Introductory Backpacking Trip at Forest Glen Preserve

Trip registration opens: Tuesday, April 30, 2025 7:00 AM CT
Trip registration closes: Friday, June 06, 2025 6:00 PM CT

Trip Summary (aka tl;dr):

• Mileage: 11 miles loop trail (Day 1: 8 miles, Day 2: 3 miles)
• Terrain/conditions: moderate (the trail goes up and down ravines of no more than 75 feet of inclines)
• Duration: 2 days / 1 night
• Location Details: River Ridge Trail (11 miles)

Please read the entire description and any linked information before signing up.

Requirements:
This is a trip geared towards beginner backpackers (welcome!). You can expect to hike and carry in all of the items needed for an overnight stay in the backcountry. Please don't hesitate to ask questions about gear - it's a topic we love to talk about.

Consider these questions and ask yourself if you are prepared.

Details on Gear and Food Needs
Read this document: Intro Trip Gear and Food Needs

Pre-trip Meeting and Communications
Email is our primary form of communication for this trip. Please be responsive to emails to assist us with planning. Please respond to organizer emails in a timely manner or risk forfeiting your spot on the trip. Participation is at the discretion of the organizer.

We will hold a virtual orientation session approximately 2 weeks prior to the trip. This is a great opportunity to ask any lingering questions about what gear to bring (or buy - we love to help people spend their money), food to eat, why the caged bird sings, whether you should leave your 12 pound cast iron skillet at home, and more.

Trip Itinerary
It's imperative to be on time as being late impacts the group. If you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, contact the trip organizer.

Saturday, June 14

• Leave home early AM to arrive at Forest Glen Preserve by 9:00 AM (typically a 3 hour drive from downtown Chicago)
• We'll have introductions, a short presentation and gear check, and then hit the trail
• Hike approx. 7-8 miles to back-country camp over hilly single-track trail.

Sunday, June 15

• Hike approx. 3 miles back to cars, estimated finish time of noon.
• Drive back home.

Cool Stuff to Know:

• Wildlife is plentiful and we'll likely see lots of deer and other furry forest critters. So make sure your phone is fully charged and you have storage space for all the photos you'll take.
• The last Bigfoot sighting in Central Illinois was reported on October 5, 2024 (according to the Bigfoot Field Research Organization, a postal worker reported seeing a hairy creature walking along the road). It's possible he was holding a can of IPA, which means more than likely it was just a chef at one of the local farm-to-table restaurants.
• According to folklore, "River Ridge Trail" is actually an English name given to a trail that is on a ridge that runs along the river.
• I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. - Joyce Kilmer

Map of the area:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gP2MekCJHFHXEhmXdPWEl70OSztY0nLD/view?usp=sharing

https://vccd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FG-Backpack-Trail.pdf

Weather
Be prepared for overnight temperatures as low as 50 degrees and the possibility for rain (but hope for nicer weather)

Historic Weather Data

Costs
$5 fee per person payable in cash to organizers at the parking lot to cover the Forest Glen camping fee (once again, unfortunately, paying in chickens is not available for this trip).

Review the club guidelines posted here.
Review Club Guidelines

Acknowledgment
As a member of the Chicago Backpackers Group, by registering (RSVPing) for this event, you accept that Hiking & Backpacking can be a dangerous sport and fully assume all risks associated with such participation, including travel to and from the event. You agree to be responsible for your own safety and equipment. You realize that conditions, obstacles, and weather are always changing, and your personal safety cannot be guaranteed. You understand the Meetup.com Terms of Service agreement that you signed when you joined Meetup (link below) and accept that participation is at your own risk. You agree to communicate with event organizers to plan for the trip and sign the Release of Liability provided by the organizers prior to participation.

Review the Meetup.com Terms of Service
https://www.meetup.com/terms/

Waiver:
You will be required to sign and complete a “Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnification Agreement” before attending. We will send you a link to a digital copy to sign before the trip start date. Here is a read-only link to the release to review prior to joining.

Questions?
If you have questions or concerns contact one of the organizers. We are happy to discuss trip details and answer any questions.

- Rob and Brian