Still the "Gold Standard"

The AT is still the "gold standard" by which other hiking trails in the US are measured. At least if the recent story in the Southern Illinoisan by Les Winkeler is to be believed (and why wouldn't it be?).

Winkeler writes a nice article about a 175 mile hiking trail that "meanders ... across Southern Illinois." It's called the River to River Trail (look at an Illinois map if you don't know which rivers are being referenced).

He (or is it she?) writes:

"'People like it,' said John O'Dell of the River to River Trail Society. 'It's getting better marked each year. It's kind of a good tryout trail before you go on the Appalachian Trail. There are very few places where it is really flat.'

"While most visitors hike segments of the trail, O'Dell said there are a few through-hikers.

"'It's pretty demanding of a person to take two weeks off to hike the trail,' O'Dell said. 'There are people, we've had three or four this year.'

"O'Dell said topography and the meandering nature of the trail results in hikers averaging about a mile per hiking hour."

Okay, so it's "pretty demanding" and it's got "very few places where it is really flat" and they've had "three or four" through hikers this year. Sounds like a nice "Walk in the Woods" [can I still say that after the Bryson book?]. It's also maintained by volunteers. But the article didn't mention shelters. Are there any?

On the other hand, it's also got spookiness. Check this:

"Another popular spot is the vortex, a place believed to have paranormal features.

"'That's Max Creek, that's just south of Tunnel Hill,' O'Dell said. 'There is a convenient loop where you can walk down into the heart of Max Creek and walk out a different way.

"'A lot of people try that. If you believe in crystals and supernatural powers, we've had people that have gone down there and have genuine feelings about that place.'"

Sounds fun. But remember . . . the AT is what it gets compared to, and the Trail for which it serves as a preparation.