HEY Flasher!

“Hiya Flash,

I saw somewhere you wondered about a fall Yellow River trip. The MN trip I'm planning is, in effect, that trip... just a bit further north.

Why don't you plan a YR trip? You'd need to check the TRIPS page here to not conflict with anything and then there's your own schedule. You can get the YR map online. I could help figure out a route.

I just don't want to be responsible for planning another trip. Just got done with SD and have the MN one coming up. Those are the third and fourth trips I've planned this year.

Enough! I want to relax on one.

I mean, it's not hard, but you have to make sure everyone knows where to go, perhaps provide a few refreshments (heheeheee), have a contact number, etc.

I'll help ya if ya want, but it'd be your trip.

Ya game?? :-)”

“bump”

“I'm thinking perhaps Sep. 24 weekend. as this weekend is to close to plan anything and the first three weekends in October are booked for me with football games and homecoming.”

“who's flashing? I have my camera ready!”

“opps I always forget that I use Flasher my trail name at home due to the fact I'm already signed in. But I forgot my password to that screen name so I still post under jrohner78 at work.”

“How about November? There's a ton of trips in Sept/Oct. I think Sept. 24 is too soon, plus my MN trip is the weekend after.”

“so......get busy flashing! (camera is ready)”

“That's how he got his name, SC. At a YR hike -- his first BP trip -- he hauled out his big ole 35 mm camera setup to show us around the campsire and managed to set the flash off and blind us all!!”

“Actually flasher comes from my camera and the large flash I blinded everyone with at the Yellow River State Forrest trip. Shortly after Liz had called me flasher.”

“lol thats funny liz”

“I could be up for a trip”

“You are a trip....



















LOL! ;-P”

“Oh yeah, NOT the second weekend in November, either!

Yeah baby, GO HAWKS!!! :-)”

“First week on November I say. Now lets find a venue?”

“Have to consider hunting season then, too. Check Iowa DNR rules. Last fall YR was the last weekend of October and it was small game season, so we all wore orange.

It'd be nice to go somewhere like the Coralville Reservoir and the Sugarbottom area (north of North Liberty), but I don't know their regs.

Maybe a state park? There would most likely not be hunting there. Could go into Illinois, WI or MO, too.

I know there's a nice loop at Mark Twain Reservoir west of Hannibal, MO. (don't know hunting regs) Also, I've noticed one or two state conservation areas north of Hannibal and by Kirksville.”

“Coralville is state land and no hunting allowed. There is camping not so sure on backpacking though.”

“I might have a contact there.

I think most of it is fed land? it's Army Corps of Engineers.

Let me think some more..... One time I checked into Shimek Woods or whatever in SE Iowa... It only had maybe 3 miles of backpacking trails. Big freakin' whoop! (and they plug it as a backpacking system)

I don't recall, where ya at Flash?”

“Or, just do Yellow River.

Or.... three words... Volga River Recreation Area (ok FOUR then) between West Union, Fayette and Wadena. I've hiked there.

If they have created a second campground -- which they were in the process of doing a couple years ago -- would make it doable and legal.”

“I live near Iowa City. That's why I'm pretty sure there is no hunting in the Coralville area. Volga is that in IA, WI, or MN?? But early November say the first weekend would work for me. Once we get our destination I'll post a trip on here.”

“NO Yellow river!!! It sucks >;(”

“SC, have you been there???!? sheesh!”

“no :(”

“;-P

You better go sometime. Or get your butt up to that MN trip. :-)”

“Flash! An idea for that trip..... although not in Ioway.

Look at the Mark Twain Reservoir, about a half an hour west of Hannibal, MO. They have backpacking loops and the possibility of up to a 25-mile hike one way. I've done part of the loop on the reservoir, but not the whole thing.

It wouldn't be that far for you guys at all. I think it's maybe 5.5 to 6 hours for me. I'd try to come, although I have no idea what's going on then.

For Iowa forests, one time I looked at either Stephens or Shimek, and whichever it was only had three miles of trails. I'd like to see the Loess Hills... I'll ask Superbee if there are really backpacking opportunities, since he was in that area many, many years... at the southern end of the Hills.

Might there be opportunities along the Mississippi on the Wildlife Refuge? I know just south of Hannibal there's a MO state conservation area. Someone just posted about it on the St. Louis Yahoo group, which I subscribe to. That could be a wealth of info for MO. (I also subscribe to MoTrails Yahoo group, which you might want to look at)

You could try looking at state parks, to see if one might have two different campsites -- or a regular one and a group campsite -- and see if you could create a loop or out and back. (hopefully the campsites are in slightly different areas... OR... it's a DAY hike, lol)

I keep looking at the Volga Rec. Area. There is one primitive campground, but the manager wouldn't give permission to camp anywhere else to make a second night. I need to see if there is property adjoining that could be camped on to make a loop.

Oh and there are other sections of Yellow River, too. :-)

I'd really like to see a Mark Twain Reservoir hike... and might plan one. :-)
last edited: 1/24/06 12:03:04 PM”

“I'll check out the Mark Twain reservoir Could make it a trip. I noticed that most areas don't have more than one campsite like yellow river. Iowa needs to get is chit together.


Not like they'd budge for me.”