Hiking Mindego Hill
Friday we had the day off- and weren't in Chicago for New Year's Eve- so we went hiking locally. We made a return trip to Mindego Hill in the Russian Ridge Open Space. This time we even went to the correct trailhead so we wouldn't have a hiking fail like last time.
You see, whenever something happens that stops us from doing outdoors stuff we want to do, we don't just say "Oops, we can't do that"; it's only ever, 'Hmm, we'll do that later." In this case "later" came in less than two weeks for Mindego Hill. Though "later" for a festive NYE is going to have to be about 52 more weeks. 😅
The trail started off going steadily downhill. The pic above is from about 1/4 down the trail, where Mindego Hill comes into view in the distance. Downhill is not a good start for trail that climbs a peak. We'd have to regain all that elevation climbing the peak... plus regain it a second time getting back to our car.
The weather Friday was clear but cold. Up here in the hills it was about 43° F (6° C) in the sun, a few degrees cooler in the shade. We wore several light layers each to shed and recover as necessary on the hike.
After a mile or so in we had view of Russian Ridge off to our right. When we turned left at the fork to the summit of Mindego Hill and started climbing, we enjoyed better views. Above you can see Russian Ridge. Its peak is Borel Hill, elev. 2,572' (784m). We've hiking across Borel Hill numerous times from trailheads just over its far side. For example, we were there less than 3 weeks ago.
The last 1/2 mile of the trail is steeper that it looks. I was huffing and puffing despite it only being a climb of 300' or so. Then again, I've been suffering shortness of breath lately that could be CoRoNaViRuS or could be a flareup of the asthma I get from time to time. (I tested negative Tuesday night so I'm going with mild asthma for now.)
Anyway, we reached the summit of Mindego Hill, elev. 2,143', with views all around. The picture above shows a more expansive view of Russian Ridge to the north of us. Borel Hill is over on the right side. To the left is what we call Hawk Ridge. I'm not sure if that's its official name, but the Open Space District's map shows Hawk Ridge Trail descending. That seems like the next most official thing. We've hiked Hawk Ridge countless times, too. It's cool seeing these familiar places from a fresh viewpoint.
Update: keep reading in Part 2!
[This entry was cross-posted from https://canyonwalker.dreamwidth.org/165674.html. Please comment there using OpenID. That's where most of the action is!]
You see, whenever something happens that stops us from doing outdoors stuff we want to do, we don't just say "Oops, we can't do that"; it's only ever, 'Hmm, we'll do that later." In this case "later" came in less than two weeks for Mindego Hill. Though "later" for a festive NYE is going to have to be about 52 more weeks. 😅
The trail started off going steadily downhill. The pic above is from about 1/4 down the trail, where Mindego Hill comes into view in the distance. Downhill is not a good start for trail that climbs a peak. We'd have to regain all that elevation climbing the peak... plus regain it a second time getting back to our car.
The weather Friday was clear but cold. Up here in the hills it was about 43° F (6° C) in the sun, a few degrees cooler in the shade. We wore several light layers each to shed and recover as necessary on the hike.
After a mile or so in we had view of Russian Ridge off to our right. When we turned left at the fork to the summit of Mindego Hill and started climbing, we enjoyed better views. Above you can see Russian Ridge. Its peak is Borel Hill, elev. 2,572' (784m). We've hiking across Borel Hill numerous times from trailheads just over its far side. For example, we were there less than 3 weeks ago.
The last 1/2 mile of the trail is steeper that it looks. I was huffing and puffing despite it only being a climb of 300' or so. Then again, I've been suffering shortness of breath lately that could be CoRoNaViRuS or could be a flareup of the asthma I get from time to time. (I tested negative Tuesday night so I'm going with mild asthma for now.)
Anyway, we reached the summit of Mindego Hill, elev. 2,143', with views all around. The picture above shows a more expansive view of Russian Ridge to the north of us. Borel Hill is over on the right side. To the left is what we call Hawk Ridge. I'm not sure if that's its official name, but the Open Space District's map shows Hawk Ridge Trail descending. That seems like the next most official thing. We've hiked Hawk Ridge countless times, too. It's cool seeing these familiar places from a fresh viewpoint.
Update: keep reading in Part 2!
[This entry was cross-posted from https://canyonwalker.dreamwidth.org/165674.html. Please comment there using OpenID. That's where most of the action is!]