Eileen's Third Anniversary Event--Great Marsh, The Depot, The Goblin

note, we have changed our start time for the hike to 11:00 AM CST (12:00 PM EST)

Eileen and i have re-arranged the day's activities a bit to take Saturday's predicted cold temperatures into account. we now have less outdoor time, with easy outs for those who are too cold, and more indoor time.

if you are skipping the hike and just coming to the indoor events, i think we are likely to be back to The Depot by maybe 12:30 CT, and to The Goblin by maybe 1:00 CT.

dear friends--

the winter solstice, with the shortest day of the year will soon be upon us, and already winter seems to be here in earnest. so let's get together despite the low temps for a short, bracing outdoor hike, followed by some warm, indoor fun.

this event will be Eileen's third anniversary with the group. i felt a strong connection with Eileen as soon as we met. our first major bond at her first event was that we both hiked all winter, and, like Elsa from Frozen, the cold never bothered her anyway ... or at least not enough to keep her indoors in low temperatures.

we will meet at 11:00 AM CST (12 PM EST) at the Beverly Shores South Shore line parking lot. though we will not be using the train, the lot is never full, and i've never heard of anyone's having problems parking there.

but if you are uneasy about that, just park at the Great Marsh trail parking lot, a couple blocks to the north, and walk to the South Shore parking lot by 11:00. note, however, that the Great Marsh parking lot is a fee area, so you will need to hang your NPS permit on your mirror.

there is a washroom at the South Shore train station on Broadway, north of the tracks. there is also a washroom at the Marathon gas station south of the tracks.

since we'll be meeting in a cold parking lot, let's be moving by 11:10. if you arrive late, just follow the directions below, and you will catch up with us either going out or coming back.

please check the weather before departure and have appropriate clothing and equipment https://weather.com/weather/today/l/46301:4:US . be sure to bring enough water (one quart minimum), hydration requirements still apply even in winter.

be sure to take and post some pictures throughout today's event.

if you have symptoms of, or have recently tested positive for Covid-19 (or any other contagious disease), please DO NOT ATTEND.

we will walk north on Broadway a few hundred feet, till we come to the
Great Marsh Trail parking lot. we will follow the trail north till we come to a T, where we will turn right. we will follow the trail loop, turning left both times when we come to a fork in the trail, till we end up back at the T.

we will make a short stop at the wildlife viewing platform, for as long as the frosty air permits, and then we will return to the T, turn right, and continue south to the parking lot.

this is a simple, transparent route, so at any time, if you are too cold, or too tired, you may go back and return to your vehicle.

once we have returned, we will check to see what holiday cheer is available at The Depot, where they will have a holiday display and holiday gifts. there is also a restroom in the building.

then we will cross US 12 to visit the Kris Kringle Market at The Goblin and the Grocer http://www.goblinandthegrocer.com/ .

they will be serving beer and glühwein, there will be artisans vending their wares, and a visit from the Man in Red himself!

hope to see you there,

Rick & Eileen

addendum--the original route for überhikers:

for anyone who is disappointed that we didn't follow the original 3 mile route, who wants to hike it themselves; when you come to the T on the Great Marsh trail, instead of going right with the others, you go left.

when you get back to Broadway, turn right, and walk to Beverly rd. then turn left (west), and continue down Beverly, over Derby Ditch, and past the barrier till you come to Rafi's Bridge.

cross the bridge, and continue past another barrier, then turn left on lost Carolina ave (paved but barricaded and overgrown). continue north to the end of the road (about 1/2 mile), then turn left on the Calumet trail. continue on the Calumet Trail to Broadway, and you will end up back at the train station and our vehicles.

by then, we will probably be at the Goblin, and you may join us there if you wish.

to view photos from previous hikes at this location, see

2017 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/28366883/

2019 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/30533245/

2022 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/31961005/

2022 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/33052654/

2023 https://www.meetup.com/ricks-hiking-fun-group/photos/33990628/