IL > Shawnee National Forest for the eclipse

**Billy Goat** · 08-11-2017, 06:02

As far as critters go, I use opsak loksaks. One time on bell, had a bear in camp. Never found our food sitting on the ground. It was in the loksak in a sea to summit dry bag that we USUALLY use to hang our bag, but it started raining and was dark when we got I to camp... so I stashed it a fair way away nestled in some rocks. Nothing got at it. Use a basic bear bag hanging practice and you should be fine. As far as hunters go, nothing is in season as far as I know. Poachers are around, but not common enough to worry about.

**microlambert** · 08-14-2017, 04:24

If you park at the trailhead on highway A, the lead in trail is a real *** kicker, but if you park north at 32 and DD and hike the lead in southward it's definitely more than a leisurely stroll, but it avoids the long steep up.

That's good to know – I guess I'll take a call on the day about how much of an uphill slog I feel like. And add scorpions to my list of things not to step on!

Use a basic bear bag hanging practice and you should be fine.

I have been practising this at home. Imagine if you will that the chin-up bar is a sturdy branch, high above the ground...

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**SwingingInTheBreeze** · 08-17-2017, 00:40

Ooh, something I hadn't thought of, if you camp in Bald Knob Wilderness, which is MUCH closer to Carbondale than Garden of the Gods, Bald Knob Cross would be an EXCELLENT place to view the eclipse. I just found it on a recommended list of places to view the eclipse. Other areas in the Shawnee National Forest were listed as well, but for some reason Garden of the Gods didn't make the list.

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**SwingingInTheBreeze** · 08-17-2017, 00:43

Here's the article:

https://www.google.com/amp/thesouthe...43cf5.amp.html

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**cbwoods** · 08-17-2017, 17:56

Originally Posted by SwingingInTheBreeze

Here's the article:

https://www.google.com/amp/thesouthe...43cf5.amp.html

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Cool link. Garden of the Gods isn't on the list, but Pounds Hollow is pretty close to there.

I have been hearing about the Festival at Walker's Bluff for months, but had no idea it was that expensive.

I hope you find a good spot and enjoy your time in Southern Illinois, microlambert.

**SwingingInTheBreeze** · 08-17-2017, 18:11

Originally Posted by cbwoods

Cool link. Garden of the Gods isn't on the list, but Pounds Hollow is pretty close to there.

I have been hearing about the Festival at Walker's Bluff for months, but had no idea it was that expensive.

I hope you find a good spot and enjoy your time in Southern Illinois, microlambert.

Pounds Hollow isn't far by car, but it is 10 miles. Keep in mind he is taking a train from Chicago to Carbondale, then hiring a car to take him to wherever he's going to camp and drop him off.

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**SwingingInTheBreeze** · 08-17-2017, 18:14

...unless I misunderstood and he's actually renting a car?

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**cbwoods** · 08-17-2017, 18:19

Originally Posted by SwingingInTheBreeze

Pounds Hollow isn't far by car, but it is 10 miles. Keep in mind he is taking a train from Chicago to Carbondale, then hiring a car to take him to wherever he's going to camp and drop him off.

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Yeah. I was just commenting on the list from your link. Garden of the Gods is not on the list of viewing areas, but Pounds Hollow is. I was just implying that if he was able to get to Garden of Gods, he could probably find a place to view the eclipse. I could have been more clear.

But you are right, it is quite a ways from Carbondale. If I was coming from elsewhere, I'd definitely go to Bald Knob or find somewhere on the trails around Cedar Lake to watch it.

**SwingingInTheBreeze** · 08-17-2017, 18:25

Originally Posted by cbwoods

Yeah. I was just commenting on the list from your link. Garden of the Gods is not on the list of viewing areas, but Pounds Hollow is. I was just implying that if he was able to get to Garden of Gods, he could probably find a place to view the eclipse. I could have been more clear.

But you are right, it is quite a ways from Carbondale. If I was coming from elsewhere, I'd definitely go to Bald Knob or find somewhere on the trails around Cedar Lake to watch it.

I see, makes sense. I'm sure he'll find a good spot. I'm not quite sure why Garden of the Gods wouldn't be a good area, but I'm no expert on these things.

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**microlambert** · 08-18-2017, 03:37

Thanks guys! Yes, I'm renting a car. (Possible British English confusion: we'd use that interchangeably with hiring a car, whereas I think in the US hiring suggests paying a driver?) Anyway, I will be entirely self-propelling, so going a bit further from Carbondale is not a problem

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