Garden of the Gods
SALINE CO., Ill. - There's been no word on the outcome regarding a call earlier this afternoon about a man stuck atop a popular formation at Garden of the Gods on the Saline County side of the Shawnee National Forest.
Reports to law enforcement indicate that at about 4 p.m. today (Thursday, January 5, 2016) Saline County's Sheriff's Office received a 911 call. The caller indicated that a male climbed to the top of Devil's Smokestack at GotG (as it's popularly known down here).
The caller - whose identity hasn't been noted; we don't know if it was the guy himself, or someone with him - stated that the climber couldn't get down from the rock formation because it was "too slick."
Equality Rescue plus a rappelling team and a Saline deputy were all dispatched to the call, but no one has issued an outcome yet; when we learn more, we'll post it. This, however, illustrates one point if nothing else...if it's snowing or icing outside, DON'T go climbing around on the rock formations of our favorite stomping grounds down here in South Counties, especially so close to sundown.