My home featured in Backpacker Magazine!

“little swelling of pride when the newest issue of Backpacker magazine mentions the River to River trail at Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.

Page 73, in the "40 hidden great spots" article, for Central U.S.

My inlaws live smack IN GotG. If you ever go, make sure and stop by their concession stand for a Greek Gyro. mmm.mmm.good. And unlike most concession owners--they AREN'T carnies, and they ARE clean!!”

“Now I'm gonna have to find my issue of April's The Backpacker. They also have an article titled "It's Your Fault". It's about doing the hike I did with Dunk, Paul, Obi, & my husband at Pt. Reyes, Alamere Falls. The fault runs through Pt. Reyes.”

“Garden of the Gods is a frickin beautiful place...and I swear I have/took the same pic they show in the mag!”

“yeah, that's "Camel Rock" on the right. I'm compositing an image of a buddy of mine jumping through the air from the head to the hump. Gotta love Photoshop.”

“Garden of the Gods is a beautiful place, and it's surrounded by many, many other super-cool places.

I've never stopped at that concession place, but I will next time I'm over there. Are the gyros REALLY GOOD!? Like REALLY, REALLY GOOD!? 'Cause I loves a good gyro!!!

Will they know who I'm talkin' about if I tell 'em Nafai sent me?”

“A good gyro in the midst of a backpacking heaven? Gotta love the modern world.”

“m-nuts, no, just tell them either that their son-in-law sent you or if you can remember my name, Derek. And yes, the Gyros are very good. Good Tzaziki sauce makes the gyro, imho. They also do Polish on pita bread too..mmmm... It's getting close to fair season and they travel around a lot.

They'll be at Macanda festival this weekend, you can catch them there. That's up your way anyway, right?

Oh, which reminds me--are there any good trails around Giant City state park? I haven't done anything there yet. If so, are there any fees for camping, etc.?

Thanks in advance.”

“Oh and anyone that goes to Garden of the Gods will do themselves a mighty favor by going 5 miles north on Karbers Ridge Road and visiting Rim Rock. Twice a beautiful as GotG and MUCH less visited.”

“was gonna write a trip report from saturday, but BPM beat me to it. June 2001 p. 102

It's kinda wierd seeing the pics and reading the article just after being there.”

“I like page 44 in this issue of BPM. I'll be going right to those places in July!”

“Got mine too today!

How come the first thing I do when I get my BPer mag is tear out all of the cardboard flyers...could it be 'cause there's so many of 'em!”

“I do the tear thang too, but got no complaints....”

“me three! It is annoying when your a subscriber already. They need to send us flyer-free mags.”

“Good, Carnies Scare me. They have small hands and they smell of cabbage.”

“switchback, I saw an article about Pt. Reyes which I planned to do with Dunk & Obi in BPM before I left. I thought it may make the trail crowded, but it wasn't.

Did you see any animals on the trail, and did you do it as a one or two day trip? Where did you camp?”

“Current issue features articles about Natl Grasslands, including Little Missouri (where I'll hike in July). Also features Weminuche Wilderness, CO - I'll be there, too.”

“Does a yellow jacket nest count as wildlife? None other than that & birds.

I didn't get very far this time, I was taking my dad out for the day. I thought I was a pretty slow hiker.”

“Why UNLIKE most concessions, they are clean, Nafal? I've never been to southern Illinois (I once drove through it in 1973), but love giros, yeros, as well as soyblaki, but then I'm from Montréal (and cocky about it). Cheers and happy trails.”

“Speaking of which, mel's backyard, the High Sierra's, are featured in this month's Backpacker.

No, not that backyard you pervs.”