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

“I just hiked at Yellow River State Forest this past weekend. Chatted with Prosecutor on the boards about it, as he's been there before. He suggested a trip April 2-4. So it's posted on the trips page. I'll be adding more information to it soon... but did want to get it listed.

Come one, come all!!”

“OK, how long does it take a posted trip to show up? I don't see it... and am not gonna post it 3 or 4 times!!

Rest assured it is happening... trip page information will be coming.”

“Count me in. I'll be there Friday, April 2, 2004. Anyone want Venison Burritos if I'm cooking?”

“Me and Ms Cmb might be down for this trip.

God is this going to kill me.


8p”

“YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LMAO! It'll be OK, Mike... really!”

“Just for YOU, Mike, I may have to call in some favors and get us routed (probably with some private land jogs) to Mississippi River overlooks.... we'll see.”

“Link to the trip listing on the TRIPS page

(I hope to get Matt to "reverse link" this thread to that page, also. I'll give him a day or two and if it can't be done, I'll copy all this stuff to a NEW thread)”

“Simer, dude, I'm sorry this is the same weekend of your hike. It just worked out that way for the two of us looking at it. Depending how things are going for that hike, could you maybe get down to this one?

Also, I sent out some invites to this, not that it's a private hike or anything (FAR FROM IT! LOL!) I just wanted to make sure people knew it was going on, like some who used to live around here... and some whom I'm not sure look at this website much.”

“Why a special hike to the river? He has to cross over it to get the trailhead, unless he flies.”

“hmmmmmm... I think CMB maybe DOES FLY, but he doesn't see a lot in transit. LOL!!”

“Thanks for the link, Matt! (he really DOES EXIST, behind the curtain... hehee)”

“thanks for emailing me, Lizs...I saw your post and was gonna reply but may have forgotten so thanks for the prod.”

“:( how come you get so many people for trip and nobody wants to come up and go packbacking with me...

I'd gladly come down and do a trip with you, but... i still don't have transporation.”

“Let's bump this to the top and get some exposure....”

“(exposure)

Looks like I'm in. The only thing that could hold me up is the result of my consultation with my lawyer. Since Prosecutor will be there I figured I'd better see if all those bench warrants from back in the '60's have expired.”

“I sure don't want to be 11,000 and "1"”

“LMAO!!!”

“When I was there in the middle of April, 2002, I saw some trout fishermen catching trout in Paint Creek downstreet from the campground area. They reported catches between 12" and 20" and that silver spinners and worms were the best.

I just checked on-line, and the Iowa reulations say that an out-of-state 3 day fishing license is $15.50, plus a $13.50 trout fee, with a daily bag limit of 5 trout, a possession limit of 10 trout, and no minimum lenght for trout caught in Paint Creek.”

“Yeah, Saturday morning I saw two fishermen who had caught one Brown Trout, maybe around 6 pounds (my guess), even though the water was brown and raging from snow runoff.

OK, so we might need a break during the hike for trout fishing for supper??? lol.... can do!”

“Consider'em simmering.
Mmmmmmm... fresh trout!”

“I'd love to go, I need to check my work schedule, but I really really want to go..
Cough Cough I'm starting to feel sick. I think I'll have to call in sick...”

“lizs, I got the e-mail, but my reply was bounced back as undeliverable, hmmmmm. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Anyway, I will be on the road the prior two weekends, so another out-of-town trip might be pushing it, but I'll stay tuned.”

“Hey Lizs!! Thanks for the invite! It's been a while since I came around this place. I'll have to make a point to check in more often.

Boy, I wish I could make it for the hike. Believe it or not, I might actually be in Iowa around that time, but will be doing alot of family stuff, so doubt timing would work out. Have fun, and take lots of pics!! Thanks again!

Brent D
www.doerzmanphoto.com”

“Yeah, mine got bounced back too. Just sent another. Spoke to my attorney, we reviewed my case history, shook his head and said if I go I'm on my own. I just don't know. Is this Prosecutor guy still active? This isn't some sort of a sting is it? I don't mind so much getting arrested; getting frisked isn't so bad if done with a little flair. Just don't want no part of Bubba and his boys.”

“Snake Eyes, if you want to find out if those old bench warrants are still active, go down to the police station, and show the guy at the counter your drivers license, and ask him. You would be suprised how fast and courteously you get an answer. Try it.”

“I could, but this is so much more fun.”

“Oh, to heck with it. I'll take the chance. Don't want to miss out on venison burritos. Besides, the cops here don't have computers. Heck, when I was a kid they didn't even have a lock for the jail.”

“LOL! Too funny, Snake Eyes! And Prosecutor!

Now I don't know why e-mails are bouncing back. I did get one from you, Snake Eyes. The addy is: lisapbia@yahoo.com Sometimes people mess up the first part? Or maybe some weird CRAP is going on!!!

Do you guys want to plan some time for fishing? The stream would be fairly accessible from Heffern Hill Camp, which is kinda near that bridge I had a photo of. I don't know how fishing is there, however. (Or can you go wrong on a trout stream?) When is a good time to allow for fishing, if indeed ya want to?”

“Trout fishing is best for about two hours starting at first light, and the two hours before dark, but I saw them catching trout during mid-day, so it must have been good trout fishing.”

“Hmmmm, I am thinking maybe I need to set up a full day of hiking on Friday, for anyone who might want to come Thursday night or Friday a.m.?”

“Lizs - don't you sleep? 2:00 AM!!

Prosecutor - your last reminded me of something funny. Brother #4 used to work for the Department of Justice in Wisconsin. I was talking to him on the phone one day and he told me that out of boredom he had searched the family files. He expressed disappointment that I was the only one without a folder. I always was considered the black sheep, but that made the embarrasment public. Amazing how spending all that time in the service, raising kids and not drinking can make one's life a picture of boredom. And all those years I thought I was having fun.”

“Any ideas on times for this hike? When do you plan to meet at the trailhead?

If I can get out of the office that Friday, I'd be interested.”

“Ahhh, T Mac, I tried to e-mail you an invite. But it didn't go. Guess cuz I sent it to Tmac. doh...

The beauty (??) of the trails at Yellow River is they're easily accessible by road at various places. If people want, I can have something for all day Friday that should lead easily into the campground for Friday night (yet to be determined... tonight I should have time to sit down and do some plotting, while trying some things out this weekend.)

I'm guessing I could potentially be there and/or help a person plan where to stay Thursday night if that were needed. Otherwise, come when you can. The first two backpacking campsites are within .5 and 1 mile of the parking lot, and the third is 2.2. Although, trust me, I can make it all a longer hike. ;-)

Does that help? I need to sit down and look at some things. Should have a much better idea after this weekend.”

“The email in my profile is the best way to reach me. What address did you send the invite to?

It looks like about a 5 hour drive or so from here. I'd like to make it a 3 day trip for that kind of drive.”

“T Mac, would you want to have a Friday hike be part of the backpacking trip, or be satisfied with one or two great day hikes close by?

Effigy Mounds National Monument is just down the road. It has around 7 miles of trail EACH in both north and south units. They're kick-ass trails, you get to see Indian mounds with some in the shape of bears and birds, and -- at least in the North unit (immediately by the visitor center) you can take in up to 5 separate, superb overlooks of the Mississippi.

At the most distant overlook in the North unit, Hanging Rock, on one off-season visit I literally had eagles soaring not all that far over my head from their cliffside perches. It was awesome! Anyway, a person could spend a day there easily and I'd certainly recommend it.

However, if you want to make it part of the hike, I will take that into account in my planning. And like I said, I need to get back to Yellow River and do a few trails I haven't in awhile -- like the old rail trail and low maintenance road to Waukon Junction. Well, I've driven the road in my Jeep, but haven't done the rail trail in awhile.

Looks like I may have talked a gal friend into going on this. I'll have to get her to register on this site, however!”

“Dayhiking is fine. That's about all there is in my area, anyway. :) Whatever works for the group is cool for me.

I'd like to hit Effigy. I had a vague intention of getting there several years ago after a skiing trip, but missed the turn and just kept going.

Low maintenance roads for Jeeps rule! When I lived in Omaha, I'd take my Jeep out to the dirt roads west and south of Omaha and just wander. Practically every mile in Illinois is paved.”

“I just added some links to the TRIPS PAGE.”

“Effigy Mounds National Monument

Hmmm... their website says 11 miles of trails. I always figured, looking at the map, that there were around 7 in the North Unit. So maybe only 4 in the South? However, I haven't looked all through their website to see if it's noted, but they have created a trail that goes from the Visitor's Center across the low area near Yellow River, the river itself, and then you can connect to the trail in the South Unit. There's at least one new trail there, too. A Boy Scout Eagle project put in a trail to the point above the junction of the Yellow and Mississippi rivers.

T Mac, are you near Peoria? (somewhere I got that idea). I was stayed at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State (whatever it is) overnight last summer on the way to southern Ill. It got kinda crazy trying to follow those roads in the dark (but yeah, they were hard surfaced, albeit low grade, rotten blacktop! lol)

I won't forget... I was going maybe 20 on those unfamiliar roads. Saw a deer heading off the road and thought, "Whew!" Then it turned right around, headed back onto the road and thudded into the front of the Jeep. I was ticked!!! However, saw no harm done at that low rate of speed. LOL!”

“I live (for now) in Bloomington-Normal, which is about 40 miles east of Peoria.

Jim Edgar Panther Creek (named for a former governor) is a nice state park. It used to be a power company's land, but the state aquired it. There's no actual backpacking sites, but it does have two long loop trails that I have backpacked by parking on the other side of the lake and following it into the adirondack shelters.

Our deer are very stooopid sometimes. I have had to stop on the blacktops while they stand still on the road.”

“Where are the shelters? I stayed at the campground, which must be pretty new, cuz it's quite short on trees. lol

I had the mt. bike along and thought about biking there. Then found out they had a mt. bike race there that day.”

“There are 7 shelters along the southern trail (I forgot its name, but its not the "Governor's Trail") that are a quarter-to-half mile from the nearest parking lot. I could have slackpacked it from the lot, but parked on the other side of the lake and made it about a 6 mile trail each way.

A lot of Illinois "Class A" sites lack trees - its easier to get RVs in and out. :) I just hope to find Class D sites (primitive, somewhat secluded) if there're no backpacking sites.

Strange how this thread has morphed into discussing IL dayhikes. :^)”

“OK, ENOUGH OF **THAT!!** lol”

“I am a very happy and willing computer illiterate, so I did not know how to deal with this on the trips page soooo, please cancel me from the trip. I appreciate the invitation. Thanks”

“Lizs: I'll be to the park Thursday around 10PM.”

“OK, hiking list update for those who don't know how to post to the trips page.... lol...

Snake Eyes... out
Omahiker... weak maybe (but at least she wrote to say "hi" with all that great wit we've missed from her on this board lately!)
New local gal... supposedly”

“T-Mac, as we get closer to the date, lets see if we can work out some hiking together Friday before the others show up.”

“Prosecutor: Sounds good to me.”

“Alrighty... I headed to Yellow River SF yesterday to see how the old railroad bed trail is on the north side of the (Big) Paint Creek valley.

Took the mountain bike. Since it was reconnoisance (sp?) I wasn't necessarily in the mood for slow hiking -- plus it was around 3-ish when I got there.

Did I say "slow hiking??" LOL! This is in essence an old doubletrack dirt/grass road, with no rock on it or anything. I was barely going faster than hiking, what with the wheels sinking into the very wet ground. A few places it was so muddy I had to walk the bike.

It was really surprising. I hadn't been down that old RR bed in maybe four years (why?? dunno). It's a fairly wide marshy area between the steep hillsides and bluffs, with the stream meandering from side to side.

An old 4WD road runs down the other side, making a nice loop. That passes by the turnoff to Brown's Hollow Campground, while the old RR bed goes near Heffern Hill Campground (both backpacker's campgrounds)

Whoaaaaa! There used to be a lot more water in it! I mean, this was a day just after snow runoff plus rain should have caused the stream to rise perhaps significantly for a bit. I could see it had been up, but nothing compared to what the water level that used to be in there. I know we're in a drought and this surely showed it.

I couldn't wait to get to the area where there were a series of beaver lodges sticking up out of the water. Now??!? Just huge mounds of dirt with grass/marshy weeds on them, no water near them. Wow!

Which reminds me that at one place, I some type of hawk fly from some tree roots fairly close to my right side (the stream side heading TO the Mississippi). It had a snake dangling from its claws. Wish I would have had the camera ready for that shot!

Part way down I saw kind of a cleared path going up the hillside. (See, part of this mission was to see if this place where I could recall a path climbing the hillside A) was indeed a trail and B) if it was on public or private property.

I headed up a bit and almost immediately found a cleared area, with a somewhat overgrown, old forest road heading on the level to the left; a STEEP old, fairly clear forest road heading to the bluffs above; and a cleared path heading right (a direction I would soon be heading below).

I went left. The trail soon got real overgrown, but was still visible. Until, KAPUT, it ended! lol... I wanted to go to the rocky bluffs above, so bushwhacked up the hill, grabbing trees as I went for leverage. (it was pretty steep)

Finally, out of breath, I got to the top. Saw that something looking like a cave was an area where rock was eroding away. Clear at the top I found what must be Conservation Reserve Program acres and a little cabin and outhouse. lol

I traversed along the edge of the bluffs and at one point found a great overlook (I'll have pics to post).

I knew I'd find that steep road going downhill somewhere and finally did. On the way down, THEN I saw the "No Trespassing" sign falling off a tree. lol... oh well. It did give a name if I'd like to ask about permission to hike there.

See, I'm in the process of trying to find a way to hook up a few of the forest units to make a longer and different hike. Maybe not for this April trip. But sometime....

I got back on the bike on the trail and continued on. Holy sheeyat!!! Development has hit at the Waukon Junction end of the trail!!! Apparently right by the old RR bed there was private property. A real estate company has cleared or is in the process of clearing (leaving trees, but making a home spot and driveway) around 10 steep driveways for homes to sit up a bit on a kind of bench. GEEZ!!!

Did not make me happy, although I presume this part of the old RR bed will become a public road. I'll be making a call to the area DNR or Allamakee County Conservation group to ask about that. They better keep an easement on that property for some type for trail usage or some type of alternate trail construction.

(I also figure if there's a huge flood on the Mississippi, it could well back up into this area.... hehehe. OK< SO I'M JEALOUS OF THE GREAT LOCATION FOR NEW HOMES, while being sad to see it happen.)

At Waukon Junction, I took a picture of the sign talking about its history. And left my bike at that end, to pick it up later with my Jeep. I figured walking back was just as fast by this time. Cuz it was gonna be the same slow grind, except going a bit uphill all the way on the return trip.

Oh yeah, there was forest property reaching the road in between the new development and Waukon Junction. There were a couple trails that headed up the hillside, but it was too late for me to try them. (maybe NEXT weekend) I waypointed all these spots on my GPS.

So I hiked back. I didn't have anything to tell me how far it was (especially when I dropped the GPS onto soft grass and then it didn't want to work for a bit, sheesh!!) But it must be around 3 to 3.5 miles, because that's the pace I was taking walking back. Also, from the olden days, I can recall my bicycle computer (no longer on it), giving me a distance of around 3.5 miles)

I heard owls as it got dark. I saw deer in four different locations, white tails held high as they were running and leaping. I saw turkeys.

When I left, I drove around Harpers Ferry way and took the Paint Rock Road (another forest unit). Knowing there was a subdivision up on top, I headed back in there (also noting where my GPS told me the great overlook was). Alas, there was a house, the name of the guy from the "No Trespassing" sign, and the cabin in the distance.

and I couldn't believe this! Off to the side of one of the roads there was a "no trespassing" sign, which I assumed was for this rotten looking house on it. But ahead down this road I could see something across that I couldn't define. HOLY HOLY SHEEYAT, it was a big wooden fence post or power pole or something. What if I hadn't taken that seriously (at first I was thinking it was a cattle crossing grate)... or was looking off at a deer or something????!? Man alive I coulda hit that!!! From what I could make out, there was just one nice home on that road.(Or maybe somebody NEEDS to hit that Prosecutor, lol, if it sounds like something that shouldn't be there. I mean, I don't recall seeing anything that said "Private Road.")

I was jealous of all these folks with their hilltop homes that are kinda in the boonies despite a subdivision.

So there's my report. Photos to come later today.”

“will I be able to find someplace to hang my hammock? I remember reading in one of your threads about the lack of trees..”

“MHH, lots of trees in the backpacking campsites.”