Current Outings for Eastern Missouri Group. Sierra Club members and non-members are welcome to join club members on these outings.

Randomly selected from the EMG Photo Gallery!, Submitted by: Bob Gestel, Trail Building in Hawn State Park... Photo: A gro..., View full story, Submit your photograph Current outings for the Sierra Club, Eastern Missouri Group, are listed below. These outings have been prepared and submitted by our hard working outings leaders, and compiled my one of our most dedicated members, Mark Schuermann. We hope these outings offer all members and friends of the club a chance to join together in a wonderful outdoor adventure. Changes to these outings may need to be made later, but all changes must be approved by the outings chair, Suzanne Smith (thisissuzanne@yahoo.com), or (618)281-4762. We hope to see all of you on the trails and streams of Missouri. Tom Ballard Feb 5, Friday..... Day Hike..... Queeny Park in Manchester, Missouri(West County) is our destination today for a "6" or more mile hike. To register or get additional information, contact Suzanne Smith at (618)281-4762, or thisissuzanne@yahoo.com Feb 7, Sunday..... Day Hike..... This hike will be in the Hilda Young Conservation area near Eureka, Mo. We will cross LaBarque Creek and set off on the five mile Taconic Loop Trail. To register or get additional information, contact Paul Stupperich at(314)429-4352 or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, or Bob Gestel at(636)296-8975 or rgestel@sbcglobal.net Feb. 12, Friday..... Day Hike..... Snow or sun, warm your heart with a pre-Valentine's Day hike around Cliff Cave Park. We will hike 6 to 8 miles depending on trail conditions. To register or get additional information, please contact Mary Schubert at (314)324-7191 or choclt3376@centurytel.net FEB. 17, WEDNESDAY..... DEADLINE FOR OUTINGS FOR APRIL 15 to JUNE 30. Mark Schuermann, (636)394-6265), markschuermann@sbcglobal.net, or Suzanne Smith, (618)281-4762, thisissuzanne@yahoo.com. Feb. 17, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... This will be a 4.5 mile hike on the Flint Quarry Trail in West Tyson County Park... Rocky and hilly terrain with scenic overlook... To register or get additional information, contact Tina Mathes at (636)343-1177 or treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net. Feb. 19, Friday..... Day Hike..... August A. Busch Wildlife area has lots of trails that can be negotiated even in heavy snow cover. Come join us for some stimulating winter hiking. To register or get additional information, please contact Mary Schubert at (314)324-7191 choclt3376@centurytel.net Feb. 19-21, Friday-Sunday...... Trail Maintenance..... This outing combines the Sierra Club and the Ozark Trail Association to update the Blair Creek Section of the Ozark Trail. WE need you. Your help will be much appreciated. There will be FREE CAMPING, FREE LUNCHES, and FREE BARBEQUE(Saturday night) for all who participate. Camping will be at Powder Mill on the beautiful Current River. Participants will have great fun, enjoy big laughs, and make new friends. To get in on the fun, please register at the Ozark Trail website, http://www.ozarktrail.com/workparties.php?PHPSESSID=4aef8629c3c262afe4d1ff03aa09d687. For additional information, please contact Famous Bob Gestel at (636) 296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net. Feb 21, Sunday..... Day Hike and Cave Tour..... Join us as we explore Onondaga Cave S.P. We have several trails to chose from along with a cave tour after the hike. We will limit this outing to 10 hikers. Paul Stupperich, (314)429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, and Bob Gestel, (636)296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net Feb. 26, Friday..... Day Hike..... Anytime of year in kind of any weather is good for a hike at Castlewood State Park. Join us as we hike along the river bluffs and through the river bottoms. To register or get additional information, please contact Mary Schubert at 314-324-7191 or choclt3376@centurytel.net Feb 27-28, Saturday-Sunday..... Day Hikes with Camping..... Here is a good one, mix some day hikes with a campout!! This will be an Ozark Mountain adventue. You can come for one or both days. Location is undisclosed, but it will be in the Ironton area. Hikes may involve some cross country, so make sure your feet are dressed for the ruff stuff. Camping will be in a State Park or one of the Forest Service areas. To register or get additional information, please contact George Behrens, (314)821-0247(After 6:00 PM Only). Mar. 3, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... You want to see the beautiful elk we have in Missouri and near St. Louis? This hike is for you, and it is a mere 4-5 miles of walking on the White Bison Trail in Lone Elk State Park. Contact Tina Mathes at treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net or (636)343-1177, to sign up or get additional information. Mar. 6-7, Saturday-Sunday..... Base Camping with Day Hikes..... Want to know more about the Famous Pioneer Forest? This is for you. We will explore sections of the Laxton Hollow Trail, The Ozark Trail, and the Brushy Creek Trail. There will be free camping at Himont, the trail head for all three trails. The outings leaders for this adventure will be two of our most experienced members, Paul Stupperich,(314)429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, and Bob Gestel, (636)296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net. Contact them to register or get additional information. Mar. 14, Sunday..... Day Hike (EXPLORATORY)..... This hike is not to be missed if you have good hiking shoes/boots suitable for a day of off-trail walking in leaves and rocks. We will explore Missouri's most beautiful state park, Hawn, located about 65 miles south of St. Louis. We will explore the back country on the eastern side of the park, an area that has been a well kept secret. We will see towering bluffs, waterfalls, deep canyons, and a mysterious rock wall built many years ago. Why it was built and by whom, is unknown. Maybe you will figure it out when you see it. The hike is rated strenuous(Missouri Strenuous). Leaders will be our great outdoorsman Paul Stupperich,(314)429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, and Famous Bob Gestel,(636)296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net. Contact them to register or get additional information. Mar. 17, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... Do this one if you can!! One of our best day hikes is being offered here. We will hike 5 miles on the awesome Clark Trail in the Weldon Springs area. On this hike you will stand high above the KATY Trail, on one of Missouri's most beautiful bluffs, and look across the Missouri River and the meadows in the valley below. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is nearly a 10!!! Contact Tina Mathes at treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net or (636)343-1177, to register or get additional information. Mar. 20-21, Saturday-Sunday.... Kayak Races..... We need volunteers to judge, no experience needed, instruction provided. This is one of our most popular and fun activities each year. Whether you come to watch or help, its great fun.. Each year around this time, the Missouri Whitewater Association has their annual kayak races on the St. Francois River, near Fredericktown, Missouri, approximately 80 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. The Sierra Club provides the judges for the slalom races through the rapids of Millstream Garden. Its a two day event and we need volunteers for one day or both days. For the judges, free camping is provided at the nearby Silver Mines Campground. This is a fun weekend and your chance to see some of the best kayakers and canoeists in the area, as they negotiate slalom gates on whitewater. To volunteer and/or get information, contact Jim Nyberg, (314)725-0767, or George Behrens, (314)821-0247( After 6 P.M. ONLY) Mar. 26, Friday.... Day Hike.... Hike 8-10 miles in our favorite and "our adopted" state park, Hawn, located approximately 65 miles south of St. Louis. The hikes here are the best. Hikers on this adventure will get the best of everything. Great hills to climb, great rock outcrops, great ledges, walk through large stands of pine, visit the highest lookout point in the park, see great views of Pickle Creek, and enjoy a creek crossing or two. Do it if you can. This is our leaders second home. To register or get additional information, contact the leader, Suzanne Smith at thisissuzanne@yahoo.com, or (618)281-4762. Mar. 31, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... This maybe our leaders favorite hike. The location is Brommelsiek Park in St. Charles Country. Complete this hike and you will have logged approximately 4.5 miles on an easy trail that crosses a neat little creek near the parking lot, then winds in and out of timber areas and through large meadows and by a couple of large ponds. There are a few neat streams that you will wonder by as well.. It is a great trail for relaxing and sharing some outdoor time with a friend, or making new friends. Note, the road getting there takes a few twists and turns, but Tina will give you directions when you sign up. To register or get additional information, contact Tina Mathes at treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net, or (636)343-1177. Apr. 8-11, Thursday-Sunday..... Trail Building.... The Sierra Club has adopted Hawn State Park and now volunteers for tasks such as trail building and trail maintenance. This is a great chance for Sierra Club members to pitch in for a few hours or a few days and confirm their commitment to helping preserve and improve the outdoors for everyone. And, its fun. Here is what the trail team says, "Four days of trail building and playing in Hawn State Park". You got some free time to share with mother nature, and would enjoy making new friends, and having some laughs, and getting a little dirty, and going home a little sore, but with great memories!!!!!!! If you answered yes to all these questions, then you need to come join us, will be great fun.. Here is whats happening........ We need to reroute a badly eroded section of the Whispering Pine Trail, and we need your help. The work site is just a short walk from the picnic ground and parking lot, so getting there is easy. Tools and instructions will be provided. Camping is free and there will be large campfire each night to circle around and share good ole fun stories. Other details of this event will be provided as we get closer to the calendar dates. Heading this up is our trail gurus, the great outdoorsman Paul Stupperich, (314)429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net and Famous Bob Gestel, (636)296-8975, or rgestel@sbcglobal.net. Contact them to register or get additional information. Apr. 9, Friday.... Day Hike..... Location to be determined, but Southern Illinois in the Shawnee Hills country is a real strong possibility. Our most famous day hiker, Suzanne Smith, will lead this adventure. To register and get additional information, contact her at thisissuzanne@yahoo.com, or (618)281-4762. Apr. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday..... Backpack Trip..... Location, Meramec State Park. This is a great place for an overnight backpack trip, and we are offering one here. I have done this several times and it is great fun. It is not easy, it is not hard, it is just right.. If you want to do a great backpacking trip this spring with other fun backpackers, this is the trip to join. There will be a variety of hills, creeks, rock outcrops, springs, and views along the Meramec River. Our own Jim Rhodes will be leading you on this adventure. To register and get additional information, contact Jim at (314)821-7758. Apr. 14, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... This is a "must do" hike lead by Tina. We are off to see wild flowers in the Shaw Nature Reserve, which is about 20 miles west of St. Louis. Its an awesome place anytime of the year, but spring is special and Tina knows were all the good stuff is growing. The meadows and river bottom will be covered with spring flowers.. This hike is planned for 5-6 miles of moderate to easy hiking. If you can get away for a few hours on Wednesday, use the time to do this hike. Tina has a great hiking plan set up for this adventure. To register or get additional information, contact Tina Mathes at treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net, or (636)343-1177. Apr. 16, Friday...... Day Hike..... Bluebell Time!! Millions of Bluebells!!! Where? St Francois State Park. Just about this time every year, the bluebells just cover the river bottoms in St. Francois State Park. Walking the trails through the bluebells is an awesome experience. They are everywhere, really, millions of them.. You will have to see them to appreciate what that many bluebells look like.. Bring a camera and take home memories and proof of what you saw!!!!!! This hike is planned for 6-8 miles on trails that will go through areas that look like blue blankets. Don't miss this one!! It is one of those things that you should do at least once!!!! The leader will be our bluebell expert, Suzanne Smith. To register or get additional information, contact her at thisissuzanne@yahoo.com, or (618)281-4762. Apr. 17, Saturday..... Outdoor Adventure..... This one is different. We will investigate a high quality stream in a wooded niche near expanding Eureka. Our stream team will monitor the water quality of Fox Creek and send the data to the Dept. of Natural Resources. At two locations, we will test for dissolved oxygen and other chemical parameters. We will also do visual surveys, measure stream flow, and net aquatic invertebrates. You may see some casting for the Insect Fear Film Festival, if we catch a hellgrammite. To register or get additional information, contact our expert leaders, Leslie Lihou, (314)726-2140, or Jim Rhodes, (314)821-7758, or jarhodes@sbcglobal.net. Apr. 18, Sunday..... Day Hike..... This one must be good. The location is undisclosed at this time, but it will be south of St. Louis. There will be some cross country travel over rugged terrain, so plan for this, meaning good footwear, walking sticks, etc. Sounds like fun!! This secret hike will be lead by none-other than our highly experienced outdoorsman, Paul Stupperich. To register or get additional information, contact him at (314)429-4352, or lonebuffalo@earthlink.net. Apr. 18, Sunday.... Float Trip..... This is a ONE DAY FLOAT on a river in the Meramec Basin. Location will be chosen based on current water levels and weather conditions, etc. The leaders for this float will be two of our most experienced paddlers. You will want to go on this trip just to hear about their float trips in Alaska and other wonderful places, which I think includes Costa Rica. To register or get additional information, contact Toni Armstrong and Richard Spener at (314)434-2072, or spener1@aol.com. Apr. 28, Wednesday..... Day Hike..... This is a big one, 7 miles... This time we are heading out on the Lost Valley Trail in the Weldon Springs Conservation Area. This is an easy trail, but we are planning for 7 miles. Bring a friend and join us. You will get some good exercise, get in some good laughs, and make some new friends. To register or get additional information contact Tina Mathes at treasurehunt22@sbcglobal.net, or (636)343-1177. 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.