I love to go hiking. It's probably my favorite outdoor activity fall through late spring. I'm also very lucky to live in one of the best places to hike in the Midwest, Southern Illinois.
We are very lucky here when it comes to climate. With the exceptions of July through August and January through February, we can hike all year long in comfort.
We also have been blessed with some of the best hiking trails in the world. They are well maintained and most of them get little attention from tourists so they are not very crowded.
If you are in Southern Illinois and you mention hiking a few places will be yelled out from the crowd, Garden of the Gods, Bell Smith Springs, Cave-in-Rock and Giant City State Park to name a few. What many may not be aware of are the guided hikes available.
Several years ago I went on a guided hike by the Illinois Geological Survey. They have these guided lecture tours twice a year and they are well worth the $10 for the guidebook. After the guided hike you can later use the guidebook for self guided hikes.
I love these hikes and have gone on several of them. The geologists that lead them point out rock formations, tell us how they got that way and teach us a great deal about geology on the hike.
Another fun way to go hiking is with an organized group. I often join the River-to-River hikes led by John O'Dell from Harrisburg, IL. These hikes are outstanding and John is a fountain of wisdom. He is also full of folk stories and history of the area. It makes for an entertaining hike!
Another great aspect of these hikes is the botany. I'm an ethnobotanist, which means that I study how the people of a particular culture and region make of use of indigenous plants. On these guided tours there are generally several people who are well educated on various local plants and their uses both in modern times and in the past.
All of these groups are set up with fast and slow groups. I have been on hikes with children as young as 4 and adults as old as 101. And the guy who was celebrating his 101st birthday by going hiking with his 79-year-old son, 58-year-old grandson, 30-year-old great grandson and 5 year old great great grandson....out hiked us all!
We are very lucky here when it comes to climate. With the exceptions of July through August and January through February, we can hike all year long in comfort.
We also have been blessed with some of the best hiking trails in the world. They are well maintained and most of them get little attention from tourists so they are not very crowded.
If you are in Southern Illinois and you mention hiking a few places will be yelled out from the crowd, Garden of the Gods, Bell Smith Springs, Cave-in-Rock and Giant City State Park to name a few. What many may not be aware of are the guided hikes available.
Several years ago I went on a guided hike by the Illinois Geological Survey. They have these guided lecture tours twice a year and they are well worth the $10 for the guidebook. After the guided hike you can later use the guidebook for self guided hikes.
I love these hikes and have gone on several of them. The geologists that lead them point out rock formations, tell us how they got that way and teach us a great deal about geology on the hike.
Another fun way to go hiking is with an organized group. I often join the River-to-River hikes led by John O'Dell from Harrisburg, IL. These hikes are outstanding and John is a fountain of wisdom. He is also full of folk stories and history of the area. It makes for an entertaining hike!
Another great aspect of these hikes is the botany. I'm an ethnobotanist, which means that I study how the people of a particular culture and region make of use of indigenous plants. On these guided tours there are generally several people who are well educated on various local plants and their uses both in modern times and in the past.
All of these groups are set up with fast and slow groups. I have been on hikes with children as young as 4 and adults as old as 101. And the guy who was celebrating his 101st birthday by going hiking with his 79-year-old son, 58-year-old grandson, 30-year-old great grandson and 5 year old great great grandson....out hiked us all!
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