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Pimiteoui Trail Association
Hiking Club
April – June 2015
President – Cindy Alexander – 309-231-2190
Vice President – Mike Bohn – 309-688-2791
Secretary – Kathy Jones – 309-231-9195
Treasurer – Linda Kent – 309-263-8500
Newsletter Editor – Jerry Gegel – 309-266-7533
"Our paths have crossed for a reason ... and for that I am thankful."
Mark Klokkenga, 1955 – 2015
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gear Swap Site
Check the PTA website (ptahike.org) for hiking or camping gear offered for sale by fellow
PTA members. If you would like to sell something, submit a short description, price, your
name and contact number to John Jackson at [email protected]. The PTA reserves
the right to reject or edit all listings.
PTA Hiking Club
1. For 2015, the newsletter will be “published” quarterly. Hike leaders; please email your
Event Reports to [email protected] within two weeks after completion of your
scheduled events. A single photo (jpeg file format) for inclusion in the Newsletter may
be attached to your report.
2. Hike Leaders are to register all attendees for a hike/bike/paddle event using the
“official” Pimiteoui Trail Association Liability Waiver form. These may be obtained on
our website at WWW.PTAHIKE.ORG.
3. If an area allows dogs, they must be on a leash at all times. Also, please be prepared
to pick up and dispose of pet excrement
4. In case of bad weather, contact the hike leader to see if the hike/event has been
cancelled.
5. Any hike leader wanting to use the club’s first aid kit can obtain it by calling Cindy
Alexander.
EVENT SCHEDULE
2015-6, Sunday, April 12, 1:30 pm, Dirksen Park, N. Pekin
Brush off winter’s cobwebs and join the club on a hike at Dirksen Park in North Pekin. This
hilly area has a combination of hiking paths and mountain bike trails. We’ll walk both on this
2-3 hour hike. Distance will be based on muddiness. Wear hiking shoes, bring staff(s) and
carry water. Dogs are okay on leashes. Drive there directly. There are no restrooms, so stop
on the way (Casey’s is near the park) if needed. We may eat together afterward. Dirksen is
located north off of RTE 98 just east of N. Parkway Drive. Park at the archery range.
Hike Leader: Jay Meinrich, 309-472-0165 cell (voice or text), email: [email protected]
Event 2015-7, April 25, 2015, 9:00 AM – Great American Clean Up - Keep Peoria
Beautiful (Service Day)
On Saturday April 25, 2015 we will meet at the Peoria Heights Heritage Square parking lot at
9am to participate in this annual community litter pick-up campaign clean up. The Keep
Peoria Beautiful is designated to be from 9am - noon. We will initially focus on our adopted
portion of the PPD Rock Island Greenway. We expect that we will have adequate time and
people to also do another area. One that has been identified is along NE Rock Island
Avenue and the parallel trail that leads into the south end of Springdale Cemetery. Please
join us in getting some hiking in while also contributing toward a less littered trail and Peoria
city. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided by the Keep Peoria Beautiful organization. If
you have litter picker\ grabber tools and small branch trimming tools available please bring
them. The Keep Peoria Beautiful effort is coordinated on April 25th out the Glen Oak
Learning Center (School). Please be aware that they are collecting tires, electronics and
batteries at that location on that morning. If you or your friends have those materials to
dispose this is an ideal opportunity to dispose of them responsibly.
Event Coordinators: Brian Cunningham, 309-633-1224 & Mike Bohn, 309-688-2791
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Event 2015-8, Saturday, May 2, 2015, 8 AM, Robert Allerton Park, Monticello, IL
We will meet at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Morton at 7:45 AM to carpool for our drive to
Monticello, IL. We will leave PROMPTLY at 8am from the Cracker Barrel in Morton. I will be there
at 7am for breakfast if you'd like to join me. Robert Allerton Park is a 1517-acre park located near
Monticello, IL on the Upper Sangamon River. It has been described as a vast prairie and woodland
site turned into a personal fantasy land of Neoclassical statue, far eastern art, and huge European
style gardens surrounding a Georgian revival mansion. The woods should still be alive with woodland
wildflowers for our May hike. We will spend approximately 2-2 1\2 hours hiking the grounds on easy
to moderate difficulty paths. Yes, there are a few hills. It also could be muddy if it's been rainy. The
hike will start at 10am from the visitor parking lot at Robert Allerton Park. After the hike we will
drive into Monticello for a late lunch at the "Brown Bag Deli Restaurant", a funky place with something
homemade and delicious for any palette. They have gluten free and healthy options as well. The
desserts are outstanding. Their food is all made from scratch.
Hike Leader: Roger John, 309-231-9191
Event 2015-9, Saturday May 9, 2015, 2:00 PM – PPD Rock Island Greenway - Memorial
Hike for Mark Klokkenga
On May 9th, 2015, the club will have a “leaderless” hike in memory of our fellow club member
and friend Mark Klokkenga. Mark was a long-term club member and officer. Mark was a
vocal club enthusiast, club advocate, hike planner and leader. Mark was dedicated to trail
development, appreciation of all of nature, earth and ecology. He regularly shared many
trails, parks, outdoor venues and events with our club members. We will meet and park
behind the former IDOT building next to the PPD RIG (corner of W Northmoore Rd and N
Knoxville Ave) . We will start the hike by crossing the PPD RIG bridge that crosses over
Knoxville. We will hike to the Springdale Cemetery mausoleum and back. Approximate hike
time will be about 2 hours. Mark was especially dedicated to the development of the PPD
Rock Island Greenway. He was a long-term member of the Friends of the Rock Island Trail.
Mark attended the raising of and the erection of the new bridge. He hiked and biked the trail
often and found solace and gratitude in the trail’s completion. Mark’s health the past few
years greatly impaired his ability to enjoy his hikes and many other outdoor activities. He
recognized the risks of his heart surgery in his final days. However, on the day prior to his
surgery he shared a hike on the Rock Island Greenway with his dog Cheyenne.
Memorial Hike Organizers: Brian Cunningham; 309-633-1224 & Mareike Kraatz; 309-6215474
2015-10, Saturday, May 30, 12:30 PM, Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Clinton, IL
Let’s meet at 12.30 PM at Cracker Barrel in Morton for car-pooling. Please let us know in
case you want to drive there directly. Look for the sign “Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
– IDNR Region 3 Office” along Hwy 14 (Hwy 14 runs N/S connecting Hwy 54 at De Witt and
Hwy 10). Turn west at the IDNR Office sign located on Hwy 14 and follow signs to hiking
trails. The hike will start at 2:00 PM. We are planning to hike 4.7-miles (Houseboat Cove,
Pond in Woods & North Loop trails) north of the Clinton Lake beach following the shoreline
and coming back through the woods... There are restrooms at the parking lot. The trails are
easy to moderate in difficulty, and dogs are okay on leashes. Afterwards, we will stop at
Mamma D’s Smokehouse Restaurant in nearby Weldon. Mamma D is “famous for our
smoked breasts” and will open early just for us. For directions see:
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/sitemaps/clinton.gif.
Hike Leaders: Eric Hutchison, 309-688-7038 (home), Mareike Kraatz, 309-621-5474 (cell)
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2015-11, Saturday, June 6, 8:30 AM, Hennepin Canal, Sheffield, IL
We will meet at the Morton Cracker Barrel Restaurant to car pool for about a 1-hour drive to
Sheffield, IL. We will hike about 4 miles along the northwest region of the Hennepin Canal.
This will be an easy, flat hike out and back on a very historic trail. This trail played an
important role in the history of commerce and industry in the U.S. and is now listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Today the canal is used solely for recreational purposes.
I will give you more historic information as we hike. Originally, there were 33 locks but only
32 are still visible. There were originally nine aqueducts but today only six remain. We will be
seeing many of them as we hike. Interesting information and details on the Canal and the
area may be found on the Internet. It is worth the time to check it out. After the hike, we will
eat at Main Street Restaurant, 115 E. Main St., Wyanet, IL 61379, phone: 815-699-2222. We
discovered this nice BBQ. place many years ago on this same hike! You’re welcome!
Hike leaders: Linda and Sam Kent; 309-264-6156 (cell)
2015-12, Sunday, June 14, 10:00 AM, Hickory Grove Road, Peoria
Join us for a Sunday morning walk and Sommerfest at Hickory Grove Park. First we will meet
at Hickory Grove’s Parking Lot. Hickory Grove Road is now pedestrian friendly with
sidewalks. There are plenty of nice homes and landscapes to view. The road is a dead end.
so there is little or no traffic. We’ll walk about two hours. After our return we can take in
Sommerfest at the park (free entry). They will have free live music, Auto Show and
performers. There is also plenty of fresh German food, drinks and a craft fair. Directions:
Drive north on Knoxville Ave. At the intersection with Hickory Grove Road, turn right
or east. Follow the road (no turns) until you see a large sign on the left that says
Hickory Grove. We will gather in the grassy parking lot on the right side.
Hike Leader: Paul Hodge, 309-674-3069
2015-13, June 26-28, Quad Cities Hike-Bike-Camp
Camping season has begun. Join us for a weekend of hiking, biking and camping in the Quad
Cities on June 26–28 (Friday – Sunday). You can park your trailer or pitch your tent at
Fisherman's Corner or Illiniwek Forest Preserve. Both are located along the Mississippi River
on Illinois 84 in Hampton, IL and are only .6 mile apart. On Friday around noon, we will
bicycle on the Duc Creek Recreational Trail (13.5 miles long, asphalt surface) in Davenport.
Then on Saturday, we will hike the trails at Illiniwek Forest Preserve, bike north along the
Great River Trail, and gather for a group dinner (sloppy joes provided, bring a side dish). And
on Sunday, we will bike south on the Great River Trail 9 miles to the John Deer Pavilion (free
admission). Call or email trip leader if you plan to attend or for more information. Details may
change slightly as the date approaches
Campground information:
• Fisherman's Corner campground—46 electric sites $20, 5 tent sites $10. Reservations can
be made at www.recreation.gov/camping/fishermans-corner. There may be a $9 online fee.
• Illiniwek Forest Preserve campground: 60 electric sites $19, 25 primitive sites $14–17. First
come, first served only.
Event Leader: Cindy Alexander, 309-231-2190, [email protected]
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EVENT REPORTS
2015-1, Saturday, 9:00 am, Jan 17, Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL
On Saturday, January 17, eight Pimiteoui hikers met up with members of the HOI Sierra Club
for a winter hike at Starved Rock State Park. While temperatures were pleasantly cool, trails
were icy in many places. Hiking poles and shoe trax helped keep us upright. No eagles were
sited that day, but we did witness an ice climber ascending a frozen waterfall in one of the
canyons. After the hike, we went to Duffy's in Utica for good eats.
Attendees: Cindy Alexander, Rob Alexander, Chris Golden, Dan Redmon, Bonnie Jackson,
John Jackson, Roger John, Jude Bartow
PTA Event Organizer: Cindy Alexander
2015-2, Sunday, January 25, 2:00 pm, Peoria Riverfront (Riverplex)
This hike event was on the Pimiteoui Trail along the Peoria Riverfront. We met inside the
Riverplex building at 2pm. Six hardy hikers showed up. Central Illinois had been spoiled on
the previous day with a beautiful very sunny and 48 degree calm day. However, all morning
on this day of our hike we were having snow flurries mixed with rain and wind. The
temperature was 30 degrees with gusty winds from the north. So, our trek going north up
river was not quite as fun as our return trip to the Riverplex. We hiked to the Robert Ingersoll
statue at the foot of Glen Oak Park and returned for an almost 4 mile hike. The views of the
chunky ice along the river were spectacular.
Attendance: Barb Gurtler, Homer Gurtler, George Schini, Andy Shull and Cherie Shull.
Hike Leader: Brian Cunningham
2015-3, Saturday, 9:00 am, February 14, Independence Park, Marquette Heights
A forested hike in mid-winter often presents challenges. The trails were icy, so the bulk of the
walking was on a dry, gas pipeline corridor in the park near Route 29. And we ventured safely
beyond corridor’s end into un-pathed, snow-covered park territory, which was really
enlivening. The weather was cold and windy—make no mistake about that—yet the majority
of the time was comfortable, and the sun helped to warm us. We logged about 3.2 miles on
mainly hilly, uneven ground. It was a thoroughly good workout as nature both resisted yet
somehow assisted in finding a way for us. After the hike, all eight participants ate at Steak ‘n
Shake in East Peoria amidst conversation centering around genealogy.
Attendance: Brian Cunningham, Susan Hood, Cindy Alexander, Rob Alexander, Barb
Gurtler, Homer Gurtler, Andy Shull.
Hike Leader: Jay Meinrich
Annual Meeting Report
The annual membership meeting was held at Forest Park Nature Center on Saturday,
February 28. The evening started off with a social hour and the sampling of foods brought by
those attending. Kathy Jones then shared her photos of her 2014 trip to Patagonia. During
the business portion of the meeting, door prizes and awards were given out. The evening
was capped off with the election of the new 2015 board of officers. The board wishes to thank
everyone who contributes their time and efforts to the club in any way—it's what keeps the
club going.
2015-4, Sunday, March 8, 2:00 pm, E. Peoria River Trail
The warmer temperatures and sunny skies brought 20 hikers out to the River Trail of Illinois
in East Peoria on Sunday, March 8. After carefully negotiating an icy patch at the start, we
had a clear path all the way to Matheny Rd., where we turned around due to the icy cover on
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the hill beyond. After arriving back at the Fondulac Park District parking lot, those wanting
more trail time headed west, turning back at CVS. The fresh air and activity made us all
eager for spring's arrival.
Attendees: Rob Alexander (and Augie), Roger John, Judy Bartow, Angie Madison, Loren
Madison, Gayle Hart, Mona Williams, Jerry Gegel, Joyce Gegel, Rich Schurter, Vicki
Schurter, Eric Hutchison, Mareike Kraatz (and Cheyenne), Dave Grebner (and Max), Cheri
Shull, Andy Shull, Mary Greenhood (and Pal). Guests: Michelene and Dennis Koch.
Hike Leader: Cindy Alexander
2015-5, March 22, 2015, 2:00 PM, Rock Island Trail, from Pioneer Parkway - going north
It was a cool 54 degrees and a blustery when we began the hike, but the sun was shining
brightly and our quick pace soon warmed us. We walked from Pioneer Parkway to Alta in
about 50 minutes, with plenty of congenial chatting all along the way. We used our
flashlights in the tunnel under Route 6 as the solar lights were not working. We couldn’t help
but smile at the sight of our “caboose”: five rather short-legged dogs with tails waving happily
throughout this 5.3-mile hike. About 10 members chose to dine at Double A’s Pizza Sports
Bar and Grill after the hike.
Attendees: Cindy Alexander and Rob Alexander, Dave Grebner, Kathy Jones, Barb and
Homer Gurtler, Roger John, Jay Meinrich, Joyce and Jerry Gegel, Laura VanRiper, George
Schini, Mike Bohn, Bonnie and John Jackson, Brian Cunningham, Angela and Loren
Madison, Mareike Kraatz, Eric Hutchison, Mary Greenhood, Gloria Egbert, Autumn Egbert,
Karen and Cal Lynn, Christina Razo,
Hike Leader: Susan Hood
Treasurer’s Report
Balance, March 24, 2015
Checking Account
$1643.80
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PIMITEOUI TRAIL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NEW MEMBER
(
)
CASH ( )
RENEW MEMBER (
)
CHECK ( )
ANNUAL DUES ARE $6.00 PER PERSON
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "PIMITEOUI TRAIL ASSOCIATION". MAIL TO CLUB TREASURER:
LINDA KENT
22172 NORTHFIELD DR.
MORTON, IL. 61550
MEMBERSHIP YEAR EXPIRES FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR.
THE NEWSLETTER IS MAILED ELECTRONICALLY EVERY QUARTER. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EMAIL, PROVIDE YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEND YOU A NEWSLETTER BY
MAIL. YOU ARE ADVISED TO PHONE THE HIKE LEADER BEFORE A HIKE TO MAKE CERTAIN
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY LAST MINUTE CHANGES DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED EVENT.
REMINDERS AND CHANGES ARE SENT OUT BY E-MAIL ONLY.
NAME:_________________________________________________________________
SPOUSE:_______________________________________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP____________________________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS______________________________________________________________
CELL PHONE_________________________________________________________________
FIND HIKING INFORMATION:
FACEBOOK AND PICTURES:
WWW.PTAHIKE.ORG
GOOGLE:
PIMITEOUI HIKING ASSOCIATION FACEBOOK
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