Pavement Ends
James Baughn was the webmaster of seMissourian.com and its sister newspapers for 20 years. On the side, he maintained even more sites, including Bridgehunter.com, LandmarkHunter.com, TheCapeRock.com, and Humorix. Baughn passed away in 2020 while doing one of the things he loved most: hiking in Southeast Missouri. Here is an archive of his writing about hiking and nature in our area.
Fall hiking schedule released by River-to-River Trail Society
Posted Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 10:27 PM
As we approach the fall hiking season, the River-to-River Trail Society has announced their schedule for group hikes in Southern Illinois. These hikes provide a great opportunity to explore hidden treasures without worrying about getting lost. See below for the press release and schedule along with photos I've taken at these places:
The River-to-River Trail Society announces its schedule of guided hikes in and about the Shawnee National Forest for fall, 2014. All hikes are open to the public free of charge. Most hikes are of at least moderate difficulty, intended for people in good health who have done some walking. Boots or sturdy shoes are highly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.
October 11: Godwin Trail (Union County)
Leaders: Eric Johnson & Gillum Ferguson
Meet: Picnic gazebo in downtown Alto Pass, Illinois
Time: 10:00 a.m.
October 18: Sand Cave to Bell Smith Springs (Pope County)
Leader: Mart Watson
Meet: Hunting Branch picnic area, Forest Road 849, off Forest Road 848, Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area
Time: 10:00 a.m.
October 25: Jackson Hollow, Splatter Stone Falls, Cove Hollow (Pope County)
Leader: Bill Gilmour
Meet: East Trigg Trailhead, Trigg Tower Road [Forest Road 424], 1.5 miles northeast of Trigg Tower, and 3.0 miles northeast of Simpson, Illinois
Time: 10:00 a.m.
November 1: Grindstaff Hollow and Hurricane Bluff (Gallatin County)
Leader: Eric Johnson
Meet: High Knob parking lot, atop High Knob, 1.5 miles north of Karbers Ridge, Illinois.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
November 8: Panther Den (Union County)
Leader: Gillum Ferguson
Meet: Abandoned gas station (formerly known as Sullivan's), on Goreville Road, 100 yards west of Exit 40 off Interstate 57.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
November 15: Wildcat Bluff, Boss Island, Little Black Slough (Johnson County)
Leader: Jim Kramer
Meet: Vienna City Park, 302 East Vine Street (Route 146 East), Vienna, Illinois
Time: 10:00 a.m.
November 29: Crest Trail (Tecumseh Statue to Old Stone Face) (Saline County)
Leaders: Les & Deb Vaughn
Meet: Tecumseh Statue, Glen Jones Lake, Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area, eight miles southeast of Harrisburg, Illinois
Time: 10:00 a.m.
December 6: Mantle Rock (Livingston County, Kentucky)
Leader: Mark Motsinger
Meet: Cave-in-Rock Ferry Landing (Illinois side)
Time: 10:00 a.m.
The River-to-River Trail Society is a not-for-profit organization founded by John O'Dell during the 1990s to promote completion of the River-to-River Trail, which now runs through the Shawnee National Forest between Elizabethtown on the Ohio River and Grand Tower on the Mississippi River. The Society engages in trail maintenance and advocacy and offers guided public hikes during the spring and fall hiking seasons. It also publishes a trail guide to the entire River-to-River Trail, available for $20 plus $5 postage and handling ($25 total), from the Society's headquarters at 1142 Winkleman Road, Harrisburg, Illinois 62946.
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