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, On April 15-16 Our trail crew completed 500 yards ..., View full story, Submit your photograph Apr 16, Wed: Deadline for outings from June 14 to August 31. Mark Schuermann, (636) 394-6265, mark_schuermann@sbcglobal.net, or Wayne Miller, (314) 628-9084, millwy@aol.com Apr 16, Wed: 4-6 mile walk in beautiful Forest Park. For information contact Margot Kindley at margot107@charter.net or (636) 458-4063. April 18, Fri: Day hike at Quail Ridge Park (St. Charles County Park). From I-70 take 40/61 exit south/east, turn right at the 1st light and right on the service road to the park. From west/north bound 40/61 turn left at the light just prior to I-70 junction, then right on the service road to the park. We'll connect the many loop hikes within the park to total about 7.5 miles. We'll meet at the parking lot for the group picnic area within the park. Bring lunch, water, rain gear, bug repellant. For further info, contact Mary Schubert at choclt3376@centurytel.net or (314) 324-7191. Apr 19, Sat: Day hike at Washington State Park, about one hour's drive south of St. Louis. We will walk 8 miles through forests. over rocky and hilly terrain and glades, find old CCC buildings and view historic American Indian petroglyphs. For information contact Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063, or margot107@prodigy.net Apr 19-20, Sat-Sun: Overnight trip to Ferne Clyffe & Giant City State Parks. We will continue to explore some of the majestic wonders of southern Illinois with this overnight, 2 day trip to Marion, Ill. Reservations will be made at a moderately priced motel in Marion, but each participant will be responsible for their own room charges. From there we will go to Giant City on Sat. and to Ferne Clyffe State Park on Sun. While we will explore several trails among the spectacular rock formations of the two parks, the primary focus of this trip is the Trillium Trail at Giant City and the Round Bluff Nature Trail at Ferne Clyffe. At this time of the year, the trails feature a wide variety of spring wildflowers including white trillium, blue eyed marys, sand flox, may apples, jack-in-the-pulpit, fire pink and many others. The trails are moderately rough with considerable elevation. Marion is a 2 hour drive and the parks are each about 1/2 hour further. Carpooling is encouraged. Each day's hike will be 3-5 mi. This will be a leisurely walk with time to enjoy the sights & sounds along the way. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. Apr 20, Sun: Earth Day celebration at the main lower level entrance to the Muny Opera in Forest Park. Please volunteer for a few hours with fellow Sierrans in a lemonade booth or an exhibit booth. 10 am to 6 pm. Call the Sierra Club Office, (314) 644-0890, or Jim Young, (314) 664-9392. Apr 20, Sun: Day canoe trip in the Meramec basin. Potentially good spring flowers. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072. Apr 24, Thurday: Sierra Club general meeting sponsored by the Outings program presents: Planning and Executing a Wilderness Paddling Trip to Alaska. Speakers are Richard Spener and Toni Armstrong who will also discuss some special areas that need protection. At Litzinger School, Lindbergh and Litzinger. Apr 27, Sun: Al Foster Trail & Glencoe Bluffs. We will explore one of the most prolific wild flower valleys and one of the more unique bluffs around St Louis. The valley is carpeted with billions of blue Eyed Mary's, Virginia Blue Bells, etc. The bluffs provide a unique view of the Meramec Valley all the way to I-44. The area has an interesting history as it has withstood the ravages of civilization for many years including Majestic Material Corp., Simpson Sand & Gravel and the Robinson Group each contributing to its present state. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. Apr 27, Sun: Day canoe trip on the Big River. Canoe rentals are not available. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072. Apr 30, Wed: Day hike, 4-5 miles. Call for information by contacting Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063 or margot107@prodigy.net. It may be the new Broemmelsiek Park in St. Charles County. May, Sat: Calling all Trail Workers. We need your help to finish our trail work at Hawn S.P. Throughout May we will get together on Saturdays to finish our work by June 7th. Call for our Trail Maintenance schedule. Paul Stupperich, (314) 429-4352, lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, or Bob Gestel, (636) 296-8975, rgestel@earthlink.net May 2, Fri: It is time for the annual 6 - 10 mile azalea hike at Hawn S.P. See the new re-route trail that will take us right thru the patch and up to the overlook. Suzanne Smith, (618) 281-4762, thisissuzanne@yahoo.com May 2, Fri: Mulberry River, Arkansas. This river is very rainfall dependent. If there is too much or too little rain, the back up will be the Eleven Point. It is a I (+) – II depending on water level. It is easier than the Buffalo, but still has beautiful scenery. It is a protected scenic national waterway. We will do the stretch from Wolf Pen to Turner's Bend. We will be car camping and will be staying at Turner's Bend. If the campground is full, the back up plan is to camp at Byrd's . It is a good beginning WW stream at some levels. Flotation & skirts required. Leader: Colin Maag Tel:314-721-7397 email: colinmaag@sbcglobal.net May 3-4, Sat-Sun: Buffalo River, Ponca Arkansas. The Buffalo is one of the première rivers in the nation. The river gorge is much deeper then what we have here in Missouri. We will be car camping, staying at Lost Valley Restoration Area. There may be side hikes to Eden Rock Cave, and to Hidden Valley Falls, which is a waterfall that emerges from a hanging valley and drops into a box canyon. Marion Evens may volunteer to make breakfast for the group. Saturday night, we will go into the town of Jasper for diner and possibly a show. Leader: Colin Maag Tel:314-721-7397 email: colinmaag@sbcglobal.net May 5, Mon: Big Piney, Arkansas. Nothing like the Big Piney in Missouri. Believe it or not, it is all national scenic riverway and even prettier than the Buffalo. At the right levels, this is a very lively stream. Flotation & skirts Required. It is a good beginning WW stream. The low water back up is to canoe lower down on the Buffalo. Leader: Colin Maag Tel:314-721-7397 email: colinmaag@sbcglobal.net May 17, Sat: Onondaga Cave State Park. Onondaga Cave is one of the area's most unique and spectacular caves with millions of formations, some of which (Lily pad formations) are found in only a few caves in the world. The tour will be a one hour guided tour led by a park ranger. The charge will be $5 per person if we have a group of 10 People. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. May 18, Sun: Canoe/kayak trip on Big Creek if water levels are good. If not, we will do the Mineral Fork or Courtois Creek. Rental canoes may not be available. Jonathan Lehmann, cell (314) 791-3969. May 18, Sun: Canoe Float down the Meramec/Explore Green Cave. Utilizing the Meramec S.P. Canoe Rental, We will float from the Sappington bridge down to the Boat ramp at Meramec S.P. We'll stop and explore Green Cave on the way down the river. The charge is $37 for the canoe rental and transportation. Each member must make arrangements with Meramec Canoe Rental and pay for their canoe before May 25. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. May 21, Wed: We'll do a fairly rocky and hilly 4-5 mile out-and-back day hike on the Green Rock Trail, starting at the Rockwood Reservation trailhead. For information call Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063. May 23, Fri: We head north to Cuivre River S.P. for our 6 - 9 mile exploratory hike. Scenic overlooks, shallow streams. Suzanne Smith, (618) 281-4762, thisissuzanne@yahoo.com May 24-26, Sat-Mon: Three day canoe trip on an Ozark Stream. George Behrens, (314) 821-0247. May 24, Sat: Little Piney. We will miss the large crowds on the Meramec and other rivers in favor of this small stream is located out by Rolla, MO. It is small and twisty and we may have to portage once or twice, but the remoteness makes it worthwhile. Leader: Colin Maag Tel:314-721-7397 email: colinmaag@sbcglobal.net May 28, Wed: 4-6 mile easy day hike at Babler State Park in West St. Louis County. We'll enjoy the Dogwood and Woodbine trails with an optional 2-mile walk on the Virginia Day Memorial Nature Trail. For information call Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063. May 30, Fri: Call for info on our weekly 6 - 10 mile adventure. Suzanne Smith, (618) 281-4762, thisissuzanne@yahoo.com June 7, Sat: Day Hike to Valley View Glades. We will venture out onto the Glades to see the wildflower displays. We will also walk the 3 mile trail to get great views of this area. As always some cross country may occur on this hike. Proper hiking equipment and conditioning may be required. Paul Stupperich, (314) 429-4352, lonebuffalo@earthlink.net, or Bob Gestel, (636) 296-8975, rgestel@earthlink.net Jun 8, Sun: Canoe/kayak trip on a stream in the Meramec basin. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072. June 11, Wed: This 4.5-mile day hike in West Tyson County Park features moderately rocky and hilly climbs on the popular Flint Quarry Trail. For information call Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063. June 13, Fri: There is always something blooming at Shaw Nature Reserve. Join us on our 6 - 9 mile adventure. Suzanne Smith, (618) 281-4762, thisissuzanne@yahoo.com Jun 14, Sat: Cathedral Cave. As we continue to explore the breathtaking beauties of the caves of Missouri, this cave promises to be especially interesting. It is in Onondaga Cave S.P., but a different cave. The tour is 2-hr and the charge is $3 per adult for groups of 10 or more. After a 1/2 mi walk through the woods we will enter the cave through the natural entrance. The walk will be about 1 2/3 mile with considerable elevation on good surface. The drive is 1 1/2 hours to the park. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. Jun 22, Sun: Canoe/kayak trip on the Big River. Canoe rentals are not available. Toni Armstrong & Richard Spener, (314) 434-2072. Jun 22, Sun: Inner-tubing on the Meramec. Enjoy the best of many worlds! On a hot summer day take a cool hike and tubing float. We will start at a picnic table in La Jolla Park (Meramec Caverns), blow the tubes up and plop our hot bods on the tubes in the cool water. We'll paddle (with the power and control of special tubing paddles), walk on gravel bars and wade upstream as we explore the Meramec river from Meramec Caverns to Cane Bottom . We will leisurely float back down the meandering river through an excellent tubing run and under the 200-ft high bluffs over Meramec caverns. Several options are available depending on the river level. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. Jun 25, Wed: Day hike on the 5.3-mile wooded and shady Clark Trail in Weldon Spring with beautiful vistas from bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. For information call Margot Kindley at (636) 458-4063. Jun 28, Sat: Find lots of "creepy-crawlers" as we test water quality on Fox Creek near Eureka. Help us identify the aquatic insects, test for DO and other chemical parameters, and measure stream flow. We should see a lot of macro invertebrates. Call Leslie Lihou at (314) 726-2140, or Jim Rhodes (314) 821-7758. Jun 28, Sat: Inner-tubing on the Meramec. See description for Jun 22, above. Bob Herndon, (314) 961-4811. 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 Wayne Miller, 314-628-9084.