Chicago Northwest Side Hiking

PLEASE NOTE- THE ADDRESS OF WHERE TO PARK IS NOT 9877 WOODS DRIVE. YOU SHOULD PARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET FROM THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM WHICH IS AT 9603 WOODS DRIVE. The hike will be leaving from the Calvin R. Sutker Grove, on Woods Drive, near the Illinois Holocaust Museum at 9. There are beautiful tree canopied trails, with mostly crushed limestone surface. I am seeing if I can generate some interest in this hike. It is actually much nicer than the one I do on Wednesdays out of Irene Hernandez on Foster, in Chicago.

If no one signs up by Sunday evening at 6 PM, I cancel the hike. You can also call me at 773 991 4845 for either a late cancellation [so we won't wait for you] or to tell me you are running late. I will generally wait 5 minutes after the start time for late arrivers, a few minutes more than that if I know you and more importantly, like you [meaning, you laugh at my jokes].

We will leave from Irene Hernandez Family Picnic Area, which is on Foster Ave about 4500 west, in Chicago. This is the farthest south point on the North Branch Trail which goes all the way up to the Botanic Gardens. We will leave at 9 AM, I will give 5 minutes leeway for late arrivers, more if I know and like the late arrivers. The walk will be an out and back, 5 to 6 miles. There are a number of possible routes to take from the parking area. The route we take is determined by the general consensus of the hikers and often a function of the ground conditions.

I attempt to cajole others, more able than I, to be my surrogate leaders. I employ a combination of flattery and abuse. Out of my innate sense of politeness I will not mention other elements of that surrogacy that has been eschewed by those good fellows ["fellows" is gender neutral].

While I am an autocrat at home, on my hikes I feign a collegial mien.

My phone is 773 991 4845.

I am reconstituting the Saturday hike out of here, to see whether there is any interest in it. There has not been much interest in this hike in the past, but that has more to do with me than the hike. I'm pretty anti-social, I hike for fitness and exercise AND because I have a built-in audience for my humor. I'm pretty uninterested in flora and fauna, unless I can eat it [mulberries, deer].

I should put potential hikers on notice that walkers on this walk have occasionally confronted snakes jumping out of trees, so be forewarned!

Notwithstanding that, It's a nice area, along the Des Plaines River and much like places on the North Branch of the Chicago River. Not far from O'Hare and off of I-90. Address is N East River Road, north of West Foster Avenue. Enter the east side of Catherine Chevalier Woods between the Kennedy Expy [I-90] and Catalpa St., on East River Road. Coming from the east you get off I-90 at Cumberland and go west on Higgins until you hit East River Rd. Make a left on East River Road and look for the parking. It is marked as Catherine Chevalier Woods. I park near the entrance.

We'll Typically go 5.5 miles. 9 AM start.

PLEASE NOTE- THE ADDRESS OF WHERE TO PARK IS NOT 9877 WOODS DRIVE. YOU SHOULD PARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET FROM THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM WHICH IS AT 9603 WOODS DRIVE. The hike will be leaving from the Calvin R. Sutker Grove, on Woods Drive, near the Illinois Holocaust Museum at 9. There are beautiful tree canopied trails, with mostly crushed limestone surface. I am seeing if I can generate some interest in this hike. It is actually much nicer than the one I do on Wednesdays out of Irene Hernandez on Foster, in Chicago.

If no one signs up by Sunday evening at 6 PM, I cancel the hike. You can also call me at 773 991 4845 for either a late cancellation [so we won't wait for you] or to tell me you are running late. I will generally wait 5 minutes after the start time for late arrivers, a few minutes more than that if I know you and more importantly, like you [meaning, you laugh at my jokes].