I have been thinking about getting a bunch of paddlers together just for a fun day. The location would be near Lemont Illinois. It would be on a Saturday or Sunday probably between mid April and mid May.  
Agenda
10:00 Meet in a park where you could show off your non boat gear and see others gear, what ever you use for canoeing, fishing or camping.  I would hope some hammocks would show up and the place I am thinking about has many places to hang hammocks.  
12:00 Eat your bag lunch and pack up your gear.
01:00 Move to the river for a paddle 2.5 miles away.  This would be to paddle your own boat unless others offer to trade crafts for a while.  We can go up stream about 2 hours then turn around and come back.  
3:00 - 04:00 we load up and get off the river.  
05:00 Arrive at restaurant and have a beer burger pizza or what ever.  

So what are the chances you would come and for how much of the day?
Comments??
Magicpaddler

I might be able to do it, if it works into the calendar.  I assume a weekend (saturday?) event?  

Chicago is huge...were you thinking north/south/west side?  

I like the gear angle...lots to look at/compare/get ideas.

prouboy

Lemont is near I55 and I355, South West of Chicago.

I'd be interested both in paddling and checking out hammocks, also meeting QJ folks would be cool.

I'm interested.

Oh wait . . thats "Chicago area MEET".  I though it was "meat"

Nevermind.

Perhaps you could bribe PJ to bring the pipes.

Practically in my back yard.  

Sounds like fun.  Where would you want to meet and put in?

I've got no canoe but sure would like to meet some folks.

I would probably put in in 2 places to spread the cars out.  The fastest healthiest of paddlers could put in directly under Lemont road.  I put in there for a long time. The paddle under the RR bridge gets your hart pumping.  There are a couple of places east after the road goes under the RR tracks that you can walk down the bank.  There is even a boat ramp.
Magicpaddler

I've not been to it, but here is a forest preserve that indicates canoeing on the river and it is not far from where you are proposing.

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Just a thought.

I have paddled down near that place when you get about ½ mile up stream the current gets fast and I did not want to try to paddle back up stream against that current.  You could do that section down stream but would need a shuttle to get back to your car.

How about the quarry?  There is a put-in on the east end and no current.  Probably some fishing too? Not as resplendent as a forest preserve but not quite as industrial as under the Lemont Rd. bridge.  

.....not trying to take control of the event, just throwing out some options.  

There are several quarrys around that can be paddled. My wife and I went on one of the larger ones 2 weeks ago.  We paddled the edge and went around 2 times in 40 minutes.  They are just too small.  
The river is industrialized at the put in but it is a different story up stream.  From the car bridge 1.6 miles up stream or from the boat ramp 2000 Ft up stream there is no more industry for over 2 miles. Then there is a short stretch with trucking company’s on one side then a much longer stretch.  In that stretch of river I see coyotes and deer.

I would be interested in coming for the fun day and to meet some local QJ'ers. Paddle upstream sounds good, I can also fit 4-5 people in my truck for a shuttle.

My schedule is getting tight so I need to set a date that is still open.  How about May 9?
Driving Instructions:
From I55 get off on to Lemont road south. There is 1 gas station you will pass while going south on Lemont road and that will be the last place with flush toilets and they have a subway in side. Follow Lemont road south 1.9 miles and you will be at the bottom of a hill turn right on Bluff Rd = 111th.  Follow Bluff Rd west 1.2 miles to a small park on the right. It is just before you go under I 355.  There is a shelter house but I do not have it reserved.  If it is available we can use it.   There are no tables or drinkable water. There is one porta potty. If we go up the hill to the east there is a large area with large trees and no under brush that would be good for putting up hammocks and tarps. No open fires.
10:00 Meet in a park where you could show off your non boat gear and see others gear, what ever you use for canoeing, fishing or camping. I would hope some hammocks would show up and the place I am thinking about has many places to hang hammocks.
12:00 Eat your bag lunch and pack up your gear.
01:00 Move to the river for a paddle 2.5 miles away.
Driving Instructions:
Go back to Lemont road and turn right = South. Go 750Ft and turn right on to Old Lemont  Rd. Take it over the river and under Lemont Road.  If you are a strong paddler you can turn left on a dirt road almost under the bridge to a place you can park under the bridge and carry down to the river.  Put in and paddle up stream the roughest part will be under the railroad bridge.  If you want a easier paddle after going under Lemont road go .9 miles and there is some parking on both sides of a boat ramp.  
This would be to paddle your own boat unless others offer to trade crafts for a while. We can go up stream about 2 hours then turn around and come back.
3:00 - 04:00 we load up and get off the river.
05:00 Arrive at restaurant and have a beer burger pizza or what ever.
Driving Instructions:
Go back to Lemont Road and turn right. Go 1.5 miles and turn left in to Lemont Lanes  parking lot at 1015 State street. They have a restaurant and bar on the fare end of the building form the parking lot. You can go through the bowling alley or follow the walk in front of the building to a door into the bar.

In the attached google shot A in the park and B is the boat ramp.

I need to know if we will have any one bringing any thing to show at the gear show off at 10:00.  So who will bring some piece of gear to show to others? If we don’t have several respond we will cancel that part.  

The restaurant will need to know how many of us will be there so who will be there?

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Magicpaddler

Magic,

I'm planning on being there for the Fun Day and dinner, Diane may be able to come if she can get the day off.

No idea what we are bringing for gear. I might bring an old beat up tandem in hopes of keeping up a little easier then in the wildfire/ yellowstone. Might also have an extra boat/or seat if someone is in need.

I'll be there, but have no vessel. I'll meet up for the gear part and then re-meet after the paddle. Its always nice to put faces with the names on here :)

Can't wait to see everyone!

Good to see some replies.  I think it is a little early for some to commit.
MagicPaddler  

I might be able to make it.
If I do, I'll do my "fresh Egg packing" demonstration.

A big thumbs up to you Magicpaddler, on that bushwhack last year. I just read the story.

I would like the egg packing demo.  I usually take eggs for the first couple of days and some times I even get them there without breaking them.
KF did an excellent job of writing the story of the bushwhack.  It is fun to read it and see which events during the trip held his attention.  There not the same as the ones I remember or fretted about. I hate floating bogs!

Hay its getting close.  May 9 one week from tomorrow.  If you know any one who would be interested bring them along.
MagicPaddler

I paddled this rout last Sunday.  The river was up so the current was a little stiff.  I paddled up stream about 4 miles then up a creek almost to 91St.  I could see the power line tower that was in the parking lot where I used to park my car when I raced at Santa Fe. In one of the other creeks I paddled up I caught a northern about 20” long.  
MagicPaddler

Magicpaddler !
You ARE the man !
-Paddling odd creeks in IL, and catching pike !
-Bushwhacking through Quetico !!
-Racing at Santa Fe !!!!!!....who'd a thunk it ?

I took a few dates there...lots of fun....but race there ?...not I.

Amazing !

Enjoy!

Anybody in the Chicago area racing Des Plaines 5/17 or the Aluminum Nationals 5/16 next weekend?

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Well I had a blast yesterday with MP, Stumpy, and his daughter Sarah. MP showed me his hammock and tarp setup and his new food pack hanging rig that weighed in at just over 2lb's with three pulleys and cord. Stumpy showed us his egg packing technique before we hit the river. The woods and ravines above the river are quite beautiful and full of life. My birding ID is somewhat lacking, but I noticed what appeared to be a gnatcathcher and a scarlet tanager in the morning. I had spent a few years working on some surveying projects at IC and for 355 some years back, and enjoyed the chance to see the area from a different perspective.

While MP and Stumpy have different paddling styles, it is apparent both of these guys are quite adapt with their individual crafts. The thing that really struck me however, was Stumpy's daughter Sarah who seemed to be enjoying herself at least as much as the rest of us. She didn't miss a chance to get out of the canoe and explore the shoreline. All kinds of interesting things were found throughout the day. The cormorants, great blue herons, turkey vultures, and red tail? hawk are a few birds I remember seeing along the river.

Thanks again MP for taking the time to set this up, I really enjoyed talking and paddling with you guys. Nice area to explore too.

BT

"his new food pack hanging rig that weighed in at just over 2lb's with three pulleys and cord."

 I'd like some more info on this, maybe a pic?
I use 3 pulley rig. To get it down to 2lbs, I'm wondering what size and kind of rope your using?

BrownTrout01 wrote on May 10^th, 2009 at 5:50pm:

MP.... his new food pack hanging rig that weighed in at just over 2lb's with three pulleys and cord.

Magic and I discussed this at some length with Magic's engineering and physics experience teaching me quite a bit. As a result of our campfire classroom I reworked my bear hanging kit to come in at 1.4 lbs and a tested weight limit of 90 lbs. It uses a double pulley and a single pulley, 100 feet of 1/4" and 100 feet of 3/16" poly braid. Needless to say you need gloves to hoist 90 lbs with this type of cord. But it works and has more than halved the weight of my food hanging kit.
Thanks Magic.

I am  using parachute cord for all of my rope.  I used the everlast #70 pulley. You can see a picture here.
  (You need to Login or Register  I use about 7 inch of ½ inch PVC pipe between the two top pulleys.  Today was the first day I put it up and lifted any thing.  I only had about 35 lb hanging from it but it worked well.  Care must be taken when putting it up  and taking it down to keep from tangling the ropes. If one of the ropes was a different color it would make it easer to set up. If you let the rope roll over the side of the pulley it will get pinched between the side and the wheel.  These pulleys roll very easy and will more than hold the weight and once every thing is straight and you have weight on then they stay straight but having the rope pinched over the edge of the pulley should be avoided.

I tried the everlast pulleys that Magic references but had too much trouble with rolling and twisting. As a result, I reverted to a cheap cast pulley set that will not overrun. I did have to do some lube and run in to make them run smoothly but after I did they work pretty good. Out of the package they are fairly rough and may need some attention but at the price (about $4 each ) they are worth the effort. If you have a grinder with a wire wheel you can run in a set of cheap cast pulleys with a little lube and a run on the wire wheel. In an extreme case try a little abrasive rubbing compound to get them smoothed out.

The cast pulleys are heavier and gravity helps them find the proper orientation when lifting a load that is their biggest advantage. The plastic everlast pulleys run smoother but they tend to twist and turn too much. They take an extreme amount of attention to keep them running true.

Kingfisher wrote on May 11^th, 2009 at 12:26am:

I tried the everlast pulleys that Magic references but had too much trouble with rolling and twisting. As a result, I reverted to a cheap cast pulley set that will not overrun. I did have to do some lube and run in to make them run smoothly but after I did they work pretty good. Out of the package they are fairly rough and may need some attention but at the price (about $4 each ) they are worth the effort. If you have a grinder with a wire wheel you can run in a set of cheap cast pulleys with a little lube and a run on the wire wheel. In an extreme case try a little abrasive rubbing compound to get them smoothed out. The cast pulleys are heavier and gravity helps them find the proper orientation when lifting a load that is their biggest advantage. The plastic everlast pulleys run smoother but they tend to twist and turn too much. They take an extreme amount of attention to keep them running true.

I also use a 3-pulley system what weighs in at 1 lb 6 oz.  My system utilizes 3   (You need to Login or Register.  They are quite a bit more expensive (I found the one's I use for about 1/2 the price listed in the link), but they have numerous advantages:  (a) light weight, (b) efficiency rating of about 86%, (c) split ring design--just split and insert the rope--no need to string, and (d) carrying capacity ~ 22.2 kn (5000 lbs).  To this I add a light weight caribiner to hold the split rings in place and form connecting to the rope and/or pack(s).  The 'biners are the weak link in the system at a carrying capacity of 150 lbs.  Finally, I use two 50 foot lengths of 1/4 inch braided nylon rope (in orange, so I don't accidentally run into them or leave them behind).  The pulleys will handling up to 1/2 inch rope, but I find this to be overkill.

Rope #1 (tree rope) has two overhand loop/knots about 3 feet apart in the middle of rope.  One pulley is caribinered to each loop.  Rope #2 (hoist rope) is tied to food pack, then run through one of the tree rope pulleys, back down to a 'bindered pulley attached to the pack, then back to pulley #2 on the tree rope.  

At this point the tree rope is hoisted ... most often between two trees with an open span between.  Once lashed down at each end, they you are free to hoist away.  You need to make allowances for the amount of sag in the tree rope due to degree of tautness in the line and tree diameter.

I've hoisted 80-90 pounds by myself with this system.  If you want to hand hoist, gloves are recommended, but just as often, I just make belay-like loop around my body and walk back to the tie-off tree.  Lowering is a one-hand job, with excellent control.  Oh, BTW.  When you untie your pack from the hoist line, you'll need to add weight to the line ... the pulleys are so efficient that the hoist line will quick run through the pulleys and wind up on the ground.  I carry the pulleys/biners in a small mesh bag.  I just add a rock to the bag and tie that to the end of the hoist line to avoid the "quick getaway."  However, the "slippery" nature of the lines also makes for a remarkably quick take down when you are breaking camp.   However, I'd make sure that at least one line is running through a tree pulley to pull the tree line down from the middle, after untying both ends.  (No point getting a pulley hung up in the tree.)

No pinch, no bind, no twist with this system.

I'll typically use two trees because of the infrequency of finding a substantial single limb at the right height that is free from obstruction.  All you have to find on two trees is a 1-2 inch diameter limb or stob that proves sufficient purchase against the tree for the rope.  In other words, they don't have to be pointed away from the weight on the line.  Even stobs with a sufficient upward angle between the trees can be used because the force on the line will be downward.

dd

DD, those pulleys look alot more efficient than the ones I'm using and are probably worth the extra cost. The weak link in my system is the efficiency of the pulleys.

I use the same type pulleys as dd. I bought mine at a sailing shop, about $12 each. I use the 1/4 rope for both the tree and pack lifting rope. My set-up is a little different, as I use the Modification Azalea recommended. It just allows you to keep pack closer to one of the two tree's to eliminate almost all of the line sag.
I'm thinking of trying to use some of that 1/8 braided Dacron rope they sell at Cooke or Piragis outdoor. Holds 450 lbs and weighs .05 oz for 80 ft. Has reflective cord in it, so should make for some cool night time effects.  Supposedly is stiff enough for easy knot tying. I figure that for tree rope and keep the 1/4 for pack haul rope. Anyone have any experience with  the Dacron guy line rope?  Overkill weight wise, but would lighten the kit significantly IF practical?

"I'm thinking of trying to use some of that 1/8 braided Dacron rope they sell at Cooke or Piragis outdoor. Holds 450 lbs and weighs .05 oz for 80 ft."

That's more or less what I use - it is  1/8" Dacron Kite line - 500# test
does not seem to stretch.    Color is white, so easy to see.    

just google for kite supplies and lots of online dealers should pop up


edit - my notes say my rope kit and pulley weighs 11.2 oz.  I use two ropes to go from pulley in center to each of two trees - easier to throw and coil two seperate ropes as compared to one longer rope (note: I use a lighter heaving line to get up over the branches - I'd never break that 500# line if it got stuck); a third rope runs through the pulley to hoist with - gloves do help with the small diameter line.  I get away with a single pulley when solo - my food for this year weighs 16# 5oz for 12 days - add in the pack and I'm still only hoisting 17# 3.6 oz max at the start of the trip. If I go with my brother, and double the weight, I'll often use the same setup, or may add two more pulleys.

the dacron line knots ok, but it won't knot as tightly as stretchier nylon line.

 I use the two rope method for the tree hanging rope, seems easier too me as well, and allows for Azalea's modification.
 I remember Mad Mat's recommendation about using a lighter heave line in case you snag, and had that in mind when I contemplated the switch to the Dacron line.  I still think I'll keep the 1/4" for the haul rope, easier on the hands.  If you don't have the 3 pulley set-up, and your hoisting a heavy food pack, you owe yourself too make the switch. Even a small person, with minimal effort can easily lift 90# with ease.
Thanks for info on Dacron kite line ;D

fyi

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the link above is for the outfit that I bought the kite line from - $22 for 500' right now - that is cheaper than the other sites I looked at -

This is 1 pound almost exactly (at least when they are dry ;) ):
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These are the pulleys I think I used and I thought they were expensive but I knew what a pain cast pulleys were. Back story: We used 69 cent cast pulleys where I worked specifically because they did NOT spin very well so our counterbalance was not critical. The guy that tried these quickly switched back to cast - so I got freebies!:
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The top rope is poly and the pulling rope is nylon - 50' of each I think. The big rope is nice on the hands, never tangles and most importantly, it fits the pulleys I have. If I were to switch to smaller dia. rope, I'd also need new pulleys since it could easily foul and lock up between the wheel thingy and the frame when using rope the pulley wasn't designed for. Separating the top two keeps the ropes apart so there's no drag although I invariably need to raise my pack a foot and spin it to separate them at the start.

I made my setup in my basement one winter and as luck would have it, haven't changed a thing since. Even used it today to hoist my snow blower to it's summer home atop the garage rafters. (Winter is now officially over eh? Whoo hoo!) Anyway that sucker is a lot heavier than a foodpack for six.

The other thing to keep in mind is you don't want the top rope tight. At least I don't. I want some play so that when the trees start swaying in a storm my pack doesn't come crashing down. There's got to be serious force involved with that so I choose to avoid it with slack.