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

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

Perhaps you could bribe PJ to bring the pipes.

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 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.

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.

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?

[IMG]http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd254/Magicpaddler/Map.jpg[/IMG]

Magicpaddler

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!

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.

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

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

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"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?

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 to view media files and links); 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.

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

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 to view media files and links).  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

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 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

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.