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HomeHiking 2024-2025 Season
Cowles Bog Hike
February 9, 2025

This was a hard one!  Of course it was cold out.  After all, it is wintertime.  But this trail is really one of our most challenging.  There are many ups and downs.  Plus, there is a really a big dune we have to climb when we leave the lake.  That being said, it is a beautiful hike through the woods on our way to the beach.  

The photo doesn't do justice to the beauty of the lake.  The color contrast with the sky was amazing.  It was pretty breezy, so there were a lot of waves.  And of course, shelf ice.

The hike is probably around five miles.  Afterward, we all enjoyed a hardy lunch.
2025 CowlesBog

Lamont Quarries Hike
Jan. 26, 2025

It was surprising how many hikers came out for the Lamont Quarries hike, considering the weather.  It was pretty chilly out, but we're seasoned hikers and show up in just about any weather.

There has been a lot of restoration work done at the quarries.  Many of the invasives have been removed and burned.  This has opened views of the waterways.  It will be exciting to see what pops up in the spring since the area will be exposed to sunlight.  

Afterward the hike the group split with some having lunch in town and others going to Orland.  
2025 Jan Quarres
2025 Jan Quarries 2
2025 Jan Quarries 5
2025 Jan Quarries 3
2025 Jan Quarries 4

January 19, 2025
Issak Walton

This was the day we were supposed to have a hike/campfire event.  Unfortunately, the campfire was canceled due to extreme cold.  We didn't think there would be much interest in sitting around outdoors having lunch when its only 11 degrees.  However, the temps didn't discourage eight hikers. We were all bundled up and wandered around on approximately 4 miles of trails.  When we return for the rescheduled campfire event, we will hike in a different direction so we can enjoy the scenery from a different perspective.  After the hike several went to lunch in the area.
2025 Jan IW


Hikers Bernie, Wes, Ladd, Scott

Bob, Lois, Irene

Photographer: Andi

2025 Jan IW-2

Ice on the pond


Miller Woods/Marquette Beach
January 12, 2025

This area is a favorite with many FOS hikers. The hike begins at the Douglas Center on Lake Street in Gary.  This is a great spot to meet because the visitor center is heated and there is indoor plumbing.  The hike proceeds through the woods past wetland areas and on to the beach.  From there we head east to the Marquette pavilion for a last look at the lake before turning back.  Afterward we had lunch in the area.



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. 
2025 Jan 1
2025 Jan 1-3
2025 Jan 1-2

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.  
2024 Christmas Walk - Hilton


The Hilton

2024 Christmas Walk - Palmer House


The Palmer House

2024 Christmas Walk - The Peninsula


The Peninsula


Dec 2024 Horsetail Laie
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
2024 Nov B-C hike

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.

2024 Nov Trail 9-6
2024 Nov Trail 9