Shawnee TR: TMac gets a trail name

“This is a delayed trip report, but better late than never…

Every three months, work takes me down to southern Illinois to audit one of my firm’s branch offices. I try to make the most of it by scheduling these trips on a Friday, so I can spend the weekend exploring Shawnee National Forest and the River-to-River Trail, which is also a part of the American Discovery Trail.

One of my few local hiking partners took Friday off work and came down with me. After exploring sections of the trail from the Jeep, Korey and I quickly learned that a significant portion of the RtR is road hiking. Neither of us wanted that, so we studied the map and eventually picked a section going from Herod to High Knob. A broker from the office I audited agreed to drive with us so I could drop my Jeep off at High Knob and do a mini-thru-hike rather than an out-and-back. My broker and her family were convinced we were nuts for asking to be dropped off Friday night, but she did it anyway.

Friday night was just a short hike in, maybe 2 miles. The hard part was finding a level spot for the tent. I know Illinois is considered flatlands, but the Shawnee area is pretty hilly.

Our primary objective Saturday was to reach the Garden of the Gods area, which I hadn’t seen in several years. We loafed towards that section, making it in time for lunch. The Garden is a very nice area with a lot of photo opportunities if you don’t mind crowds. Our afternoon was unplanned, as Korey didn’t know how much distance he could handle and camping along the RtR is open as long as you’re not on private property. Turns out he could do more than he expected, as we clicked off a little over 12 miles that day, making it to High Knob a day early. That last hill climb along the trail can be a killer, especially after 12 miles. Since we made the Jeep early, we decided to find Battery Rock, the eastern end of the RtR. Well, we followed every little side path and dirt road we could find, but the map we had didn’t get us there and we never did find it. We would up spending the night at Cave-in-Rock State Park.”

“Sunday, we take down camp and go to the cave that gives Cave-in-Rock its name. It’s a huge cave with a very interesting history. It was used by outlaws and bandits in the 1700’s and 1800’s, including some very notorious (at the time) killers. Last time I was in the area, I rode the ferry to the Kentucky side (no bridge over the Ohio River there), but this time we elected just to head for home. Korey has a very pregnant wife at home, and we decided not to push her patience. 

The only new gear I used this trip was a cat-can alcohol stove. I love it. I’m pretty sure it will be my stove of choice in above-freezing weather.

In most places, the RtR trail is well marked with blue “i” blazes or by the American Discovery Trail logo. So much of it is road walking that I’ve pretty much given up the idea of thru-hiking the 171 miles of it. I’ll hike the wooded areas and call it good enough.

As for the trail name, anyone who has camped with me can verify that I am amazingly slow at breaking camp. I don’t know why, but I’m always one of the last to be ready. Korey has observed this before, and as I had earlier explained the concept of trail names to him, he started working on various ideas to reflect my morning nature. He officially gave me the name you see now as my login. I sure can’t argue with it…

Pictures”

“LOL>..VERY cute name!!!!!.........Glad you had a good trip....and WHY are you not going to Missouri with us??????”

“Nice pics..........thanks for sharing!!!”

“Div: I'd like to make that trip, but I'm already driving to downtown Chicago tomorrow for Thanksgiving. That's my driving quota for the week. :)”

“Good TR, good pics...good hike. Thanks for sharing!”

“Hey dude, let a person know next time!

*pout*

lol... I'll look at your pictures in a bit.”

“Nice TR. What a great area, too! I'd like to see Garden of the Gods sometime without the crowds. Wonder if that's even possible.”

“lizs: Before you pout too much (hehe), know that I was doing this as a recon for future trips. :) I didn't feel right extending invitations for an area I didn't know well, when I couldn't talk about water or terrain. Good thing, too, as I abandoned my orignal plans for the Garden area.

My next trip down there will be in February. I'll open it up when I know more.

Ruby: Its possible. Just go in February at about 2 AM! :)”

“Stikky and I were there two years ago at Thanksgiving. Hike from the parking area across River to River trail and ended up under some nice bluffs to camp.

Not many people then!!”