River to River Trail Thru Hike | Part 1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Days 1 & 2 of my solo River to River Thruhike across southern Illinois. September 17-18, 2020. Elizabethtown to Garden of gods overlook.
What I used for navigation:
Avenza App - River to River Bundle (Free)
River to River Trail Guide 2018 pdf: www.rivertoriv...
Saludos desde elgin il.
Visit Starved Rock State Park in Illinois for some beautiful scenery.
I really enjoyed my R2R hike. I didnt get too far though. Took a bad ankle twisting fall just West of Garden of the Gods, so it was really short. A local who lives right on the side of the trail rescued me.
I camped on High knob, as well as a few other spots in that area. Sat at that exact same park bench!
Ill be taking my first overnight backpacking trip ever on this trail. Ill be attempting to hike from Elizabethtown to the Garden of the Gods in 2 days lmao. Im planning on it being a complete disaster but I have to get my feet wet and this trail is the closet to me. Ill also be going when its pretty cold lmao. Im sure im in for some horror but im anxious to experience it lmao. Thanks for documenting your journey. These vids are awesome
Can you make fires there?
Yes, you can have fires in Shawnee forest. Of course I'd double check on their website before your trip - just to make sure there isn't a fire ban depending on weather.
Awesome. Thank you. What video camera did u use? How many batteries? Selfie pole? In doing trail next month and looking to document whole trip but don't want to burn my cell battery up. Thanks
I just used my iPhone. I have a battery brick. Anker 20,000mah.
New subscriber. I usually just send blue 🦋 butterfly with lots of encouragements ❤
What month did you hike the trail? Pretty weedy out there.
Mid-September
Parts of the trail can be pretty rough along with other trails in shawnee. I still love it but I have been surprised by rough trail conditions for sure.
Love your videos, sonraw and natural and HONEST. Keep it up!
It's Illinois so yeah nothing is going to be kept up!
I'm glad your back on the hiking trails again. I just watched all 5 of your videos. I see trail maintenance is lacking in some places. Marking a trail is very important especially for first-timers. I guess hiking the AT we all get spoiled. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. LE you did great. Lazy Extremist I say your AT Thru-hike wasn't a failure. Be proud of the mileage, experience on the trail. Hike on!
Thank you for your kind words!
Thanks for the great video. I live near St Louis and I always wondered about this trail. Looks like it could use some TLC. You video helps me to see what to expect should I head down that way
What your husband said at the beginning of your journey is the Best and funniest comment EVER ! You should merch that on a Tee! April 2022. Hope you're well. xx
Great job I'll watch the whole trip since it's probably the only way I'll ever see it all the way thru. Thanks for a wonderful video. Karl
Great video! I love that more and more folks are recording their experience hiking through the Shawnee! Happy belated birthday!
Thank you so much! I backpacked a lot in NM and CO in my youth. Now my 10 year old wants to go backpacking with me, and wanting to stay closer to home we're thinking about Shawnee and section hiking this trail. There's not nearly enough information on route. I appreciate being able to get some glimpses of the trail with my own eyes.
Some of the lusk Creek portions are really nice or at least when I was there recently. They are more kept up than some of the other trails in the area (the river to river portion of lusk Creek trails I mean). I do want to thru hike this trail eventually, but I'm not to that point in my backpacking journey, yet. I live in Southernmost Illinois, though. There are lots of equestrians in Lusk Creek, as well. I miss riding horses so much so it's nice to live vicariously through them haha 🤣.
Great way to spend your birthday! Trail looks difficult sometimes! I think staying away from the hunters it's a good plan. Bugs are not so dangerous! 😁 ATB
Love your videos! We live a couple of hours north of the Shawnee National Forest and we (2 of my sons and I) are planning a hike this spring. It wont be the whole river to river but it's a start! I am working on starting my own channel about the outdoors. Hope you are well!
I'd love to go hiking so I'm trying to find some nice trails in Illinois through youtubers like you. Thanks for making the video! :)
Also I'm terrified of spiders so this trail might not be an option for me
I went during peak spider season and during a drought. I think it might be more enjoyable to do it a different time of year!
Just found your channel on the R2R FB group. We section hiked it in 2018/2019. Can’t wait to watch the full playlist later. Thanks for the videos!
The R2R group is a great one!
Happy belated birthday to you. I just unpacked from an over night on the AT. Sunfish Pond was great. Quite a treat to come back and enjoy 2 of your videos. By for now, Terry
Nice video...Check out Superior Hiking Trail sometime..310 miles along Lake Superior on the north shore of Minnesota...Mid September...
I need to do more research on that trail! I bet it's beautiful.
happy birthday
love your videos I’m on the river the river right now and everything up to this horse camp has been for the birds rough hike for me lol
I hope your hike went more smoothly!
Happy birthday
Take and break off a slender branch with wide leaves on it. Swipe it in front of you as you walk. It takes care of the spider webs as you go. I learned this is a must in summertime woods walking.
Good idea!
I’m planning on heading out to thru-hike this in Jan 2021. I really enjoyed your videos. When are you planning on another AT attempt. My wife and I thru-hiked it in 2017. We have a daily blog if you’re interested (4luvofhhiking.com). Happy Trails!
I checked out your website - You've done a lot of big and small hikes! The River to River will be a piece of cake based on your resume of hiking. I am hoping to give the AT another attempt in '22. It's a big sacrifice to commit for a second time! But I'm doing the CT this summer, which I'm pretty excited about :)
I admire your content! Definitely on my radar for fall! What’s the freakiest encounter you can recall?!
On the River to River - freakiest encounter was definitely the bobcat screaming outside of my tent. Also the coyotes - I knew they wouldn't hurt me, but the group howls nearly every night got a little eery!
Happy Belated Birthday 🎂 So glad to see you back on a trail again. Have missed your videos. Hope your health is good these days. God bless and keep on stepping.😀
I ALWAYS bring soft sponge ear plugs when I backpack. Really helps me get a good night sleep when I can't hear every little critter. Good luck
I use them if there are others at camp, but when I'm alone I want to be able to hear what's going on.
Great video! How do you think this trail would be mid march?
I think it depends on the amount of rain? I’ve heard it can be quite muddy. But if you can tolerate mud, it shouldn’t be too overgrown or buggy. I hope you get out there!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Do you think this trail would be doable in December?
There are some folks out there doing it now in late November. I admit I am not a winter hiker. But if you have winter gear, the water doesn't freeze (it doesn't seem to get too cold in souther IL), and are mindful of the limited daylight, I bet you can do it! You won't have to worry about any overgrowth.
I wasn't familiar with this trail until now. I live in Central KY but news of its existence hadn't traveled this far, apparently. Nice job on the filming and commentary. I like how you don't sugar coat life on the trail. So far, it looks like it might be a little easier to navigate in early to mid spring but I wonder if it would be too wet/muddy then. It appears your app made things manageable, in terms of navigation, and kept you on the right path. Your thought of hiking it when the leaves are changing sounds like a good one as well. Happy Birthday a little late. That's a great way to celebrate your birthday. I'm looking forward to Part II.
Thank you :) I just found this trail through research myself a couple months ago. And I have heard this trail becomes a mud pit when it's rained. I think I hiked during unusually low water levels.
Mighty brave woman to be on that trail alone...obviously trail maintenance is non existent and why it's so less traveled.... glad to see your last experience didn't deter you at all.
Thank you. Unfortunately I think it's likely circular - if there was more travelers on the trail, maybe the forest could acquire more resources to maintain. It was a trip to face lingering fears from the AT :)
Well, good news: the terrain looks mostly flat. And there are some views! I hope you had a great birthday and that you settle into a nice rhythm for hiking. I'm looking forward to your videos of this hike and hope they include more sunrises. Can't wait to see you dunk your toe in the Mississippi!
Thank you! I tried to catch as many sunsets/rises as I could map into my mileage.
So glad you got out there! I thru-hiked it last March, and doing it again next month! Happy Trails
Good luck! I hope you have great conditions.
@@lazyextremist3119 thanks me too! Downside, lots of flooding and rain. Upside, plenty of water sources
Just thinking about all the ticks in that brush makes me shudder
Yes me too! I never saw a tick on me during this trip, and boy did I check. Long sleeves with permethrin on everything (shoes, hat, clothes).
@@lazyextremist3119 that's good..I'm gearing up for my At thru hike in March and I bought clothes with insect shield all ready in the fabric. Hate ticks
Smart!
Happy belated Birthday! Looks like you had a nice sunrise. Bet your trekking poles have been useful to knock down spider webs! Looks like lots of pushing through overgrown vegetation. Hope no ticks or chiggars. Looking forward to following the rest of your hike.
I love your videos, sarcasm is always welcomed. Wish you could do a live video so when you're alone your fans can interact...I hope that didn't sound creepy lol
Haha I know what you mean!