When Cedar Rapids Smells Like Crunch Berries (And Other Trail Updates)
When the Quaker Oats plant makes Crunch Berry cereal, Cedar Rapids smells so good "you could eat the air with a spoon." Plus Steve's money-saving Colorado tip and 276 new waypoints from active ADT hikers. 🌾
Rhiis & Sara
Westbound - Northern & Southern Route
Began: February 21, 2025
Support Links: ImHikingAmerica, TrailJournals, YouTube, Venmo
Rhiis and Sarah, pushing their way through Iowa, recently reported one of my favorite trail Discoveries of the year: when the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids is making Crunch Berry cereal, the entire area smells like sweetened oats.
"They call it 'Crunch Berry Day.' I swear I could eat the air with a spoon!" Rhiis relayed.
This is exactly why I love getting reports from active ADT hikers. You plan for water sources and resupply towns, but nobody tells you about the unexpected sensory experiences—like walking through air that smells so good you could almost eat it. 🌾
But while Crunch Berry Day might be the most delightful update, there's some practical stuff worth sharing too.
Steve's Money-Saving Colorado Tip
'Saunterin' Steve Gefell is starting Nevada this week after flip-flopping his Westbound trip from the sweltering 110+ degree heat of Moab, Utah, to the cool ocean breezes of northern California. Rebooting his trip at Limantour Beach, the American Discovery Trail's Western Terminus, he has since completed California, and only has Nevada and Utah to check off to complete his coast-to-coast trip.
Stephen "Saunterin Steve" Gefell
Westbound - Southern Route
Began: February 23, 2025
Support Links: ImHikingAmerica, Instagram, YouTube
However, he now admits that he wishes he had flipped earlier in Colorado. "Instead of using Moab as a turnaround point, Grand Junction, Colorado, offers much better transportation options—both rail and air connections. Moab makes it a more expensive inflection point," he says.
So if you're planning a hike that may require seasonal adjustments, this could save you a significant amount of money.
The strategy so far has worked - where he was pushing through 110+ temps in the summer, this week his hike through the Nevada desert will be in the 70s. Steve is following the original American Discovery Trail track through the arid Lahontan Valley. The ADT's Utah Coordinator, Bob Palin, cached water for Steve throughout this 90-mile stretch of salt flats and elsewhere across Nevada and Utah in advance of Steve's final push to complete his journey.
Greg James and Ember will complete the Katy Trail in Missouri this week and turn their sights on Kansas. In the past two weeks, in addition to updates on service availability, the pair has added the locations of nearly 100 benches along the Katy. When you're hiking with 30 pounds on your back, day after day, the last thing you want to worry about is where can I sit down!
Other Updates of Note
- The Three Mile Slough Bridge (SR-160) north of Antioch, California, is under construction through November 2025, with overnight closures and daytime delays. So, time it right. The detour would take more than a day.
- 😇 We've got new trail angel contact information in Littleton, Colorado.
- The washed-out section of the South Platte River Trail near Brighton has reopened. Our detour has been removed.
- New bike paths in Evans now get you off busy roads for a stretch.
📊 This Week – By The Numbers
276 New Waypoints Added (September 14-27)
Hat-Tip - Rhiis & Sara, Steve Gefell, Greg James
- Iowa: 187 Waypoints (services, camping, Discoveries, new trail angel)
- Missouri: 94 Waypoints (benches, camping, services updates)
- Nevada: 6 waypoints (services, camping)
- Nebraska: 4 waypoints (services)
- Illinois-South: 3 waypoints (service updates)
- California: 2 (service updates)
Categories covered: Campsites, water sources, restrooms, cafes, hazards, hidden gems, Trail Angels, and local contacts 📍
Why This Stuff Matters
From Crunch Berry Days to bridge construction to benches along the Katy, these updates remind me why real-time trail intelligence matters. You can't plan for everything—and honestly, you wouldn't want to. Some of the best trail experiences are the ones you never saw coming.
However, having current information about practical matters means you can focus on being surprised by the good things, rather than being derailed by avoidable problems.
Hike Your Hike - John.
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