​After hearing that 3 separate parties were headed to the same destination as we were, and spending the night shelter less, we gambled on an early start and fast pace to take our chance at the only shelter at Todd Harbor, and our last night in a shelter until Windigo, 3 nights away. After another fitful night of sleep disrupted by the atypical sounds and stirring of the wilderness night, we were up and hauling to organize our gear at a blazing pace. Careful not to rustle around too much in the early morning, we glided out of camp as the first hikers to break camp as McCargo Cove welcomed the sun in an eerie low fog. Checking over my shoulder as we crested the hill out of camp, I saw another group loading packs onto their backs, and that familiar feeling of urgency quickened every boot step.

​steaming ready for anxious passengers to stream in. The ferry deckhands shuffled around making final preparations for loading gear and safe passage. Lines of cars filed into the parking lot and unloaded enormous bags stuffed with gear and food for backpacking adventures. Layers of outerwear of all types and colors paraded through the doors each checking in and relishing in long awaited boarding passes. The tension was palpable as most first timers faces showed the same emotion of wonder, delight, and worry.

​On a warm January afternoon, we visited the Yellow Birch Ravine, near Taswell, Indiana.  This area is a 441 acre nature preserve that contains many deep valleys and steep rocky cliffs.  The combination of tall cliffs and narrow valleys, at times, creates a microclimate more like you might find in the Appalachian Mountains.  Hemlock trees and even a small cliff side patch of mountain laurels can be found on the slopes in this area.

Well we got a little busy and forgot to post about this adventure.  In early October of this year, we made trip down to the South Cumberland State Park Unit called Savage Gulf and visited the Stone Door area in the Savage Gulf.  This was going to be a trip to see some fall colors, but we were a little early.  Instead, we were treated to some steep, rocky hiking, and several waterfalls.  

The highest waterfall in the state of Illinois is an impressive site after a rain.  In the afternoon the sun strikes the falling water and makes small rainbows that come and goes as the clouds pass overhead. The water falls at least 50 feet over a large stone house or overhang.  This falls goes by two different names depending upon who you talk to, Cedar Falls or Pakentuck.  The area is textbook Shawnee National Forest with rocky creeks, boulders, cliffs and waterfalls.  The area around the falls has many areas to explore including a large overhang with an old well in the back, numerous boulders with one wedged between two larger ones to make an arch, and our favorite the “Fat Man Squeeze."