Join The Hiking Forum Now for Free!

Join a Community of Hikers and Backpackers from Around the World. Find and post detailed Trail Reports. Find and discuss the Best Hiking Gear for Your Budget. Become a Better Hiker with the help of Hikers and Backpackers all over the World. Join The Hiking Forum Today, it’s Free!

Join Now Log in

Search results

  1. Driftwoody

    Camp Clothing and Footwear

    When backpacking (almost always in cooler months) I wear a lightweight synthetic hoodie in my hammock. It fits snugly and comfortably around my neck & face, and has a kangaroo pouch for my Sawyer Squeeze (or similar) water filter (just the small filter element). Freezing can damage the membranes...
  2. Driftwoody

    Random Chat Thread

    I've seen lots of cool stuff in Southern Illinois over decades of exploring. Kudos to anyone who can tell me where my favorite rock formation can be found:
  3. Driftwoody

    Random Chat Thread

    Hard to say, exactly; maybe twenty times over the last 42 years after I graduated SIU.
  4. Driftwoody

    Random Chat Thread

    I retired at the end of April, now I'm planning a 17 day road trip out west through Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas before heading home back to Chicagoland.
  5. Driftwoody

    Looking for New Hiking Boots

    Many good brands of hiking footwear, but the most important attribute if fit. If it doesn't fit well all day long, it's not the right footwear for you. If possible, try them on in the store. Lace them properly. Walk around. Kick the toes to make sure your toes do not touch the inside toe of the...
  6. Driftwoody

    Best Lightweight Camping Chair for Hiking and Travel | Experts Review

    I haven't tried the Helinox. My first UL chair for backpacking was the REI Flexlite, but I wasn't satisfied. It wasn't very high off the ground, and would sink into the ground. A couple years ago I bought the Big Agnes Skyline. It's not as light, but still considered UL. It sits higher off the...
  7. Driftwoody

    Bear spray or pepper spray

    Heard them late at night in our back yard. So did our dog, unfortunately. She was vocal about it for quite some time.
  8. Driftwoody

    Fall

    Cool temps, and few if any bugs. Is it necessary to mention the colorful display of leaves on deciduous trees? Last October I hiked for a few days during peak color in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan U.P. The views from the Escarpment Trail high above Lake of the Clouds...
  9. Driftwoody

    Day Hiking Dutchman Lake (Shawnee National Forest)

    I've been to Shawnee dozens of times since I first attended SIU-C in the fall of 1975, but never heard of Dutchman Lake. I'll probably go down (from Chicagoland) this November, and will post in this thread if I have any questions.
  10. Driftwoody

    Bear spray or pepper spray

    The animal I'm most concerned about is ticks. I would definitely carry bear spray in Grizzly country, and Mountain Lions can be dangerous out west. I've spent innumerable nights in black bear country, and never came close to any kind of incident. A small rattlesnake once lunged at me and missed...
  11. Driftwoody

    Weight reduction of your pack/gear

    Efforts to reduce weight has progressed along with my age, as my ability to go long miles with a heavy pack has diminished. Fortunately, as I've gotten older I can better afford better gear. I've found that return on investment has diminishing returns as prices escalate for high end ultralight...
  12. Driftwoody

    We need a Professional Hiking League

    Professional hikers exist, when paired with photography and guidebooks that sell. Possibly online podcasts, these days. But as some kind of spectator sport? Racing through scenery pretty much defeats the purpose for hiking, IMO.
  13. Driftwoody

    Hello from DuPage County, Illinois

    The 3 mile loop starts on the high ground and passes the wooded summit of Taum Sauk Mountain, which is fairly level; you wouldn't know it was there without a sign. I recommend doing the loop counter-clockwise, so that the return loop goes uphill along the creek that feeds the falls. I also...
  14. Driftwoody

    Hello from DuPage County, Illinois

    At Taum Sauk I ended up doing just a day hike loop (about 3 miles) from the top down to Mina Sauk falls, which was flowing nicely. It takes some effort to get down to the base of the falls for a good photo op, but worth it. While I was in the area I also visited Johnson’s Shut-Ins, Hickory...
  15. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    Thanks Shawn!
  16. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    Shawn, your trail guide for Cedar Creek Wonders states: Check out this map for points of interest around the Cedar Creek Wonders area. However, the link in your website doesn't work. Can you please check on the link? I'd like to see that map.
  17. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    Thank you so much, that is very helpful!
  18. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    The brochure in the link below is for Ripple Hollow; is that where you went? map & brochure
  19. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    I haven't been able to find any info online about Ripple Canyon, but there is mention of "Ripple Hollow" which sounds remote and rugged. Another area I haven't explored is "Cedar Wonders" which, according to Hiking with Shawn, is a defiant thing to do: "Defiantly add Cedar Creek Wonders to your...
  20. Driftwoody

    Share Your Latest Experience

    Thanks for posting! I've hiked in Southern Illinois more times than I can count, but I've never heard of nor been to Ripple Canyon. I've been itching to get away for a 3-day weekend, and now I have a destination!
Back
Top