DECATUR - Like to hike? There's a new group to join: the Corn Desert Hiking and Adventure Group.

"We have 123 members. Anyone interested in exploring the great outdoors, both near and far, is welcome to join," said organizer Erick Kammerer of Decatur. "We have weekly opportunities for hiking and exploring the hidden trails and treasures that surround us."

The group was founded in June. Members are from Decatur, Champaign, Urbana, Springfield, Bloomington, Normal and the Chicago area. Members range in age from college age to their 60s.

"It's an international group," Kammerer said, "including people from Romania, Ecuador, Canada, China, India, France, Mexico and the Czech Republic."

"Fresh air and exercise and meeting people with the same interest" are the reasons Mark Gouthro of Decatur joined. The Decatur-area coordinator is a lab worker at Tate & Lyle Inc.

"I've been to places I never knew existed," Tara Sanders of Decatur said. "I love to be outdoors."

Jaime Larrea of Springfield said: "This is the only hiking club I've found. My sister is in a hiking club in Hawaii."

Kammerer, an engineer at Caterpillar Inc., said eight to 12 hikers show up for an event. "We've had as few as three and as many as 30. I'd like a larger turnout. More than 35 meetings have been held. The Decatur Indoor Sports Center is the unofficial headquarters."

According to Kammerer, recent meetings were at Rock Springs Center, Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park and the Homer Lake Forest Preserve. Coming up: May 3, Fort Daniel; May 10, bike ride from Wyckles Corner to Lincoln Homestead; May 17, picnic and short hike, Weldon Springs; June 7, caving at Illinois Caverns, Waterloo, which is repeating a popular August trip.

"When we reached 40 members, I asked Abi Pinedo-Vivero to help me as assistant organizer," Kammerer said. "A researcher at Tate & Lyle, she's the brains of the outfit. I had a conversation with her at Allerton Park about economics, so I put her in charge of money and getting medical news."

Although dues are not charged, a $10 donation is encouraged.

How was the group named?

"I heard someone call Decatur the 'Corn Desert.' Yes, Decatur is surrounded by farmland, but it's an oasis, too," Kammerer said.

Kammerer once hiked 176 miles in Southern Illinois. That's how much he likes hiking. Pinedo-Vivero once hiked to ancient ruins in Peru and completed a 50-mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Bob Fallstrom can be reached at bfallstrom@herald-review or 421-7981.