Southern Illinois Hike N Hang

**derekd1** · 12-04-2013, 18:07

This is right directly in my back door! I yet to have my hammock set up but am available and will be available for any assistance yall need in getting this put together. I have both trail guides, even though they are poorly put together in my opinion (well, poor compaired to others I have used and read on other trails). The large loop around Garden of the Gods is good. A good itinerary IMO is making a loop from GOG going to the east across the main road, there are 3 or 4 trails that can be put together to form a loop which takes you to 3 different arches, and ends up 1/4 mile from the main parking area, then head off down the R2R towards Herod, theres good campsites about halfway as well as good overlooks. If you cant find your guides let me know and I will make copies for ya covering the sections of the R2R your gonna be covering.

**Gideon** · 12-06-2013, 11:00

Just got back from a business trip and drove home in snow; woke up this morning to at least 7-8" on the ground. Not sure if it's like this in Il, but I wish we were out there today!!! It's beautiful. Decided to work from home because the roads are so bad. Really looking forward to next week, the fellowship, a new location and a bit of new gear...it really doesn't get any better than that!!

Gideon

**rngn** · 12-06-2013, 11:21

What new gear?

**Gideon** · 12-06-2013, 18:48

New trekking poles, new pack, new UQ/TQ, and I re-did my cook kit, building it around an Evernew non-stick titanium 600ml pot. Theory is to be able to actually cook some meals. The new UQ/TQ are rated to 20 so whether-or-not they show depends on the temps. The pack is a Gossamer Gear G4; I've been looking for an ultralight pack for winter when I'm packing bulky TQ and UQ's. Otherwise I use my murmur. I have some new shoes but that'll depend on the weather as well.

Looking forward to the trip, you guys are a great bunch and I'm really excited to meet a new forum member and to see Campalot again. I have another business trip this coming week so our hike is really something I'm looking forward to!

Gideon

**Campalot** · 12-06-2013, 20:44

Seen on the weather channel site that Harrisburg Ill got about 16 inches of snow . Guess we won't need our hammocks , we can just build igloos .

**Skygzr** · 12-07-2013, 04:20

Originally Posted by Gideon

New trekking poles, new pack, new UQ/TQ, and I re-did my cook kit, building it around an Evernew non-stick titanium 600ml pot. Theory is to be able to actually cook some meals. The new UQ/TQ are rated to 20 so whether-or-not they show depends on the temps. The pack is a Gossamer Gear G4; I've been looking for an ultralight pack for winter when I'm packing bulky TQ and UQ's. Otherwise I use my murmur. I have some new shoes but that'll depend on the weather as well.

Looking forward to the trip, you guys are a great bunch and I'm really excited to meet a new forum member and to see Campalot again. I have another business trip this coming week so our hike is really something I'm looking forward to!

Gideon

Santa came early!

**deutschland Sprott** · 12-07-2013, 08:03

Originally Posted by Campalot

Seen on the weather channel site that Harrisburg Ill got about 16 inches of snow . Guess we won't need our hammocks , we can just build igloos .

I saw that !! Crazy.
I live 5 hours north.. NOTHING here.

**deutschland Sprott** · 12-07-2013, 08:04

Originally Posted by Skygzr

Santa came early!

I have that PACK, its great.

**deutschland Sprott** · 12-07-2013, 08:05

Originally Posted by Gideon

New trekking poles, new pack, new UQ/TQ, and I re-did my cook kit, building it around an Evernew non-stick titanium 600ml pot. Theory is to be able to actually cook some meals. The new UQ/TQ are rated to 20 so whether-or-not they show depends on the temps. The pack is a Gossamer Gear G4; I've been looking for an ultralight pack for winter when I'm packing bulky TQ and UQ's. Otherwise I use my murmur. I have some new shoes but that'll depend on the weather as well.

Looking forward to the trip, you guys are a great bunch and I'm really excited to meet a new forum member and to see Campalot again. I have another business trip this coming week so our hike is really something I'm looking forward to!

Gideon

I have that Pack, its great

**Gideon** · 12-07-2013, 09:19

Good to know you like the G4, I'm hoping it won't be too big. I really like the Murmur but when you stuff full lenght quilts rated for zero into it, well...it can get a bit too tight.

The weather sure was crazy; I spend all afternoon shoveling out my small driveway. This morning I feel liked I hiked 35 miles yesterday