Hiking 2024-2025 Season - Folks On Spokes

HomeHiking 2024-2025 Season

Traditional New Year's Day Hike
Goodenow Grove

It was really great to have to many hikers turn out for our traditional New Year's
day hike. Everything was perfect, including the weather. It started out chilly, of course, but we quickly warmed up. There were a few puddles, but nothing we couldn't get around. The biggest obstacle was a downed tree over one of the bridges. That may take awhile to repair.

There were three of us hiking last Monday. We started from the Chicago Cultural Center, headed south on Michigan Ave to see the Hilton and the Blackstone Hotel Christmas trees. The weather was unseasonably warm, about 50°F and a bit overcast, but not too windy at the beginning. We then trudged north along Wabash Ave to the Palmer House to see its tree. We ate lunch at the renamed Sterling Food Hall, then headed north past Christkringlmarket (very crowded, even at 1PM), got back onto Wabash to see the Trump Tower tree.
We next stopped at the Peninsula Hotel with a marvelous Christmas tree and lavish Christmas decorations. Next stop was the Bloomingdale building's Christmas tree, then across Michigan Ave to the Drake Hotel, which had a nice tree and a gingerbread Christmas display featuring the Drake.
We walked back south along Michigan Ave, seeing along the sidewalk an interesting Day of the Dead statue and various Nature Museum butterfly statue exhibits, past the Apple Store with its outdoor tree, then back across the Chicago river to see the large, Christmas tree in Millennium Park.
The hike was 5.76 miles, taking 4 hours, including about a 1 hr lunch break.

The Hilton

The Palmer House

The Peninsula

December 1 Horsetail Lake/Swallow Cliff Hike

We couldn't have asked for a nicer day. We were actually shedding hats, mittens and layers of clothing as we hiked along. This hike never disappoints. It is a little over five miles. Much of the trail is in woods, but we come out to a wide open area at the toboggan slide. A lot of steps to climb, and we never leave anyone behind. At the top of the stairs there is always someone who will reminisce about soaring down the hill when they were a child. Fun. After the hike we split up for lunch with hikers wanting different venues. And that's ok. We all had a great day.

Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River and Mnoke' Prairie Trails

Our first hike of the season was Sunday, November 17. Our group met in the parking lot before heading out. There were a lot of us! Welcome four friends from the Nomad ski club in addition to our regulars.
First stop, the homestead. There was construction going on there, but not sure what they're doing. The trails begin in more of a prairie setting and then enter into the woods. We always stop at the cemetery for awhile before heading back to the Farm.
Many of us continued on to lunch in Highland, IN.
This is always a good hike and we were not disappointed

Trail 9, Indiana Dunes State Park

We got lucky again with another fall event. Weather was perfect for a hike at the Dunes. We all met at the National Lakeshore Visitor Center and then carpooled into the state park. There were about 12 of us and it worked out great.

Trail 9 can be challenging. The majority of the trail is a bit rolling, and there is one big dune to climb. We generally take the less challenging side up to the top. But there are plenty of ups and downs to remind us we are getting in a good workout no matter which was we go.

Welcome to Doug, a new hiker. Although not yet a member, we certainly did our best to encourage him to join our group.