Chicago Hiking, Outdoor & Adventures for Young Professionals

Hi everyone,

Let's go out for 'The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival'.

https://www.themagnificentmile.com/lights-festival/

This is an annual event in Chicago and we expect parade as well as fireworks. The parade kicks off at 5:30PM, but we need to get there at least a couple hours in advance because of tens of thousands of people.

We can have some food/coffee before we move to the place where we will watch this festival.

Tentative Schedule

2:00PM - Starbucks Reserve Roastery

3:00PM - Walking through the Mag Mile

4:30PM - Secure Watching Place

5:30PM - Kick-off the Parade

6:30PM - Fireworks near Tribune Tower

7:00PM - Group Photo (?) (TBD)

Please be there on time. Once we miss each other, we may not be able to see again based on my experience in the past years.

This will be fun and hopefully the weather is not too bad like last year.

I look forward to seeing all in Chicago!

Tristan

Hi everyone,

Lincoln Park Zoo has an annual event: Zoolights

https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights/
https://www.lpzoo.org/pressroom/zoolights-2/

ZooLights is open every day from Friday, November 15, 2024 through January 5, 2025, except for holidays and special event dates below. Mondays will offer free admission, with reservations still required. Tickets for Monday nights will be available the week before at 11am.

Since Monday is free, we can check this after work around 6:30PM. I think a couple of hours are enough to enjoy the lights as well as animals. We can try hot chocolate or food if it's not too crowded.

If the weather is bad on Monday, I will reschedule. Hope it's not too cold on that day.

I look forward to seeing you in the zoo!

Tristan

Hi everyone,

It's a holiday season! Let's check Christkindlmarket in Aurora. I hosted this event several times only in Chicago and I'd like to change this year.

https://www.christkindlmarket.com/aurora/

This is a famous market, so it's very crowded every year. There are many local shops, food and handmade stuffs. It will be fun to look around this market.

We can go to a restaurant nearby afterward if some want. I look forward to seeing you in Aurora!

Jin

Hi everyone,

It's a skating season. Let's check Maggie Daley Park skating ribbon. We had this event last winter season and it was pretty fun.

https://maggiedaleypark.com/things-to-do-see/skating-ribbon/

Read the ticket inforamtion and policy carefully. We will be skating at 2PM for two hours and need to buy a ticket on Dec 2nd, at 12PM.

Please sign up if you plan to purchase the ticket ($21 + tax). If you bring your own skates, $5 + tax.

It may be cold even during daytime, so dress accordingly. I will have another events before and after this if you're interested.

I look forward to seeing you in Chicago for this holiday season!

Jin

Hi everyone,

Let's join Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along event in front of Cloudy Gate!

This is one of annual winter events in Chicago. They start at 6PM, but we can meet a bit early to secure the spots. It normally lasts an hour, so we can have food afterward if you're interested in deep dish pizza!

Giordano's
130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

2024 is going to the end. Let's enjoy the last days before 2025!

Jin

Hi everyone,

Let's explore Indiana Dunes National Park! We missed this in the fall season.

https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm

I guess many people have been to Indiana Dunes State Park, but not National Park. Hopefully, it's not too cold in December!

Fees
Entrance fee is $25 per vehicle unless you have a park pass.

Trails

• West Beach Trails 3-loop: 0.9 mile
• Cowles Bog Trail - 4.7 miles

Schedule (CT)
10:30AM - Start the Hike
11:30AM - West Beach & Break
12:00PM - Move to Cowles Bog
12:30PM - Start the Hike
4:30PM - Finish the Hike
5:00PM - Optional Dinner (TBD)

Please bring snacks/water bottle. Also, wear clothes accordingly. Since we start this event in the late morning, you may want to have your lunch before you come. Dogs are welcome and post-hike dinner is optional. Sunset time is around 4:30PM.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Jin

Hello Fellow Hikers/Friends,

Here are some updates and a roadmap of this group for your information.

1. Membership and RSVP
Please check "What we're about" of this group for the membership rules and RSVP policy if you didn't read them yet. You will also figure out what kind of group we are.

2. Donations
I made this group for people who may want to explore the nature, make friends, and contribute our community. I don't do any business with this Meetup, but fee ($198/year) is required to maintain this group. So, I need your support for that.

Donations are volunteering and I do prefer an old style (face to face) rather than one click of smartphone to transfer just a number ($). If you prefer online, Zelle is also available. We will have some featured events every year and I will bring a transparent jar. If you consider to donate, please bring cash no more than $10. All donated money will be used for only Meetup fee and let you know the process transparently.

2022

• Members (including myself) donated $123 during one weekend events.

2023

• Members donated $177.63 ($100 in-person, $10 online, $67.63 camping).

2024

• Members donated $117 ($34 in-person, $51 online, $32 camping) as of November 16th.

Thank you so much to support this group!

2.5. Group Photo
We do have a group photo time during the event. It doesn't happen every event, but be aware if you don't want to show yourself on the public. It's up to you whether you join or not. No one will force you or give a sign for that. Also, I will update the main photo of this group 2~3 times every year and I will pick up donation event photo in most cases.

3. Group T-Shirt
We may make group t-shirts in the future for members who may want. I am not familiar with t-shirt design or making of clothes, so please send me DM if you're familiar or know any connection. We can discuss about that later.

4. Event/Assistant Organizers
It's been less than one year since I started this group and I still spend a lot of my time for new events. I plan to assign some people as organizers this year. I believe these people are all decent and have integrity.

5. Group Vision
Current goal is to have up to 1,000 members and at least 80% of the members are active. It's not necessary people join the event every week, but they're involved in the group and interacting with others. This means that I will remove some people from this group based on the membership rules and RSVP policy.

6. Roadmap (2022-2045)

• Phase I (2022-2025)

2022: Start Group, Assign Organizers, Local Hiking/Events, Initiate to Remove Inactive Members.
➡️ Completed! 👍👍👍

2023: Initiate Camping (Gears + Warming-Up), Local Hiking/Events.
➡️ Completed! 👍👍👍

2024: Expand Camping (Mid-West & South). Local Hiking/Events.
➡️ In Progress

2025: Camping (East & West), Initiate Backpacking, Jin Plans to Step Down Organizer.
➡️ Initiated!

• Phase II (2026-2029)

2026: Camping/Backpacking (National Parks), Initiate Oversee Trips.
2027: America (North & South)
2028: Europe I (Central)
2029: Europe II (Scandinavia)

• Phase III (2030-2035)

2030: Asia I (South Korea & Japan)
2031: Asia II
2032: Oceania (Australia, New Zealand)
2033: Africa
2034: Antarctica (TBD)
2035: Annapurna (Nepal)

• Phase IV (2036-2040)

2036: Ice Age Trail
2037: Potomac Heritage Trail
2038: Appalachian Trail
2039: Continental Divide Trail
2040: Pacific Crest Trail

• Phase V (2041-2045)

2041: Road Trip 50 States I
2042: Road Trip 50 States II
2043: Road Trip 50 States III
2044: Zero Gravity Experience
2045: Total Solar Eclipse

Phase II might be flexible since it's still 3~4 years away. Phase III, IV, and V are TBD. Some hiking/camping sites for 2024-2025 will be Mammoth Cave (KY), Mark Twain National Forest (MO), Rock Island State Park (WI), Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH), Porcupine Mountains (MI), Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD), Niagara Falls (Canada), Shawnee National Forest (IL), etc.

Please feel free to send me any suggestions. Thank you!

Jin

Hello everyone,

Let's explore Devil's Lake State Park, one of the best hiking places in Wisconsin. I go hiking there a couple of times every year and it's a gorgeous place.

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/devilslake

Since this is a winter hike, we will hike only East Bluff Trail. If lake is frozen, we may walk to the middle of the lake. Make sure you have all winter gears and don't forget to bring water bottle! Also, you will need to buy an admission ticket, so check the website details.

I will check the weather and update the event again if weather is bad. We can stop by Madison for food afterwar.

Hopefully, see you there!

Jin

• Schedule

11:00AM - Meet & Prep
11:15AM - Hike East Bluff Trail
1:30PM - Break at the Top
2:00PM - Come Back to Concession
3:30PM - Explore Lake
4:30PM ~ 5:00PM - Finish & Leave

Hi everyone,

Let's try winter sports, Snow Tubing!

http://skisunburst.com/snow-tubing/

I hosted skiing and snowboarding events in the past and I'd like to check snow tubing this time. Actually, we tried to have this event last season, but it didn't go well due to the mild winter season (40F!). Hopefully, it's a bit cold when we go there.

The website is still not updated, but I believe we need to buy a ticket in advance. Probably, there is a time slot every two hours, so we can try between 4PM and 6PM.

I strongly recommend a carpool if you come from Chicago. Monday is MLK holiday, so we will have enough time to enjoy snow tubing!

I will update details again in December.

Jin

Hello fellow hikers,

Let's explore the most scenic place in Chicagoland, Starved Rock State Park.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/StarvedRock.aspx

This will be a monthly hike and the trails will be determined on the hiking day depends on the situation (weather, trail conditions, crowds, etc.), but we will likely have ~10 miles hike.

Please bring water and snacks. Also, check your shoes, clothes, and gears accordingly. Dinner will be optional.

I hope to see you there!

Jin

• Schedule

10:30AM - Start Hike
1:30PM - Back to Visitor Center
2:00PM - Move to East Side Parking Lot
2:30PM - Canyons at East Side
4:30PM - Finish Hike
5:00PM - Optional Dinner in Ottawa (Sunfield Restaurant)