Sierra Club  Woods & Wetlands Group Shawnee National Forest Hiking by Amtrak Weekend Sign-Up
	For April, 2005

To sign up for this outing, please first read the description below. Then copy these questions into an e-mail and send them with your answers to me (Evan) at evan.craig@illinois.sierraclub.org, or call me (847-680-6437) to review them :

1. How do you stay in shape?
2. Do you plan to travel to and from Carbondale by Amtrak? If not, describe your car (make, model, color, size).
3. Do you want to share a room with others at our Shawnee lodgings?
4. What is your home phone number? (Cell phones can be useful for rendezvous.)
5. What is your address?
6. Do you have any special physical conditions that might affect your ability to complete this outing?
7. Do you have any special talents or skills that you might share with the group?
8. Do you have any special dietary needs?

I will reply letting you know whether you are approved for the outing. See the Roster.

To hold your reservation, print and fill out this liability waiver (you'll need free Acrobat software), and send it to us with the fee (write check to Sierra Club). If you want quicker confirmation, e-mail me that you did.

Sierra Club Woods & Wetlands
PO Box 876
Grayslake, IL  60030

Cancellations after the early bird date might result in loss of deposit to cover trip costs. To discourage frivolous reservations and cancellations, the deposit will be transferred to wait-listed participants after the wait-list starts.

Then visit the Amtrak website (if that's what you intend to do) and make reservations for CHI to CDL and back departing around 4:00 p.m. (on trains 391 and 392). Be sure to check SAVINGS AND PROMOTIONS for new promotional codes.

Trip Rules:

1. Stay with the group.
2. Be courteous and helpful to others.
3. Observe minimum impact practices.
4. No firearms, audio players, or pets.

Shawnee National Forest, as described in the trip announcement, is a fantasia of wildflowers and migrant songbirds in the spring, and we will take time to appreciate its wonder.

This particular trip also takes advantage of one of the few wilderness areas remaining in Illinois large enough to offer a true wilderness hiking experience. While much of the hike will follow marked trails, this trip has EXPLORATORY elements, and there are unfamiliar segments that will require navigation using map and compass. These conditions will present some challenge, engender a greater awareness, and present possible unmarked hazards.

Evan is a Sierra Club trained trip leader and is certified in CPR and First Aid. He has backpacked in Illinois, Texas, New Mexico and Michigan, and has canoed in Montana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Canada. He has hiked the Shawnee several times.

PROTOCOL

• Check in with the leaders frequently.
• Avoid unnecessary risks.
• Help out with any chores on the trail.
• Keep yourself well hydrated, don't wait to drink until you are thirsty.
• Know and avoid poison ivy and ticks.
• Practice minimum impact hiking. The Sierra Club was created to protect our wild lands. Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints.
• Follow good latrine practices by going at least 100 feet from the water and depositing your waste in a shallow hole which you then cover up. When you wash up, try to do so away from the river.

LOGISTICS

• Participants who take Amtrak or otherwise arrive in Carbondale on Thursday night before these outings can travel together to the local lodgings. See the Roster.
• We have reserved a block of rooms at the Davie Center B&B, and our reservation is good until the posted early bird date. The leader will arrange group rates according to the early bird head count, and notify participants of the actual cost. 
• Rental car(s) have been reserved, but must be charged to the participants. For help carpooling, see the Roster.
• Outing officially ends by 2:00 on Sunday 5/1/05.
• Return to Carbondale by 3:30 p.m., drop cars and catch 4:05 Amtrak.

REQUIRED GEAR

• Hiking boots or shoes with at least some degree of water resistance. Break them in before this outing. To avoid blisters, try double socks. Wool works best against your skin. We'll be walking through wet plants and balancing across the stream on slippery logs. The locals wear rubber boots, but I'll wear leather.
• Hiking clothes: 1 pair light long pants (synthetic dries fast), 1 long sleeve shirt (long, light color), warm-up shirt or fleece, rain gear (which doubles as a wind breaker), 2 pair tall enough socks to tuck pants into, and a small towel. Avoid blue jeans, and other heavy cotton fabrics that will not dry out quickly.
• Hat, sunscreen or SPF shirt. Eyeglass strap if you wear glasses. Sunglasses & lip balm suggested.
• Bug repellent. Some people prefer screen headwear to avoid repellant. We probably won't need this.
• Camp mug.
• Two plastic water bottles. NO GLASS CONTAINERS.
• Flashlight with fresh batteries, some toilet paper in a zip-lock bag.
• Small backpack or fanny pack, and if you have one, a compass or GPS.
• Personal medicine. See question 6.
• Money and credit cards to pay for food, shared gas and other expenses.

Back to Woods & Wetlands April '05 Outings.