Saturday

Sat. Oct. 22nd, Chris Drone led 18 other hikers from Sand Cave back to Hunting Branch. We had gathered at the Hunting Branch parking area, then carpooled over to Sand Cave. Sand Cave Is The Largest cave from sandstone in the midwest. Most caves are from limestone formations. We then ‘followed’ the wall and made our way to the powerline cut. This area has no official Forest Service trail. We visited the 1 grave and then back out to the powerline cut, and then made a ‘left’ at the sandstone glade. Most of the moss had gone into some sort of suspended ‘living’ state due to the extreme lack of moisture over the last 2 months. We then dropped down a bit, and followed a bluff line, with several hikers investigating various shelters. We ate lunch & took the group picture at 1 shelter, then descended down into the valley to cross a dry stream bed. About half the group had crossed, apparently missing a snake out sunning, and 1 hiker did notice the snake, alerting most everyone else. We climbed up the opposite side of the valley and again, followed the other bluff line, Several overhangs were observed, then we descended down to the 1 large pool of water we saw all day. We took the “White trail”, to the glade on Mill branch, which was completely dry, very unusual. One group did split off, but, with the use of two-way radios, we were able to keep track of each other, and all got back to the Hunting Branch parking area.  Until next time, “See Ya on the Trail”. 

Sunday

On Sunday, October 23rd, hikers met at the Golconda Marina We had several who had never hiked with us prior to today. Gillum & Vicki Ferguson were todays’ leaders, accompanied by 9 other hikers.  We loaded 2 vehicles and moved out, to the small War Bluff parking area, on Bushwack Rd. We quickly worked our way  to the base of the  Bluff, and then on up to the top, observing the over 100 ft. long former stone wall. We walked our way around to find various ‘openings’ to take in the  picturesque views across the valleys. We then walked across a ‘ridge saddle’ to another sort of stone wall, and some depressions that were hypothesized to be rifle pits/graves/food storage areas, amongst several guesses. We then worked our way back down to the base area of the bluff, walked around it, with a few going into the slot cave, and then some finding a hole/crack that was guessed to be 20-30 ft. deep. We took the group picture at the base of the bluff, then headed back to the vehicles. The weather and scenery were almost perfect. The hikes of Sat. Oct. 29, meeting at Goreville City park, and Sun. Oct. 30th, meeting at the Vienna, IL. Forest Ranger station on U.S. Rt. 45, at the North edge of Vienna, will be led by Bill Gilmour. Until then, “See Ya on the Trail”. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Chris Drone