>>187181I remember Matthiessen being hell. Slippery, steep drops, trail marked only by valleys... Those were the days. I think I spent most trips there soaking wet because you had to jump across moss covered rocks. And not many people knew about it since it wasn't as highly advertised as Starved Rock was.
And Starved Rock... nothing said hiking like dropping right off the damn trail with only a shitty ass rotted guard rail to stop you.
I think they're trying to turn those parks into Morton Arboretum so rich couples can enjoy picnics while experiencing some sort of "wilderness". Everything about Illinois feels so fake because of how protected it is to appeal to beginners and Chicagoans. The only times I've enjoyed this state is when I hopped on my bike and headed out to my friend's farm about 100 miles south of Chicago while camping out in farmer's fields when I ran out of sunlight...
But that was after I almost got killed by crackheads on the I&M trail and somewhere after the endless cornfields that made me want to blow my brains out.
Downtown isn't looking so hot these days either with all those "families" on Michigan avenue asking for handouts. This state is falling apart.
