinity. This route does not get to the Mississippi, but I can send Crazy Mike on a route to see it, if he comes and so wishes. LOL!

Any more questions? Please send me your e-mails and also your REAL NAME (omg!), address, and phone. I may be sending out maps that are marked. Also, I'll give more explicit directions for turns, etc. then."”

“I like the second, two beer plan, over the first, one beer plan, you posted. You picked great campsites, trout fishing options, and easy to get to campsites with people coming in at all different times. Liz gets better with the more beer you drink. I knew you would figure it out.”

“LOL!!”

“Bump...

Sekert e-mails were sent out.”

“And do not reply to lisapbia@fbx.com

But lisapbia@yahoo.com will work.

:-) thank ye”

“Another idea for Saturday, which I have presented to Crazy Mike. Let me know if this is of interest to a few or many of you. We could change plans a bit.

We could leave Heffern's Hill Camp and head southeast down the old RR bed to Waukon Junction, which is on the Mississippi.

Almost to Waukon Junction (3.5 flat miles in a valley) there is a trail that goes up the steep hill to the bluff above. I need to check it out.

If indeed we could get on top, we'd have a great overlook of the Mississippi, which is right below it. Also, there are Indian burial mounds up there.

Then we could either come back down the way we went up... or go farther north on the old forest road, eventually coming down to a gravel road. We could combine both it and a highway to get to Waukon Junction (maybe a mile at most... you'd be on the scenic River Road, with the Mississipi to your left side as we return. It is busy, but I've done it)

Once at Waukon Junction we would continue on across Paint Creek and take the second gravel heading away from the river. It's a low-maintenance, usually 4 WD road which accesses the turnoff to Brown's Hollow Campground in probably 3.5 miles.

Anybody interested in that option instead? Or possibly having the group split? Both groups would still end up at Brown's Hollow. It would be a much flatter hike, with the exception of the potential steep climb up the bluff. You'd be in a wide valley between the steep hillsides.

I plan to scope that option out next weekend, when I hope there's not 45 MPH wind gusts to contend with. I need to see if it makes it up the bluff or is just a game path.

Please give me your ideas on what you'd like to do?”

“OK It's official. Count me in.
B.”

“LOL!! Sure elementary1. Now go on to some other threads and be NASTY!!! LOL! I'll vouch that you're not a troll!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Now go sign up on the "Trips" page. I take it ya got my e-mail? ;-)

Did you got hiking today? I tested my newest teeny-tiny Pepsi can stove, windscreen and pot set up. I worked p-e-r-f-e-c-t in these damn wicked winds today. :-)”

“Lizs you have mail!


8)”

“gotcha Mikey... hitting the phone.”

“Ok.


8)”

“Hiting Mikey!!!! :)”

“CALL ME!!!!! lol! Oh wait a minute . . . mscmb have lizs call me . . . lol! j/k

It's likely I'll be there . . . late Fri. arrival. Won't know for sure until after I deliver stormy to the AT next weekend.

Send me an e (mine is correct - lol!)and I'll send you my vitals.”

“gforce... sign up on the trip page... I'd prefer to do emails like that as much as possible. Although I can't mail a map off that (I have an e-mail in to Matt about that... we'll SEE!! lol)”

“Liz, a trip to Waukon Junction would be good if most of the people have already hiked the trails in the parl, If most of the people are newbies to the park, the circular loops in the park itself is more than enough for two days.”

“Yeah, I thought of that, too, Prosecutor. I was trying to find a more palatable option for Crazy Mike, if he comes.... and also give an option without wicked hills. Then again, they're only 200 to 300 feet, we should manage that, eh?”

“Wicked Hills? Try a two thousand foot climb above 8,000 feet in the Tetons. That is wicked. Crazy Mike backpacks every week end. He could do those dimples in Iowa walking on his hands.”

“LOL. I know. I wanted to give him the option of an overlook OF THE MISSISSIPPI. I think he was quite disappointed with the forest unit we're in not specifically having one. It has nice overlooks, but not of the big muddy.

I got him some info tonight. Actually the trip is shorter than I thought for him. Mapquest says 5 hours, 8 minutes. And we all know Mapquest overestimates driving time!!”

“Thank you for the directions.


See ya soon.


8)”

“Just under three weeks to the hike and here's the list to date (hope I didn't leave anyone out of this one!!):

"For sures"
1. prosecutor (late Thursday or early Friday)
2. mataharihiker
3. T Mac (late Thursday or early Friday)
4. Elementary1 (NOT a troll! Coming in Saturday)
5. Crazy Mike (Late Friday)
6. Ms. Crazy Mike (fun to chat with ya, Ms.! Late Friday)
7. gojo and sarabelle and gizmo
8. lizs
9. Pissant (hey, prove to us you're not a troll -- write me!)

Maybes:
1. Nullen_void
2. WackoRobie (thanks for the info proving you're REAL! lol)
3. hubcap
4. gforce (would be late Friday)

And not on the list, but still maybes:
1. Omahiker
2. Sunshine
3. Elementary1's bro

And there's at least four people I need to ask yet”

“Any Michigan Mountaineers heading this way???


(prolly got one of those dang "sekert hikes" conflicting.... Phhhhhhhhhhht!! lol)”

“Lizs,
I saw the fbx.com address. You still use them for internet?”

“Sorry for not responding - I was out late last week with audits and recruiting and then spent the weekend in Kettle Morraine in WI (trip report later).

Prosecutor - car camping (don't scream, Mike) is probably best on Thursday night. I do a lot of night hiking, but generally on trails I know. I'd like to see Effigy Mounds on Friday.

As long as I can be on the road by 3 or 4 Sunday afternoon, I'm happy. I'll defer to everyone else on what trails we take to get to the sites.

Lizs: Just to make sure I read your posts right, there'll be water cached so I don't need to lug gallons? :)”

“I can cache some water. BUT it does look like we'll be going by the cars Saturday, probaby noonish. I might advise having extra water for some restocking then. More on that later.

WackoRobie... I liked fbx.com, but I moved out of Iowa. So no longer have that for internet.”