John Muir Trail - Snowshoeing

“I can't take it anymore. I have GOT to get out in the snow, even a dayhike will do!”

“That's a long ways for you to go for a snowshoe dayhike!”

“Just a 2 hour drive. That's nothing!”

“Trail condition phone service says the Southern Kettle is a "winter wonderland".

Sweet.”

“Oh, I thought you were in Illuhnoy.”

“I am... Chicagoland.”

“I was also confused & did a search, there's a John Muir Trail in Illinois, 5 different loops, one is a whopping 10 miles long! WHOOOHOO!

Sorry Jimmy San, just havin' a little fun w you, most of us think of the JOHN MUIR TRAIL, out here in Kaliofornia in GD's country, 211 miles on top of the Sierra along the Pacific Crest Trail. We seem to forget there's another part of the country :).”

“Yeah, I know. I figured people would Google it and I would get teased. That's why I put "Wisconsin" in the trip report so people wouldn't get confused. I should have said this in the thread as well.

2 hour drive from Chicagoland folks!”

“Not that anyone is going to be on this hike with me, but it's self registration at the trailhead for the trail pass.”

“Hmmmm.... Nothing going on that day (well, other than friend's Christmas Eve gathering). Probably a 4-hr drive.

I've never snowshoed. How tough would it be for a beginner?

I've been on the Emma Carlin Trail for mt. biking and have been in the general area before.

Will think on this........”

“Would ove to hike with you Jim, however I think I may have some trouble when I get home.

I would like to start some kind of tradition with my daughter and future son/daughter? of hiking on Christmas Day morning or Christmas Eve.”

“It's 9 in Kenosha today. I am here now on business.

What a great idea, a Christmas Eve holiday hike tradition. When do you want to start?”

“This trip is still on. A buddy of mine is going with me so that's pretty damn cool.

Low 27 high 36 with a 70% chance of rain and snow. Should be fun. It's supposed to be 45 today in Kenosha!!!”

“Leaving in 2 hours. Sure hope there is some snow left! My friend went out and bought snowshoes for this trip. I kept telling him, "Dude, we may get out there and find that we don't need them... just rent the things."

He said, "We are going to hike even if we don't need, them, right? Hike in the mud? We'll go again where there is more snow, right?"

Damn, straight! That's the spirit!”

“Really great trip! There was a fair a amount of show, hardly enough for showshoes but enough that it was still an advantage to wear them. We cranked out 10 miles in 4 hours, so we did really good. The trails were nice and I recommend this.

Note: There turned out to be a $10 parking fee and $4/hiker trail pass fee that I didn't see on the web site, but we worked that out OK. They take checks thank goodness.”