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Shawn

Shawn

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What was the last trail you hiked?

How were the trail conditions and overall experience?
 
Just did 10 day trip, focus was Death Valley NP, but hiked enroute both ways. Completed 56 trails in 6 states. Haven't tallied miles but probably around 100. Death valley did not disappoint. This pic is untouched, of the bottom of Ubehebe crater, totally out of this world! Will do more reports on trip later
 

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neidholdt said:
Just did 10 day trip, focus was Death Valley NP, but hiked enroute both ways. Completed 56 trails in 6 states. Haven't tallied miles but probably around 100. Death valley did not disappoint. This pic is untouched, of the bottom of Ubehebe crater, totally out of this world! Will do more reports on trip later
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Can't wait to see your reports!!
 
We found another arch in HNF yesterday, it's one of the nicer ones that I've seen in Indiana. It was a cold day for off trail hiking!
 

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My wife and I spent this past weekend in the Garden of the Gods area. We stayed at the Rose Hotel in Elizabethtown (which was delightful). Saturday we hiked the Garden of the Gods trail. Garden of the Gods road was closed due to heavy ice so we parked at the gate and walked to the trailhead. We didn't complete our intended route because sections were too slick for us, but we enjoyed exploring the area with almost no other traffic on the trails. Sunday, we hiked Rim Rock trail. The ice on the bluffs was stunning. Trail conditions on the lower trail were dicey in spots but well worth the struggle. We were alone on the lower trail but saw several others on the upper loop, which was mostly clear of ice.
 
Danl said:
My wife and I spent this past weekend in the Garden of the Gods area. We stayed at the Rose Hotel in Elizabethtown (which was delightful). Saturday we hiked the Garden of the Gods trail. Garden of the Gods road was closed due to heavy ice so we parked at the gate and walked to the trailhead. We didn't complete our intended route because sections were too slick for us, but we enjoyed exploring the area with almost no other traffic on the trails. Sunday, we hiked Rim Rock trail. The ice on the bluffs was stunning. Trail conditions on the lower trail were dicey in spots but well worth the struggle. We were alone on the lower trail but saw several others on the upper loop, which was mostly clear of ice.
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I was hoping to see a trip report of that area! Thanks!

Lots of trees down on the trail?
 
Shawn said:
I was hoping to see a trip report of that area! Thanks!

Lots of trees down on the trail?
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On the Garden of the Gods trail. there were quite a few branches down that were easily moved and a few trees that we had to go around. We decided to turn back and take easier options when we were going around a large fallen tree, on a fairly steep slope that was ice covered. Once the ice is gone, the fallen trees will be a bit of a nuisance but managable.
On the Rim Rock trails, there were a couple fallen trees on the upper loop. On the lower trail, the only obstruction was ice.PXL_20250126_163118651.jpg
 
The ice looks beautiful on the bluffage!

I had a meeting with Forest Service the other day. Once they get the roads cleared everywhere, they'll start to assess and work on trails. I'm sure it will be a multi-organizational effort.
 
neidholdt said:
Just did 10 day trip, focus was Death Valley NP, but hiked enroute both ways. Completed 56 trails in 6 states. Haven't tallied miles but probably around 100. Death valley did not disappoint. This pic is untouched, of the bottom of Ubehebe crater, totally out of this world! Will do more reports on trip later
Click to expand...

Wow I never dared to do Death Valley. I tried to convice my hiking buddies to do so but they wouldn't.
Would you happen to know the name of these blue flower/bushes on your picture ?

Thanks
 
keller said:
Wow I never dared to do Death Valley. I tried to convice my hiking buddies to do so but they wouldn't.
Would you happen to know the name of these blue flower/bushes on your picture ?

Thanks
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I want to road bike through Death Valley lol
 
I hiked to Ripple Canyon for Camp Cadiz in Southeastern Illinois today, it was pretty amazing. There were 4 decent sized waterfalls and a bunch of tiny ones. About half this hike was off trail, I followed the creek to Ripple Canyon and then edged the bluffs up and down from the waterfalls. I added on another waterfall south of Camp Cadiz on the ADT, it was worth the hike!
 

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keller said:
Wow I never dared to do Death Valley. I tried to convice my hiking buddies to do so but they wouldn't.
Would you happen to know the name of these blue flower/bushes on your picture ?

Thanks
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Sorry I do not. The only place I saw them was in the floor of the volcano
 
krJoest said:
I hiked to Ripple Canyon for Camp Cadiz in Southeastern Illinois today, it was pretty amazing. There were 4 decent sized waterfalls and a bunch of tiny ones. About half this hike was off trail, I followed the creek to Ripple Canyon and then edged the bluffs up and down from the waterfalls. I added on another waterfall south of Camp Cadiz on the ADT, it was worth the hike!
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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!
 
Driftwoody said:
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!
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Dead horse canyon isn't far away from ripple canyon, probably less than a 20 minute drive from camp Cadiz to HighKnob Campground. There is a lot in that area!
 
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 bucket list of areas to visit within the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois."
 
Driftwoody said:
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 bucket list of areas to visit within the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois."
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Cedar Wonders is west of Gum Springs. Parking is tricky unless you want to hike in from Gum Springs
 
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