Pimiteoui Trail Association Hiking Club Oct – Dec 2014

President – Cindy Alexander – 309-231-2190 Vice President – Brian Cunningham – 309-633-1224 Secretary – Susan Hood – 309 -648 -2771 Treasurer – Linda Kent – 309-263-8500 Newsletter Editor – Jerry Gegel – 309-266-7533 Officer at Large – Mark Klokkenga – 309-678-3827 Officer at Large – Mike Bohn – 309-688-2791

A Poem Inspired by our September 6, 2014 hike at Rock Springs Park, Decatur, Illinois. Dedicated to my fellow hikers (human and dog) of the Pimiteoui Trail Association .

JOYFUL AND LONG

Bright blue, cloudless sky lights our way through sunlit prairie and sheltering woods, along teeming wetland and flowing river.

Nourished, we are, by air and light, singing birds and chattering squirrels, croaking frogs and silent fish, dancing bluestem and still oaks.

Resting at day’s end under full moon and dark sparkling sky, our hearts are full of love for each other and the green Earth.

The adventure warm inside us, we celebrate and raise a glass: Here’s to you, fellow hikers, both human and dog! May your journey be joyful and your trail be long.

Copyright  Dave Grebner: 9/10/14

1 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gear Swap Site Check the PTA website (ptahike.org) for hiking or camping gear offered for sale by fellow PTA members. If you would like to sell something, submit a short description, price, your name and contact number to John Jackson at [email protected] . The PTA reserves the right to reject or edit all listings.

PTA Contributes Funds for Bridge Construction The Pimiteoui Trail Association has recently contributed $100 to Forest Park Nature Center (FPNC) for the construction of a bridge on the Illinois River Bluff Trail. The bridge will be located on the newest segment of the Illinois River Bluff Trail near Green Valley Camp. The PTA has hiked parts of this trail this past year and this bridge will be a valuable asset to all hikers using the trail. The project is being coordinated by JD Russell from FPNC and Dale Unruh of the Boy Scouts of America and is to be completed this fall. Our donation will go toward the purchase of treated lumber.

Other Events of Interest 1. Manito Volkswalk, Oct. 18, 2014: The second annual "Autumn at Sand Ridge" Volkswalk will be held on Saturday, October 18, at the Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, located in Sand Ridge State Forest just west of Manito on 25410 Fish Hatchery Road. Sponsors are the American Volkssport Association and the Manito Mapping Committee. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles) walks through the state forest surrounding the hatchery. Also available that day: Hatchery tours, Art Fair in Manito, Classic Car Museum. For more information, contact Ruth Rademacker, (309) 202-0506. (Note: There may be a small participation fee, possibly $2.) 2. PTA Annual Meeting: Feb. 21, 2015. Annual meeting, Forest Park Nature Center, 5- 8 pm

PTA Hiking Club Newsletter 1. For 2014, the newsletter will be “published” quarterly. Hike leaders; please email your Event Reports to [email protected] within two weeks after completion of your scheduled events. A single photo (jpeg file format) for inclusion in the Newsletter may be attached to your report. 2. Hike Leaders are to register all attendees for a hike/bike/paddle event using the “official” Pimiteoui Trail Association Liability Waiver form. These may be obtained on our website at WWW.PTAHIKE.ORG . 3. If an area allows dogs, they must be on a leash at all times . Also, please be prepared to pick up and dispose of pet excrement

For Outdoor Events 1. In case of bad weather, contact the hike leader to see if the hike has been cancelled. 2. Any hike leader wanting to use the club’s first aid kit can obtain it by calling Cindy Alexander.

EVENT SCHEDULE 2

2014-29, Saturday, 6:30 am, October 4, Day Trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin This is a short notice of a truly unique hiking event. We are planning this as just a day trip and will van/car pool to Lake Geneva, WI. If there is adequate interest we will take a van and will fill it on a "first come, first serve" basis. If you prefer to drive up the previous night or to stay Saturday night reasonably priced rooms are available at the Harbor Shores Hotel. Their phone number is (262) 248-9181. Their website is: http://harborshoreslg.com . During this wonderful "road-trip" to Lake Geneva, WI we will hike the Geneva Lake Shore Path, a beautiful trail that encircles Geneva Lake. Surrounded by mansions built by the Wrigley's of Chicago and others with their high financial means, the Shore Path literally crosses the front yards of the mansions. We plan to hike a relatively easy (level trail) 12 miles, which should take approximately 4 hours. It may be slightly cool so you should dress accordingly. Also, there are no facilities whatsoever for water, snacks or toilets for several miles. So bring a light snack and fluids. We will dine afterwards at the village of Fontana on Geneva Lake. We will meet at the Cracker Barrel parking lot in Morton at 6:30 am. Hike Leader: Brian Cunningham - (309) 633-1224 cell

2014-30, Sunday, 1:30 pm, October 19, Funk’s Grove Let's venture over to Funks Grove once again, this time when foliage on the trees should be close to their peak for beautiful fall color. Funks Grove is a high quality natural area that encompasses over 1000 acres, which is dedicated as an Illinois Nature Preserve. It is also the largest remaining intact prairie grove in the state of Illinois, and portions have been designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Over seven miles of well-maintained trails will take us through prairie and woodland habitats. A trail from the Sugar Grove Nature Center will lead us to the Funks Grove Church, Cemetery, and the Chapel of Templed Trees. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. Pets are welcomed on most trails, but must be leashed and remain on the trails. For those that want to car pool, please meet at the Cracker Barrel, promptly at 1:30pm. If anyone wants to meet at Funks Grove, we will be starting the hike from Sugar Grove Nature Center, which is within Funks Grove. Please meet at this location at 2:30pm, or shortly after. If you will be meeting the group there, please call, text, or respond to the event reminder, so I know whom to expect. We will decide where to dine, probably somewhere in Bloomington, after the hike. Hike Leader: Mark Klokkenga, 309-678-3827

2014-31, Saturday, 4:30 pm, November 1, Hike & Weiner Roast Potluck, Detweiller Park Meet at the Dogwood shelter in Detweiller Park, located in the north parking lot, at 4:30 pm if you would like to hike first. We'll crunch through the leaf-covered trails for about an hour before meeting back at the shelter for the wiener roast at 5:45 pm. The club will provide hot dogs, buns, condiments, and lemonade. There will also be one crock of vegetarian chili. Please bring your own table service (plate & silverware), a side dish to share, and a hot dog stick if you have one (a few will be available to share). The shelter has electricity and water available. Sunset is at 5:55 pm, so dress warm (hat, gloves) because the temperature goes down after dark. We can gather around the fire pit to keep warm and to listen to any spooky tales you would like to tell. Come and enjoy this autumn outdoor social with your fellow hiking friends. Event Leader: Cindy Alexander, (309) 231-2190

2014-32, November 9, Robison Park South, Mossville Road, Peoria

3 We will follow the trail south from Robinson Park to the overlook of Route 6. A fellow hiker shared online that this trail is 4.25 miles long (round trip) and the overall height gain is 168’. This trail includes some challenging climbs and provides a really good workout! Hike Leader: Susan Hood, 309-648-2771

2014-33, Nov. 29, Saturday, 9:00 am, McNaughton Park, Pekin, IL Bring your turkey relatives and friends for a jaunt at beautiful McNaughton Park in Pekin. This park has a mixture of woods with some prairie. We'll hike at least three hours—weather permitting—with one early return point to opt-out. Bring hiking shoes, hiking staff(s), water, snack, an optional camera, and a pleasant attitude. Dress in layers. The trail is moderately difficult, but the pace will be easy. Dogs are allowed on leashes. Drive there directly. Stop for a bathroom break before arriving since the outhouses are deplorable. McNaughton is south off of RTE 98 just east of N. Parkway Drive. Look for the hike leader standing by his white Prius and park there. 9:10 is boots on the trail. But call if you'll be a little late, and we may wait for you. An optional, after-hike activity involves eating together at the most expensive restaurant we can find (hikers treat the leader). Hike Leader: Jay Meinrich 309-472-0165 cell (prefers voice over text), email [email protected]

2014-34, Saturday, Dec 13, 9:30 am, Eureka Lake/Davidson Memorial Park, Eureka Enjoy the frosty coolness of late fall. Our hike will begin with an easy loop trail that borders the creek and a meadow. We then enter the woods and follow the trail as it traverses through the disc golf course. Onward we go as we continue along the wide grassy paths through the Davidson section. Then back to our cars. Dress for the weather. Lunch optional at a local eatery. Directions : From Peoria, take Rt. 24 east to Eureka. Turn right at Rt. 117 south (Main St. stoplight, courthouse on corner). Turn right onto Lake Rd. (gas station/shopping plaza). Go 1 block; turn right into lower park below the dam. Follow park road to the end by the Litweiller ball field sign. Hike Leader : Cindy Alexander, 309/231-2190

Dec. 15, Monday, 6:00 PM, PTA Board Meeting, Morton Public Library, 315 W. Pershing St., Morton Come to this meeting to share your ideas about hiking locations, social and service events and club business. Volunteer to lead a hike! Take a turn at leading the clean-up of our adopted section of the Rock Island Greenway! Our schedule for January, February and March will be created at this meeting. If you are unable to attend, pass your ideas on to a Board Member before the meeting. As you enter the entrance of the library, turn left to reach the large meeting room. Feel free to bring drinks and food into this room. Coffee is available for purchase. Event Coordinator: Susan Hood, 309-648-2771

2014-35, Friday, Dec. 19, 6 pm, Forest Park Nature Center Come join the club at this one of a kind event at the Forest Park Nature Center. We will be taking a short walk along the trails lit with luminaries at night. In addition, the Nature Center will be open and presenting live holiday music, story telling, caroling, treats, and shopping for those of you who still need more! Event Leader: Mike Bohn 309-657-4557

4 EVENT REPORTS

2014-18, Sunday, July 13, 2:00 PM, Jubilee State Park When Toni and I scouted the trails a week in advance, we found the creek crossings to be very deep in soft mud. So, even though this hike was promoted from the beginning as a muddy one, eight people with a taste for the unusual showed up. We hiked some trails on the north side of the park, where the horses usually are. The trailhead is just past the park office, at a place called 100 Mile Meadow. Everyone remained cheerful throughout the hike, crossing the creeks through the boot sucking mud. People wore a variety of footwear, from rubber boots to sandals, depending, I suppose, upon their view of life. The group leader decided to deviate from the plan, and take an alternate route back. The result was that deja vu experience of “Oops, I think I’ve been lost here before.” Toni and I were in disagreement about which trail to take out of the woods, but John Jackson found the way out with his compass and map. Only those who were on the hike will ever know if it was Toni or I who was right. We made it back through the 100 Mile Meadow, and spent some time hosing the mud off our shoes at a picnic shelter. We retired to Ludy’s in Kickapoo for burgers and beer, which we felt we virtuously deserved, as the mud from our trek dried on our clothes. Attendees : Kathy Jones, Cindy Alexander, Susan Hood, John Jackson, George Schini, Mark Klokkenga Hike Leaders: Doug and Toni Lais

2014-19, Friday, July 18, 9:00 AM, PPD Rock Island Greenway Clean-Up Lush green foliage looks great alongside a trail. But it can get hazardous when it spills out onto the trail impeding the progress of cyclists and pedestrians. So, our job on Friday, July 18, was to cut back some of this weedy growth from our adopted segment of the Rock Island Greenway. We proceeded to clip, hack and prune the gnarly stalks and vines for over 2 hours, filling 7 plastic lawn bags with clippings. We also picked up trash, which was in much better control, filling about half a bucket. As we worked, several people (some cyclists and one man at the gas station) thanked us for our trail work. Time limited what we could do, so we hope that the park district will be able to pick up where we left off. Clean-up crew : Cindy Alexander (leader), Chris Golden, Susan Hood

2014-20, July 23, Wednesday, 6:00 PM, Springfield Cemetery Savanna. Peoria We gathered by the Ingersoll statue at the foot of Glen Oak Park to start our hike. Mareike gave us a brief introduction the Peoria Wilds group and the prairie and woodland restoration work they do in the Peoria area. We hiked along the paved trail adjacent to Perry Avenue to the southern entrance to Springdale cemetery. We crossed the area of the former caretaker's house and entered the old cement path that leads up the hill to the central part of the cemetery. We stopped at the edge of the savanna restoration area and checked out the information displays about the savanna and the historic prairie plants it contains. We passed through the savanna along it's mowed path surrounded by big bluestem prairie grass to the Cole family gravesite that is at its center. A rest at the Cole site inspired a brief round of progressive story telling by a few of us. When the story trailed off, the frog had decided that air conditioning was better than the lily pond. Exiting the savanna to the north, we stopped by the gravesite of Octave Chanute -- the birthplace and resting place of modern aviation. Eric gave a brief description of Chanute's accomplishments including development of the airfoil -- the wing shape design that allows airplanes to get off the ground. We rambled back down the hill along the cemetery's paved roads and stopped briefly by the pet cemetery - one of Springdale's more recent additions. In addition to dogs and cats, the pet cemetery also

5 includes some more exotic animals that were former residents of the Peoria Zoo. We wound our way back to the cemetery exit along the creek. Cheyenne enjoyed a dip in the creek while we were in-route. After the hike, a number of us gathered at Kelleher’s for food and laughs. Attendees: (2-legs): CL McDaniel, Toni Lais, Doug Lais, Laura Van Riper, Cindy Alexander, Barb Gurtler, Homer Gurtler, Brian Cunningham, Mark Klokkenga, Chris Golden, Susan Hood, Mary Greenhood, Jay Meinrich. Guests: Peggy Reese, Christina Abraham. (4 legs): Cheyenne, Samson Event/Hike Leaders : Mareike Kraatz and Eric Hutchison

2014-21, Aug 2, Saturday, 8:00 AM, Madigan State Park We were pleasantly greeted with a bright, cool summer morning. Only three dedicated hikers met at the Cracker Barrel in Morton in readiness for the trip to Lincoln. So, with the prospect of a beautiful day and a great system of trails awaiting us, we proceeded to our destination. Within 45 minutes we arrived at the Madigan State Park's north access area located less than a mile off of I-55. The trails were generally wide and grassy and occasionally you could catch of glimpse through the brush of the Salt Creek flowing past. We saw no other hikers as we followed the looping trails clockwise from north to south and then back around to the north. But we did hear the many varied chirps and twitters of birds residing in the trees above us. Also, a few times along the way we would test our agility by climbing over or around downed trees. And at one point it was necessary to bushwhack around a section where the creek bank had eroded into the water. Thanks, Sam, for being handy with the clippers. The printed park map doesn't show all of the trails there, so sometimes an intersection had small piles of twigs, which I had placed the previous day, indicating which way to go. The park has plans for trail work and new signage in upcoming weeks. Following our hike, we explored the remainder of the park by car to get a feel for how big it is and what it has to offer. As a side trip, we visited Kickapoo Creek Park (a Logan County park in Lincoln) to check out the suspension bridge which allows hikers to access trails on both sides of the creek. We then finished our visit to Lincoln with lunch and frozen custard at Culver's. Attendees: Linda Kent, Sam Kent Event Leader: Cindy Alexander

2014-22, Monday, Aug. 11 & Wednesday, Aug 20, 6:00 PM, East Peoria Bike Trail Just before 5:00 on August 11, the weather was very threatening in Morton and it was already raining hard in Washington. So, I sent an email to cancel the bike ride. At 5:30, I drove down to the Bass Pro parking lot just in case any member had not received word that the hike was cancelled. There stood 5 members – ready to ride. The sky over East Peoria looked good, so despite not being dressed in biking clothes, I joined these die-hard cyclists. After the storm had passed, it was cool and pleasant. We rode all the way to the trailhead in Morton and returned to East Peoria just as the sun set at 8:00. We felt only a few drops of rain near Morton. Some of us dined at the nearby Chilli’s that evening. Aware that some members were disappointed I had cancelled the ride on the original date, I watched for an opportunity to reschedule another evening. The stars finally aligned on Wednesday, August 20. Without much notice, six members showed up and we hit the trail again. It was another enjoyable ride to Morton and back. On this evening, some of us dined at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Not a bad turn-out considering we are actually a hiking club! The cyclists on Monday, August 11: Roger John, Brian Cunningham, Celeste Hansen, Sandi and George Burrier. On Wednesday, August 20: Kathy Jones, Bonnie and John Jackson, Rob and Cindy Alexander, & Jerry Gegel. Event Leader: Susan Hood, 309-648-2771

6 2014-23, Aug 17, Sunday, 2:00 PM, Grandview Pimiteoui Trail Seventeen eager hikers gathered at Forest Park Nature Center for a hike up Pimiteoui Trail to Grandview Drive. Because of recent rains, there was some concern about the condition of the trail, but a partial survey of the route the previous day by the leader found no really difficult stretches. Hikers joked that one slightly muddy section was in that condition due to dripping sweat from previous hikers--it was a quite humid day! We hiked up to Grandview, rested for about 10 minutes, then made our way back. Some of us then gathered at Peoria Pizza Works to replenish the calories we burned off. Attendees : Cindy & Rob Alexander, George & Sandra Burrier, George Schini, Brian Cunningham, Chris Golden, Jerry Gegel, Susan Hood, Rich & Vicky Schurter, Tony & Doug Lais, Barb & Homer Gurtler, Jay Meinrich, Mary Greenhood. Event Leader : Dave Grebner

2014-24, Aug 21, Thursday, 6:00 PM, PPD Rock Island Greenway Clean-Up There was not much litter on our adopted section of the trail. We spent just under an hour trimming back stray foliage that was obstructing the trail. Attendees: Barb Gurtler, Mary Greenhood, Mike Fortune, Brian Cunningham, Susan Hood, Angie Madison, Chris Golden Event Leader: Laura VanRiper

2014-25, Saturday, September 6, 1:00 PM, Rock Springs Conservation Area, Decatur We were so fortunate to have a cool and beautiful day for this trip. A guided tour of the Homestead Farm was provided and we briefly visited the Nature Center. According to Gayle’s “my track app”, we hiked a total of 4.6 miles: thru the pine forest, through bluestem prairie areas, along a portion of the bike path and through the woods along the Sangamon River. There were many woodland flowers in bloom. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the prairie grasses, with gilded dragonflies flitting through the feathery plumes. It really was very pleasant. Everyone enjoyed “streetside” dining in front of Coney McKane’s American Eatery in downtown Decatur – especially Grandma’s homemade pie! (It is all about family at Coney McKane’s!) We drank in the “urban vibe” as we watched the setting sun highlight the varied architecture of the brick buildings, followed by the appearance of the red and blue streetlights of Prairie and Merchant Streets. Recommendations for the next trip to Rock Springs: Meet at the Field Shopping Center instead of Cracker Barrel in Morton to avoid some of the I74 construction work and leave at 11:00 instead of 1:00 to facilitate an earlier return. We would have liked to have hiked the Lookout Trail with the group, but were not able to fit it in this trip. A bike ride on the trail to Fairview Park also looks very appealing and I have read that there are “strung together a total of 11 miles of paved trails through woods and parks, over creeks and rivers”. Hmmmm – very interesting! Attendees : Roger John, Chris Golden, Vicki and Rich Schurter, Gayle Hart, Cherie and Andy Schull, Mark Klokkenga, Eric Hutchison, Mareike Kraatz, Jay Meinrich, Phil Schmuck, Dave Grebner, Hike Leaders: Susan Hood and Mary Greenhood

2014-26, Sept. 16, Tuesday, 6:00 PM , PPD Rock Island Greenway Clean-Up A BIG Thank You to our members who help clean-up our adopted section of the Rock Island Greenway. Our consistent clean up schedule is keeping it picked up extremely well. Hopefully, a contributor is that the trail users are also discarding less. We looked hard but because it's such good shape we gathered less than a full bag of debris on this outing.

7 Clean-up Crew : Brian Cunningham, Gayle Hart & Roger John

2014-27, Sept 18, Thursday, 6:00 PM, Keller, Rock Island Greenway There were eleven club members, two of which hiked for the first time with the club. We had a beautiful evening to do about a hour and a half easy out and back from Junction City on the new trail portion toward Pioneer Park. Some of us tried the wood fired pizza at Brienzo"s in Junction City after the hike. Attendees: Cindy Alexander, Rob Alexander, Celeste Hansen, Janet Nelson, Chris Golden, Andy Shull, Cherie Shull, Mark Klokkenga, Mareike Kraatz, Mary Reising (guest) Event Leader: Roger John

2014-28, Sept 27, 8:30 AM, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, Petersburg, IL Thanks to all who participated in making the last Saturday in September 2014, a special one, by traveling to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, near Petersburg. After arriving at our destination and checking in at the Visitor Center, we realized we had three different maps to go by; Jay's Google map, one from the Hiking Illinois book, and the Visitor Center map. We decided to start out on the trail called Mentor Graham's Footsteps, to see where that took us. After a nice uphill work out, and seeing the very tiny school house and cemetery, we crossed Route 97 onto the Cardinal Ridge Trail. This trail was also a strenuous uphill climb, that followed a ridge top for a considerable distance, before eventually connecting to Shady Hollow Trail, which lead us to the Sangamon River, and the strangely named, Damselfly Trail. We walked on this trail for almost a mile before arriving back at Route 97 and the entrance to New Salem Historic Site. Due to getting attacked by mosquitoes and other bugs, we agreed to walk the road back to our cars, which was another tough uphill climb. Following this workout, it was time relax by going to the gift shop and the Historic Village. The History of New Salem is amazing as it was really fascinating to see the way people lived back in 1820- 1830, in spite of knowing that the buildings were reconstructed during the Civilian Conservation Corp days from 1937-1943. After touring the Historic Village we went into Petersburg and dined at a very nice, authentic Mexican restaurant, named Los Rancheros. Attendees: Pam Brandt, Mary Greenhood, Eric Hutchison, Mareike Kraatz, Jay Meinrich, Gayle Hart, Guest : Rita Mallory Hike Leader : Mark E. Klokkenga

Treasurer’s Report

Checking Account: Savings Account: June 15, 2014 $1,367.45 $5.50 Expenses: 10.00 Income: 20.00 5.58 August 31, 2014 $1,377.45 $11.08

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PIMITEOUI TRAIL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NEW MEMBER ( ) CASH ( )

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ANNUAL DUES ARE $6.00 PER PERSON

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "PIMITEOUI TRAIL ASSOCIATION". MAIL TO CLUB TREASURER: LINDA KENT 22172 NORTHFIELD DR. MORTON, IL. 61550

MEMBERSHIP YEAR EXPIRES FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR .

THE NEWSLETTER IS MAILED ELECTRONICALLY EVERY QUARTER. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE E- MAIL, PROVIDE YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEND YOU A NEWSLETTER BY MAIL. YOU ARE ADVISED TO PHONE THE HIKE LEADER BEFORE A HIKE TO MAKE CERTAIN THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY LAST MINUTE CHANGES DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED EVENT. REMINDERS AND CHANGES ARE SENT OUT BY E-MAIL ONLY.

NAME:______

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CITY, STATE, ZIP______

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FIND HIKING INFORMATION: WWW.PTAHIKE.ORG

FACEBOOK AND PICTURES: GOOGLE: PIMITEOUI HIKING ASSOCIATION FACEBOOK

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