p04-27-2012.....NOTE TO ALL... Looks like we had a website crash a few days ago.. Lost all of our outings.. We are in the process of getting things back on track, so while this is taking place, you may find some unusual looking entries.. Sorry for any mess-ups that come from this.. Many THANKS to Margot for sharing her copy of outings info with me, which I am sharing with you here!!!!!!! Hope to have things back on track, soon!!! Tom Ballard

To participate in one of the Sierra Club's outings, you will need to sign a liability waiver. If you would like to read a copy of the waiver before the outing, please see: http://sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or call (415) 977-5528. In the interest of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary that participants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel. CST 2087766-40 Eastern Missouri Group outings are open to the public and a donation of one dollar is requested. Leaders are unpaid volunteers who need your cooperation to make the trip safe and rewarding. Please call the leader well in advance for details, approval, or if you plan to cancel. Outings start officially at the trailhead or river access. No guns, pets, or electronic media are permitted on trips.

For general information about outings contact Bob Gestel, (636) 296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net. For additional outings submitted after our publication deadline and for changes, please check the Eastern Missouri Group website at http://missouri.sierraclub.org/emg.

""""People to be recognized: """"""" The honorable and famous Bob Gestel is our Outings Chairman. His contact information is listed above.. He is always open to new ideas, new outings, and adding new leaders. Please contact him for all questions related to the outings. We all appreciate his leadership, devotion, and hard work...

Our hardworking, behind the scenes, super organized member, who gets all these outings together for this website, Mark Schuermann! His contact information is listed as: (636) 394-6265, mark_schuermann@sbcglobal.net.. Mark is a valued member of the club who has been with the Sierra Club for longer than I can remember. He has extensive outdoor experience, travel experience, and knowlege about the club, outings, leadership, etc, etc.. We truly appreciate his working getting these listings together..

OPEN INVITATION...... WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW LEADERS, AND WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS FOR OUTINGS!!!!! If you would like to become a leader, assist a current leader, or get involved in the outings in any form, please contact our chairman BOB GESTEL. If for any reason you should not be able to contact Bob, you are invited to contact me, TOM BALLARD at ballardtom@sbcglobal.net, 314-487-8892, or any of our leaders!!!!! My current position in the outings experience is keep the outings list up to date, and to support the leaders when changes to outings are required or corrections are needed... Like all the other outings leaders, I am an experienced outdoor person and I am here to help you have fun in the Sierra Club, and enjoy your experience in the outdoors.

************** FEEDBACK!!!!!!......................... As outings leaders, we are always concerned that our outings are delivering a quality outings experience for the people who attend.. After you attend one of our outings, we would appreicate you contacting our Outings Chairman, Bob Gestel, and tell him about your outings experience. He loves to all the good stuff, but if something is not so good, he wants to hear that too!!! We are always working to make our outings better. Your feedback will help lots in letting us know what we are doing right, who is doing it, and how can we can improve our product..

.......................... May Outings ..........................

Many "Thanks" to our leaders this month! They are :

Suzanne Smith...................

Margot Kindley .................

Doug Melville ..................

Toni Armstrong .................

Richard Spener .................

George Behrens..................

May 4, Fri: Day hike. The big one!!! Join the adventuresome to hike the 12 miles around Council Bluff Lake. In Missouri not Iowa. Contact thisissuzanne@yahoo.comor (618) 281-4762.

May 9, Wed: Day hike at Little Lost Creek Conservation area near Warrenton, MO. 6-mile wooded trail with nice views. Mostly old roads with two long rocky hills. Contact Margot Kindley, margot107@charter.net

May 11, Fri: Day hike. Hopefully a good year for the wild pink azaleas at Hawn S.P. Join us for the 8-10 mile trek to check them out. Contact thisissuzanne@yahoo.comor (618) 281-4762.

May 16, Wed: Rockwoods Range - Fox Run Trail, Round House Loop and Fox Creek Spur. This 6.5 mile trek in the hill county of West St. Louis County will be a fun walk with moderate difficulty. Doug Melville (636) 288-1055 or douglas.k.melville@gmail.com for further information.

May 19, Sat: Join us for the last trail outing before summer sets in. We will be spending the day working at Cuivre River S.P. rerouting a trail and other trail work that needs to be done. If you are new to trail maintenance or live near Cuivre River S.P. this will be a good outing for you. As always you pick the job you wish and work as hard as you wish. Paul Stupperich, (314) 429-4352, or lonebufflo@earhlink.net Bob Gestel, (636) 296-8975 or rgestel@sbcglobal.net May 20. Sun: One day canoe/kayak trip in the Meramec basin. Choice of stream depends on water level. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072.

May 23, Wed: Day Hike. The shady 3.5 trail at LaBarque Conservation area near Pacific makes for a pleasant spring outing. Some off-trail jaunts possible. Contact Margot Kindley, margot107@charter.net

May 26-28, Sat-Mon: Three day canoe trip. Destination to be determined. George Behrens, (314) 821-0247.

May 30, Wed: Hawn S.P. - Pickle Creek Trail and Whispering Pine Trail, Northern Loop. This trek through scenic Hawn S.P. will give you quite a lot to see in the short span of 6 miles. Cascades, waterfalls and shut-ins characterize the Pickle Creek Trail followed by panoramic views, rock ledges, large pine forests and more waterfalls on the Whispering Pine Trail. Doug Melville (636) 288-1055or douglas.k.melville@gmail.comfor further information.

..................... June Outings ..............................

Many "Thanks" to our leaders this month! They are :

Suzanne Smith...................

Bob Gestel .....................

Paul Stupperich ................

Margot Kindley .................

Doug Melville ..................

Toni Armstrong .................

Richard Spener .................

Jonathan Lehmann ...............

Jun 1, Fri: Day hike. Shaw Nature Reserve is our destination to see what is blooming. Should get in about 7 or so miles thru a variety of bloomers. Contact thisissuzanne@yahoo.comor (618) 281-4762.

Jun 2, Sat: National Trails Day. We will celebrate at Hawn S.P. again. We will have tables at the trail heads with water, snacks and information. We will also lead hikes. We will need help at the tables and hike leaders. Come down for the day or just for an hour or two. Paul Stupperich, (314) 429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net Bob Gestel, (636) 296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net

June 3, Sun: One-day canoe float on Courtois Creek. Rental of canoes and kayaks available there. Jonathan Lehmann, 314-791-3969 (cell).

Jun 6, Wed. Day hike. We'll explore the short trails at Meramec S.P. and enjoy beautiful views from bluffs overlooking the Meramec River, 5-6 miles. Contact Margot Kindley, margot 107@charter.net

June 13, Wed: Silver Lake Park, Illinois - Silver Lake Trail. This trail covers the East side of Highland Silver Lake in 4.5 miles, out and back on the same trail. A good area for bird watching and fish jumping as you walk through the shade of the trees that line the shore. This is an easy and laid back trail on packed earth. Doug Melville (636) 288-1055or douglas.k.melville@gmail.comfor further information.

June 17, Sun: Father's Day float. One day canoe/kayak trip in the Meramec basin. Choice of stream depends on water level. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072.

******************* DEADLINE *********************************

Jun 20, Wed: Deadline for outings from Aug 15 to Oct 31. Mark Schuermann, (636) 394-6265, mark_schuermann@sbcglobal.net

************************* DEADLINE **************************

Jun 20, Wed: Day hike. We'll hike 5-6 miles at Hilda Young Conservation. Contact Tina Mathes, treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net

Jun 20, Wed: Day Hike at Onondaga Cave S.P. near Leasburg, Mo. Two loop trails, forested and with open glades will offer scenic overlooks and an abundance of wildflowers. 5-6 miles, difficulty moderate. Contact Margot Kindley, margot 107@charter.net

June 27, Wed: Louis H. Bangert Memorial Wildlife Area - North, West and East Loop Trails. This series of three looping trails totaling just over 4 miles makes this an easy hike on a sometimes island on the Missouri River. Just South of Hwy. 70 and East of downtown St. Charles offers a good bird watching and varied tree species on this 160 acre track of bottom land. Doug Melville (636) 288-1055or douglas.k.melville@gmail.comfor further information.

Jun 29, Fri: Could be hike or bike. Call for more info. thisissuzanne@yahoo.comor (618) 281-4762.

......................... JULY Outings ...................

Jul 4, Wed: Day hike at Al Foster Trail. Let's celebrate Independence Day with a shady 5-6 mile hike along the Meramec River. Contact Tina Mathes, treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net

Jul 11, Wed: Little Grand Canyon, Illinois. For this shaded hike we will be climbing down into a 300' limestone canyon, traveling through the moist bottom land and then hiking out of the canyon to a spectacular panoramic view the the Mississippi River valley. A fun hike for something that you do not normally see in our hikes. Doug Melville, (636) 288-1055, or douglas.k.melville@gmail.com.

Jul 18, Wed: Day hike. We'll hike a moderate 4.5 mile trail at Matson Hill near Defiance in St. Charles County. Contact Margot Kindley at margot107@charter.net

Jul 21-22, Sat-Sun: Experience true wilderness on the Eleven Point National Wild and Scenic River. We will canoe about 14 miles and camp overnight along the river. Contact Jim Rhodes (314-821-7758) for more information.

Jul 25, Wed: Johnson's Shut-ins S.P. This will be a three trail hike to take in most of this Missouri countryside. We will begin on the Black River Trail System and journey to the main parking lot where will will pick up the Horseshoe Glade trail. This trail passes through a dense forest and then opens up to a rocky glade with views of the ancient St. Francis mountains. Finally we will take the Shut-ins trail for a hike to the shut-ins and the surrounding countryside. We will then end up by continuing the Black River Trail System to the end. Contact Doug Melville, (636) 288-1055, or douglas.k.melville@gmail.com.

Jul 28, Sat: Afternoon/evening canoe trip. Enjoy the river during a quieter time of day, as we paddle late in the afternoon. We will have dinner on a gravel bar and listen to frogs while we finish our trip before dark. Toni Armstrong and Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072.

....................... AUGUST Outings ...........................

Aug 1, Wed: Day hike. We will hike 5-6 miles at Castlewood S.P. Contact Tina Mathes, treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net

Aug 8, Wed: McCully Heritage Project, Illinois. This is a five mile hike on land just East of the Illinois River. This land, which was donated to the State of Illinois, contains forests, glades, spring and wetlands. Trekking through this mostly forested land should keep you shaded and a little cooler for an August hike. Contact Doug Melville, (636) 288-1055, or douglas.k.melville@gmail.com.

Aug 15, Wed: Day hike at Broemmelsiek Park in St. Charles County. Moderate 4 mile ramble through a variety of landscapes, partially shaded. Contact Margot Kindley at margot107@charter.net

Aug 22, Wed: St. Joe State Park, Pine Ridge Loop. With an easy roadbed to follow for the first half of this trail, the second half will become a bit more rugged with a creek ford. The views open up as you travel this loop through the countryside. Contact Doug Melville, (636) 288-1055, or douglas.k.melville@gmail.com.

Aug 25, Sat: Operation Clean Stream. Help clean a section of the Meramec River from Pacific Palisades to Allenton. Enjoy the fun as we search for treasures along the river, join the contest for most tires found or most unusual object. We will have a limited number of outfitter canoes to use for the day, so if you don't have a canoe, you can still help. There is a picnic following the clean up. George Behrens, (314) 821-0247.

Aug 29, Wed: Day Hike. TBA. Hike dependent on weather conditions. Contact Margot Kindley at margot107@charter.net

...................... SEPTEMBER Outings ........................

Sep 1-3, Sat-Mon: Canoe/kayak trip on the Mississippi. This trip is dependent on the status of the leaders' Nat. Sierra Club trip. George Behrens, (314) 821-0247.

Eastern Missouri Group outings cost one dollar and are open to the public.  Leaders are unpaid volunteers who need your cooperation to make the trip safe, pleasant and rewarding.  Please call the leader well in advance for details, approval, or if you plan to cancel.  Outings start officially at the trail head or river access.  Travel responsibility rests on each participant.  Car pooling is encouraged but leaders can not be responsible for its organization.  The Sierra Club does not provide insurance for transportation.  Participants sign a liability release form and reimburse drivers for expenses.   Be adequately equipped and prepared.  No guns, pets, or radios are permitted on trips.  Please leave the area cleaner than you find it.  For general information about outings call Suzanne Smith, 618-281-4762 or thisissuzanne@yahoo.com.