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OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES The Adventurers Club For 90 years, members of this Chicago group have been going "off the beaten path." BY GARY THOMAS
I was into high adventure when I was young. I remember "parachuting" off the roof of the garage when I was about 11 (broken umbrella, no broken bones, stern lecture from mom), jumping from a second story window to impress a young lady at age 13 (nasty gash on hand, bruised ego, stern lecture from dad), and even driving my old MG roadster into a remote, wet and off-limits part of Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky when I was 20 (loss of bumper, $40 tow bill and stern lecture from police officer). Adventures all! Still, they don't really compare with Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mount Everest, Steve Fossett's attempt to balloon around the world, Thor Heyerdahl's ocean adventures on the "Kon Tiki" or Admiral Byrd's exploration of the South Pole. There is another significant difference between my exploits and those of the adventurers mentioned above. They all are or were members of Chicago's "Adventurers Club." I am not. There are a number of other impressive members of this Illinois club, too—such as former president and safari hunter Teddy Roosevelt, Frank "bring 'em back alive" Buck, animal trainer Clyde Beatty, arctic and antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen, "Zoo Parade" host Marlin Perkins, and even one of the Ringlings from the Ringling Brothers Circus, to name just a few. The point is, this is not a club made up of stodgy, old people sitting around in dinner jackets reliving past triumphs. In fact, they are not much for sitting. They're more for doing. They race boats and cars, climb rocks and mountains, hunt and fish in outlying locations, white water raft, explore isolated areas, make extended balloon and glider trips, sky dive, explore unmapped underwater locations, hunt for treasure and do other things I only read about. "This is an active club, made up of people who like to do adventurous things," said Bill "Beau" Meskan, a scuba diver and vice-president of the club. "It's not that we have a disregard for personal safety, but we like doing exciting things. If your idea of adventure is a trip to the Wisconsin Dells or watching the Discovery Channel, we're probably not for you." Basically speaking, members of the Adventurers Club are men and women who tend to live life on the edge. Charles Walgreen is a good example. The patriarch of the drugstore-chain family and one of three generations who belong to the club, decided at age 90 that he wanted to be the oldest person to visit the South Pole. He did so, and while at the pole, he ran into two other members of the club who chose the same adventure, but had used a different route. Neither group knew the other was going to be there. The snow boots Walgreen wore on his adventure currently are on display at the club, and constitute just a small part of an interesting, and rather eclectic, museum. The room features an amazing array of items, including a nice collection of mounted trophy animals- January/February 2002 | 45 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
buffalo, antelope, walrus and moose heads, full mounts of grizzly and polar bears, as well as a gorilla and tiger. There also is the bill from a sawbill fish, the tail from a swordfish and lots of mounted snakes. But that just constitutes the "ordinary" stuff. A May 1997 story in GQ magazine described it as an "adult secret tree fort," and there are some rather extraordinary items there. For instance, entering the room, you pass under a sign outlining the club's reason for being: "To provide a hearth and home for those who have left the beaten path and made for adventure." From then on, you're consumed with the club's treasures. A case along the wall contains a half-dozen shrunken human heads collected in South America. Nearby is a letter from former president Theodore Roosevelt, one of the club's early members. Another case features cups, saucers and silver from the zeppelin Hindenberg alongside coal salvaged from the Titanic. Near the bar, there's a harpoon gunmade in the mid-1800s standing alongside a cannon recovered from the Spanish galleon San Pedro that sank off Florida in 1733. Another case displays the knife Japanese General Tojo used to try to commit suicide after World War II (he failed in his attempt, and later was hanged). There are tribal hatchets, clubs, machetes and knives, early experimental portable diving gear (preceding Jacques Cousteau's), and some spectacular underwater photography taken many years ago. Two decks of playing cards are encased together—one used in a card game by members at the north pole and one used for similar purposes at the south pole. A mastodon tusk hangs from a rafter and provides an interesting story: Members were cruising in arctic waters a few years ago and tied up to what they thought was an icy island. It turned out not to be land, but a large iceberg. The next morning they made out the image of what appeared to be an elephant frozen within, so they chopped and blasted away until they unlodged the large animal. They took the two tusks (they had no way of taking the entire animal), donating one to the club and the other to the Smithsonian Institution. They also cut away a couple of large steaks which they cooked and ate. How many people can say they've dined on mastodon? Although it undoubtedly is one of Chicago's better kept secrets, the Adventurers Club has been around for 90 years, tracing its beginnings to 1911, when Robert Foran arrived in Chicago to work for the Associated Press. Foran, a former officer in the British Royal Army, became acquainted with others who shared his spirit of adventure—big game hunters, explorers and military men—and they began meeting informally at a Chicago grill. During one of their meetings, Foran proposed organizing the group into a club. Originally on Dearborn Street, the Adventurers Club now is located on the corner of Ohio and Franklin streets. The club motto, taken from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, is: 46 | Illinois Parks and Recreation OUR NATURAL RESOURCES "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
The ceiling of the Adventurers Club room also is a little different. It's covered with flags—more than 200 of them, and each with a story to tell. Each of these pendants, considered to be the most important feature of the club, includes the club emblem (an "A" over a globe), a member's name and the name of an adventure. To earn a flag, a member goes before a committee and proposes an interesting and/or dangerous and/or different type of adventure. If the adventure is unique and daring enough, the committee will agree to the undertaking and order two flags to be made. The member then carries the flags along on the adventure, making sure a photo is taken of the member and the flag during the adventure. At the conclusion of the trip, one flag is presented back to the club to be hung on the ceiling at a "flag dinner," during which tales of the adventure are told. The second flag is retained by the member. "Pick an adventure, and one of the club members likely has done it," Meskan said. "Our club members have traveled to both poles and climbed the world's highest peaks. One member has kayaked around Australia, a member rode a bike from Beijing to Paris, one has made a 12,000-mile solo raft trip, while still another has crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice in a dug-out canoe." Chuck Hannon, the club's current president, earned a flag for retracing China's historical Silk Road, traveling from Beijing by truck, camel and on foot on a several month-long journey exploring grottoes and caves and crossing the Gobi desert on his way to Xi'an. A semi-retired Chicago lawyer, last year he climbed both Mount Kilamajaro, Africa's highest peak, and Mount Ranier. He has scheduled two tougher climbs for this year, one of which will take him to Timbukto. More recent flag winners include Peter Boczar, Chicago, who spent two weeks hacking through the jungles of French Guyana in search of a World War II Army Air Force plane that crashed and claimed the life of one of his relatives (he didn't locate the plane), and Chicagoan Bill Orthwein, who spent eight days flying across the Caribbean in an ultralight aircraft that was little more than a kite with a lawnmower engine to propel it. "I could only carry 24 gallons of fuel, so I had to be able to reach a new island to refuel every three hours," Orthwein said. "I used a GPS system and just aimed for each new island. My plane would only go about 25 miles per hour, so I had to find islands close to one another. I was bucking strong ocean winds some days, so there were times when I wasn't making much progress. On one leg of the trip, when I sat down I only had about a quarter of a gallon of gasoline left."
The club also includes six honorary members at present, the latest being Norman Vaughn, now in his 90s, who handled Admiral Byrd's dogs during his first trip to the South Pole. Vaughn is the oldest person to ever compete in the Iditarod (a dogsled race from Anchorage to Nome covering more than 1,150 miles that usually takes about 2 weeks to complete), and recently climbed Mount Vaughn, a peak in Antarctica that was named after him by Admiral Byrd. Another aspect of the Adventurers Club is their scientific/educational foundation. Apart of each member's dues goes toward exploration and funding re-creations. The club has helped sponsor a Marlin Perkins/Edmund Hillary expedition to search for yeti (the abominable snowman) in the Himalayas, has contributed to several Loch Ness investigations, helped fund the Mayflower II voyage and contributed to a re-creation of LaSalle's explorations of the New World. January/February 2002 | 47 OUR NATURAL RESOURCES The Adventurers Club is also a social club. Members meet for lunches regularly (the menu includes items such as buffalo burgers and elk steak), and gather several times a month to hear featured speakers.
"This isn't a closed club, and you don't have to be wealthy to join," Meskan said. "Dues aren't outrageous, and you don't have to be able to afford regular trips to the jungles of Borneo or plan a trek across the Sahara Desert. But membership is limited to men and women who share the spirit of adventure. After all, adventure is where you find it. But if you can call your travel agent and book a trip, it's probably not what we would consider an adventure. And that, after all, just might be an adventure in space, at the bottom of the ocean, in semi-active volcanoes or unexplored caverns. "Adventure has changed a lot in the last 50 to 100 years," Hannon said. "Back then members would do safaris and explore third world countries. Today, it's more apt to be white-water rafting, or mountain hiking or sky diving. Members are getting into kayaking, orienteering and adventure racing, like sprints to the top of the Hancock Building and taking part in extended eco-challenge events. The name of the challenge is constantly changing, but there will always be adventure." • Although the Adventurers Club is private, members open their facility so the public can enjoy its many treasures. Small groups can make arrangements to visit the club room, while individuals can stop by without reservation. A member usually will be glad to show one or two visitors around. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also enjoy a virtual tour by going to the club Web site, www.theadventurersclub.org.
GARY THOMAS 48 | Illinois Parks and Recreation OUR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS BRIEFS Foundation seeks grant program applicants The Illinois Conservation Foundation is soliciting applications from environmental and conservation organizations for grants to assist and encourage the preservation and enhancement of natural resources in the state. "Demand for funding was high last year, but we were able to fund some terrific projects. Some of these projects are providing school children with hands-on outdoors experiences, while others are helping to restore fragile habitats," said Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning, who serves as chairman of the Foundation. "This year, we are increasing the dollars available for grants so that additional projects from groups that share our vision and our vested interest in making Illinois a better place to live have a greater chance to receive funding." Individual grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded, with preference given to projects for which applicants provide matching funds. Up to $60,000 is available for projects this year. Applications for funding, due by Feb. 1, should include a summary of the project proposal; description of the organization, its background, purpose, objectives and experience in the area for which funding is sought; and a more detailed attachment describing the project proposal, including an itemized budget, names of organizational officers and their affiliations, audited financial statements and documentation of financial need. Ten copies of the application must be submitted by the deadline. No faxed or overnight express-mailed grant applications will be accepted. Grant applications will be reviewed by the staff and Board of Directors of the Foundation, with awards announced by July 1. For more information on the grant program and specific guidelines for application, contact the Illinois Conservation Foundation, 100 W. Randolph, Suite 4-300, Chicago, IL 60601, phone 312.814.7237, or visit the ICF Web site at www.ilcf.org. Snowmobile trail grants awarded Eight local governments and 10 private organizations have been awarded grants totaling $371,670 to develop and maintain public snowmobile trails in Illinois. The grants provide funding to expand existing trails and build new ones, replace and rehab bridges and acquire equipment to maintain trails. The grant program is administered by the IDNR. Following are local governments awarded 2002 snowmobile trail grants: • Freeport Park District (Stephenson County), $50,000 to retro-fit two former railroad bridges with wooden decks and railings to improve snowmobile access to the Jane Addams Trail, which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail. • Lena Community Park District (Stephenson County), $62,900 to purchase a snowmobile trail groomer to maintain approximately 100 miles of area trails. • Loran Township (Stephenson County), $7,500 to lease a tractor to pull trail-grooming equipment to maintain approximately 125 miles of trails. • McHenry County Conservation District, $68,000 to replace a deteriorated bridge over Nippersink Creek in Glacier Park near Ringwood and to purchase two snowmobiles to patrol the park's trails. • Village of Pearl City (Stephenson County), $8,200 to purchase a snowmobile trail groomer to maintain approximately 120 miles of trails. • Rockford Park District (Winnebago County), $9,200 to purchase a snowmobile trailer and a six-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle for the Rockford Park District Police Snowmobile Response Team. The team responds to snow-related emergencies in Winnebago and three adjacent counties. • Village of Roscoe (Winnebago County), $ 19,400 to construct a portion of the Riverside Park path, a snowmobile and bicycle trail. The path will connect Riverside Park and trails to the west with the village, allowing snowmobilers and other trail users to travel safely underneath Illinois Route 251, a four-lane divided highway. • Village of Roscoe, $30,500 to develop the Kin-Stone Trail, a snowmobile and bicycle trail that will connect the Stone Bridge Trail (which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail) and the Hononegah Trail. This trail also will allow snowmobilers and other users to safely travel under Elevator Road, a busy multi-lane road in Roscoe. • Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, $48,250 to construct a rest area along a snowmobile trail in the Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve. The rest area will include a primitive restroom building and a shelter house with a fireplace. Applications for the next round of grants may be obtained by contacting the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1787, or by calling 217.782.7481. Applications are accepted from March 1 to May 1. Land acquisition enhances Goose Lake Prairie The State of Illinois recently acquired 345 acres of land adjacent to Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area and Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in Grundy County to protect high-quality prairie and provide habitat for grassland and wetland wildlife. Purchased through Gov. George H. Ryan's Open Land Trust initiative, it will provide additional protection for a rare prairie that is home to grassland and wetland birds and two threatened or endangered insect species. The acquisition includes two parcels totaling 340 acres purchased with $1,473,000 in funding from the Open Land Trust Program, the four-year, $200 million initiative to acquire real property for conservation, natural resource protection and recreational purposes. Another five-acre parcel acquired for $21,725 through state Park and Conservation funds is for a parking lot that will be available for use by anglers fishing at Heidecke Lake. Commonwealth Edison Company owned the parcels and leased them to the state. "The two main parcels are among the largest tracts of unprotected prairie in the state," the Governor said. "The acquisition will allow restoration and enlargement of the grassland habitat at Goose Lake Prairie to January/February 2002 49 benefit wildlife, while enhancing recreational uses including bird watching, hiking and deer hunting." To date, the Open Land Trust initiative has resulted in the state's acquisition of more than 23,750 acres for needed open space, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, forest restoration and protection from development. In addition, more than 3,400 acres of open space are being acquired by local governments through the Open Land Trust grant program. The 2,838-acre Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area features a variety of prairie and wetland habitats and represents the largest remnant of prairie left in Illinois. It is home to deer, fox, beavers, badgers, barred owls, red-tailed hawks, red-winged blackbirds and great blue herons. Two species of threatened or endangered insects, the red-veined prairie leafhopper and the eryngium stem borer, also are found at the site. The 1,475-acre Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is located just north of Goose Lake Prairie near Morris. Meeting dates set The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board has selected the following dates for its meetings in 2002: Feb. 8—Springfield; May 17—Chicago; Aug. 16—Springfield; and Nov. 15—Chicago. All meetings begin at 10 a.m. Exact locations will be announced closer to each date. For more information, contact the board at 217.785.8687. Illinois firearm hunters harvest 99,167 deer Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 99,167 deer during the 2001 firearm deer season. The preliminary figure compares with a harvest total of 101,533 deer taken during the 2000 firearm season. The preliminary second-season (Nov. 29-Dec. 2) harvest total of 36,406 compared to the 2000 second-season harvest of 28,174. This year's preliminary first-season (Nov. 16-18) deer harvest was 62,761, compared with a first-season harvest of 73,359 in 2000. The figures do not include deer harvested during hunts on state sites where special permits are issued. Pike County led the state with a preliminary total harvest of 3,753. Adams County was second with 2,719. "After near-perfect conditions last year resulted in a higher firearm harvest than anticipated, we expected firearm harvest this year to decline somewhat," said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton. "Although unseasonably warm weather during our first season seemed to suppress success somewhat, hunters overcame rain and wind during the early part of the second season to produce our highest second-season harvest ever. The end result is that total firearm deer harvest for 2001 falls right into the expected range." Approximately 278,000 firearm permits were issued to deer hunters in Illinois this year. OutdoorIllinois editor retires
Gary Thomas, who has been editor of Outdoorlllinois magazine since 1975, retired in December after 31 years in state government. Thomas, a resident of Waverly, took OutdoorIllinois from its humble beginnings as a hunting and fishing newsletter to a 28-page, full-color magazine enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts across the country. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky, Thomas served in Vietnam as a combat correspondent. He went to work for the State of Illinois in 1970. A father of four and grandfather of four, Thomas also moonlighted for 15 years as a writer for Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story" segments and, in 1980, wrote the manuscript for the made-for-TV movie "Too Young the Hero." He has been active in the Association for Conservation Information, made up of editors and writers of natural resource magazines nationwide, holding a number of elective offices. He has received the organization's two highest awards, "The Spirit of ACI" and the "Honorary Life Member" distinction. Thomas also was the recipient of the "Golden Glow Award for Public Service" from the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, an organization of outdoor writers from the Midwest and recently was named "Illinois Outdoor Writer of the Year."
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