4-23-04 Knobstone Trail Trip:

“I just posted a new trip on the Trip Pages looking for fellow backpackers to join me for 3, 4 or the full five days on the Knobstone Trail in southern Indiana during the peak time when the temperatures are cool enough the hike comfortably, and water is available. I did the southern end of this trip with UltraPecker last year, and the north end of this trip with four guys from Michigan the year before.”

“So which you doing this time, and where's CMB?”

“and for that matter.. where is Prowler, and sb?”

“The CMB's have a hike scheduled for Mammoth Cave that weekend”

“I was gonna think about mammoth...but something new is less repetitive.

and prowler is not around anymore...gonna miss that B@stard.”

“stikmon.. SE or SW indiana.. look for a town called Salem I tihnk?”

“Awwww, come on guys. ;)
Indiana's greatest rugged treasure! The closest thing some fo us will see to the AT (at least THIS summer)...

http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/Destinations/Knobstone_trail.htm”

“CMB, sb, prowler and me.. did the north side.. never done the south.. nice trip!!.. loved the area.. always said I would go back and do the south side.”

“Hi Prosecutor,
I had a couple of questions about the Knobstone trip. I'm not sure I'm free that weekend, but if I am I'd like to go - I may have a girlfriend who'd like to go also. I wanted to ask you about skill level - I'm just now getting back in shape and I wouldn't want to slow you down. Also I'm more novice than experienced - I packed in the White Mountains with my (then) husband for a week and have done weekend trips in PA, etc, but that has been 12+ years ago. I know myself, though, and I'm pretty "sturdy" and "hardy" when called upon. I guess all this is to ask what your expectations for the trip are and for those who join you. Also, I'd definitely have to leave the trail on Sunday.”

“There are some good up's and downs on the trail but from what you have said you would do just fine.


8)”

“Hi Crazy Mike,
I've checked out your site - it's great that Hoosiers are so active! I'll be seeing you one of these trips I'm sure!”

“Did you send me a email so I can add you to the clubs email list?


8)”

“Ah hah! Missed that part - let's see if I can figure that one out...”

“Im keeping my calendar marked also.. would luv to make the trip with you all.”

“Indy Hawk, sorry about the delay in responding, but I was backpacking the last 3 days. CMB is right. 90% of he trail is typical midwestern flat with a few hills, thats 2 mile per hour hiking for the average hiker. The campsites are spaced so that even the less than athletic backpacker can easily make the distance. 10% has some ups and downs that will drop your speed to a little over one mile per hour. But if you haven't backpacked in 12 years, this trip would be taxing unless you got in a couple of practise hikes to toughen up your feet.

I got an email from a non-poster that will probably be joining the trip to Sunday also, so partial hikers will have company and are welcome.

TownDawg, what you going to cook if you all come?”

“99% sure I'll be joining y'all, but only until Sunday. After U get my taxes done, I'll be looking forward to it!”

“Thanks for all the info. I think I'm going to make this trip. I've planned a couple of half day and all day hikes (Low Gap and Turkey Run) for the next couple of weeks to get going. I'm changing my status to YES! I also have a girlfriend who is very interested, but still a "maybe."”

“Hey, I fat fingered last post, should've been I not U. (Good news, lots of money coming back to spend on gear!)

Hey, does everyone bring all their own stuff? If I bring the coleman stove, someone could use the second burner. Or I'm thinking of getting a lighter stove. Do we need a water filter on this trail? If so, any favorites? How much weight do you folks have? Do you like to party at all?

Since I'm only going til Sunday, should I wait at Elk Creek to get picked up, or should I go to Spurgeon Hollow Friday morning?”

“I hope this Grizbait is a joker? Coleman stove? Second Burner? LOL”

“Alright IJ, I kind of thougtht so, im sort of new at this. I've only been on a couple of trips, but I'm stoked! If you ever went to a state park and had a dog bark ten feet from your tent for hours, you know what I mean. I will order a lighter stove and a water filter this weekend. Hope you guys aren't too hardcore. Where's the prosc? Who is he? Is he really some ranger? Does he care if I bring some recreational substances? Anyway, I guess I'll just go to Spurgeon Hollow. Thanks.”

“GrizBait:
Q: Hey, does everyone bring all their own stuff?
A: Yes. Everyone hikes solo, but camps in a group. If your filter/ or stove. etc. breaks, you can count on someone sharing with you.

Q: Do we need a water filter on this trail?
A: Water filter or Aqua Mira. The streams are clear enough for Aqua Mira, and that is what I will be bringing.

Q: How much weight do you folks have?
A: My pack will be just under 30 pounds.

Q:Do you like to party at all?
A: Yes, only alcohol. I'll bring my own 151 rum and apple cider packets.

Q: Should I wait at Elk Creek to get picked up?
A: Yes. Because there will be more than one person going to just Sunday, we better move the Friday meet for everyone to Elk Creek Lake parking lot at the same time. I'll post specific directions.

Q: Where's the prosc?
A: I was backpacking in Nebraska the last four days. I got back several hours ago.

Q: Who is he?
A: A 53 year old retired prosecutor from Cook County, Illinois (Chicago) who has convicted over 11,000 felons, and I haven't met one on the trail YET.

Q: Is he really some ranger?
A: No, I was just a lawyer who prosecuted people in court, and about a quarter of them were narcotics violators.

Q: Does he care if I bring some recreational substances?
A: No. But since I know how easy it is for the police to arrest everyone in the vehicle and to forfeit a vehicle with any amount of "recreational substances", I will not ride in your car, nor allow you to ride in my car. If a Real Ranger walks into camp and starts asking questions about "recreational substances", I will not perform a "Martha Stewart" and give false answers.

If you want to hold off in buying a stove, I can lend you one or share my canister stove with you.

This is going to be a great trip. I am looking forward to ur campfire conversations when we start talking about our experiences concerning persons who use "recreational substances" I got thousands of interesting endings to that theme.
Any more questions?”

“LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!



8p”

“Woa! Prosecutor! You are the man! You brought down Al Capone and lived to tell about it! Then retired at a early age. So either you are dirty (but I will assume you're not), you received an inheritance (no way of knowing, leaving) the govt is real nice with my tax dollars (I can probably thank the spend-free Democrats for that, eh?).

I probably have lots of questions, but I'm trying not to be a nuisance. I just got hooked with a couple of short trips last season, and then my bud that got me going went off and remarried. You know how that goes. Your a few years older so I figure I can hang with you, but who knows, if you are retired and all you do is backpack (you've already posted that you just took two trips), I could be in trouble. I did 4 miles in the neighborhood yesterday, gettting the legs in shape, may even do 8 next time.

I ordered a MSR stove and a PUR water filter from REI, but thanks for the offer.

Hey, I can relate to your career in a way. I've probably done 11,000 hits, and haven't met one prosecutor yet! Okay, I know what you're wondering. I will leave my minibong at home. You may not want to accept a home-baked cookie from me though! (Only kidding.) 151 hey? YOu be the man!

Not sure how to take those campfire comments. Are you going to grill me? That gave me pause. Hey P-man, I don't want to throw dirt on your thing so if you'd rather I don't go just say so!”

“GrizBait, you made me laugh out loud with you crack, "I've probably done 11,000 hits, and haven't met one prosecutor yet!."

How do you retire at age 52 as a prosecutor? You guessed the only three ways. In my case it was your third guess. The Democratic sponsored early retirement insentive law in Chicago was so genererous it made the front page of the Wall Street Journal. My take home pay went up.

As to campfire conversations, years ago, I joined a group hike with a prominent member of TT. Around the campfire, the invitable question of whether I had ever done drugs came up. The name has been changed to protect privacy.

Leader: "You ever do drugs, Pros?"
Prosecutor, "No, how about you?"
Leader, "What is the statute of limitations?"
Prosecutor, "Generally, 3 years."
Leader, "A little over three years ago I used to do drugs."

I had a great hike, and hiked with him again, and plan to hike with him in the future. Grizbait, I'm retired, and would welcome your company and exchanging points of view. As long as you wouldn't mind hiking with someone who wrote the book on how to send drug violators to prison.

As to hiking pace, in a group hike, every one hikes their own pace, but we camp at the same locations. If the trail is not well marked, someone is unsure of finding the agreed campsite or we do not have a specific campsite in mind, the slowest person determines the pace. If you are a relative newbie, we want your backpacking experience to be first rate so you will come back for more. I personally practice hike with a full backpack since I find that the weight causes different pressure points on my foot. By practicing with weight on my back, the bottom of my foot gets toughened up and I minimize chances of getting a blister on a first hike of the year.”

“Alright, P-man I'll go tripping with you. I don't know if I can come up with 2,750 pros for your cons on why God's provisions in nature are better than the arbitrary "laws" of man, but I'm starting my list. Sometimes its nice to experience this nirvahna in nature, but its no big deal. Actually, its a very tiny part of life, and too much time has been spent on this topic already and its time to move on. Lets not discourage other potential hikers.”

“I'm looking forward to the trip. I did about 11 miles in Morgan Monroe yesterday with a very light pack (taught me I need about 4 more of those trips before the Knob!!!) My friend isn't TT, but she is saying she's in, too!”

“Good witt Prosecutor!!!!!


8)”

“Yeah, methinks P-man and perhaps Mike Crazy are whetting their wittles!

And whats with this

8)

crap?”

“prosecutor - I'm brining my maps to Ioway to see about hooking up with ya'll on part of this trip. I've got a crazy idea to run past you.”

“Sounds like a good trip. I may have to dust off the boots and come on this one.

BTW Prosecutor, although I primarily do civil cases for the office, I've read the guide you wrote on search and seizure, very informative and good reading.”

“Thank you, CNC. The first one I put out had Far Side cartoons making fun of Judges, police, Public Defenders, the State's Attorney and his First Assistant. I found out they had no sense of humor. Cnc, are you CCSAO?”

“Yes, Nov. will make 10 years with the office.”

“CnC is going to backpack????


WTF????????


8p”

“CnC is going? Now I know I'll have to work something out!”

“That's right CMB, I might actually make this one because when you're not leading/pacing a trip it is backpacking and when you are leading......Bataan Death March comes to mind...”

“CnC he has slowed down some :) I have seen to that! LMAO”

“We knew that you would be a good influence on him!! (or did you just up his paxil dosage without telling him??)...lol”

“O'course if you ever wanna humble CMB ask him about a certain hill/cliff climbing race on N. Manitou Island....:)”

“he worrys too much about me to go fast. He knows I am a compleat clutz on the trail and thinks the moment he is out of sight I will break a leg LOL”

“CNC I cant move fast or I would of cought your call!!! Mike IS crashed already cause he didnt sleep at all last night having to take me to the emergency room!!!”

“That's ok, except he should be up nursing you back to health!! When that young buck wakes up tell him that I remember plenty of 50-60 hour stretches w/o sleep in the army.”

“Well, I am supposed to be sleeping too LOL But I got a good vicoodin buzz goin on :)”

“So CMB is passing on the Knobstone so he can take you to the Red River Gorge (even though he got you an annual pass for RRG, and thus, can go there any weekend)...Free, you have to teach the boy some logic!!”

“My knne aint up to the Knobstone right now. And though we would like to backpack every weekend and keep making plants to go to the gorge, we keep having to work on the weekend :(”

“Mikes gonna kill me for posting that pic! LMAO!!!!”

“OMG, who would have ever thought that the first successful cross-species human cloning would have been accomplished in NW Indiana!! Now if you can just get a slumberjack bag grafted to Mike's lumbar region, and a sil-nylon implant to his hairline, he will be set 24/7....

BTW...apologies to Prosecutor for the thread degeneration.”

“Good grief! Degeneration, regression, whatever! Mutant dogs! You guys are scaring me!”

“Maybe get back to this trip? Mr P, 30 pounds, is that a typo? Maybe you meant 40, or 50? Or are you some sort of squirrel that lives in a tree? I'm sorting out my stuff, and 50 pounds seems easy, and 60 might be doable. What can't I take?! Got my stuff in the mail btw, awesome dude! And I did 8 miles this weekend, and it was a lot like, well, twice 4 miles. The knee's a bit soft, but I think I'll be okay. Anywho, just checking if your serious about 30 pounds.”

“30# is not ultralight for this hike...





...troll...






partake in some more hikes to fine-tune your weight saving skills, bud.”