Land Between the Lakes Trip Report

“I left Marion at about 1 PM on Friday and after making a few stops and generally taking my time getting there, I arrived at the South Visitors station at about 4:30.

After getting our permits and picking up some maps, I was able to hit the trail around 5. From the Visitor Center, I took the Telegraph trail to Kirkmans Camp. Distance was 1.3 miles and I managed to get almost there before I had to dig out a headlamp. I quickly scavaged some firewood and had a fire going and pitched the tent in the dark. I expected stikmon around 9:30, but it was closer to 10:30 before I heard him calling out from up the hill. Seems he took a wrong turn and managed to re-find the trail once he heard me tell him to go downhill.

We briefly discussed the fact that the weekend was a gun hunt in the area where we were going to hike and decided to forge on anyway, but we would wait until 10 or so to leave the next morning. No problem, I never leave home without "Orange"....the fact that it had a power T on it was just an added bonus.

Next morning we left and proceeded down telegraph trail which meandered along a nice stream to Peytona trail. We took Peytona to Artillery trail and then proceeded to Devils Backbone trail. We didn't see a single hunter during the entire hike, but did hear a few shots. We took Devils Backbone back up to Telegraph trail and at that junction we crossed a nice stream flowing next to an open field and decided we could camp there and be able to get a good view of the night sky in the field. Total mileage was 10.5 from Kirmans to Saturday's night camp. Hike time, 4 hours including two pack off breaks.

We gathered a huge pile of firewood (three feet high and about 4 feet across) and built a fire in the bottom of a dry stream bed that led down to the stream we crossed. After a good dinner and a couple of drinks, we hear a siren. The road was about 350 yards away across the field and I stood up to see a vehicle go flying past then about 30 seconds later a ranger truck came by with sirens and blue lights.

Oh well, a couple more drinks were in order and about 30 minutes later, stickmon stands up and says "I see a truck coming up the field with blue lights on top". I stash the apricot brandy in the wood pile and a ranger walks up the edge of the dry stream bed and asks what we are doing. We tell him we are backpacking and have permits. He then complimented us on site selection as we were out of the wind (blowing at about 15 miles an hour). He asked if we saw a truck pass before the ranger vehicle came by with lights on. I told him what I saw and he ran back jumped in his truck and took off. We never did find out what that was all about.

We had the tents pitched up on a hill in the woods and had a fine nights sleep without anymore excitement.

Took off at 10 the next morning and proceeded along the Telegraph trail past Blue Spring and to the Ft Henry/NS trail connector trail. Followed it to the NS trail and then back to the South Visitors station.

This is a nice hike with relatively little elevation change (150 foot max gain or loss). The trail was fairly well marked and in most places well kept. Water sources are plentiful. The weather was the best backpacking weather I have seen in about three years with highs at 60 or above and lows around 40. The sky was clear the entire trip.

Overall, a fine trip.”

“Oh...total mileage for the trip was about 18.”

“Just you and Stikmon?”

“Good time of year to do the trip. Don't try that in July. The ticks are worse than the heat.”

“chili, stikmon, apricot brandy..and one tent....the flute ballad was oh so sweet that night.

*snickers*...glad you two guys got to go out...in the woods..or the closet..sorry...heh”

“so, didn't it scare you a little that you were out there with someone the ranger had a great interest in finding?”

“Opie.....you are sick.

Walkindude, yes, we hijacked memphis hikers trip.

wingding.....ever who they were hunting went past where we were camped. I figured that it was someone spotlighting deer.”

“Sounds pretty relaxing, Chili. Glad you guys had a good time. Did you take any pix?”

“Sounds like a fun trip.

Apricot Brandy? Did you have any Zima's to go with it?”

“you need help. This was a great weekend. Mark, really missed you, after all, you own this place.

I dawdled around after work, taking my time. My thoughts were this..."I can rush around and probably forget something and get there in the dark, or I can take my time and be relaxed and get there in the dark, either way, I'm there in the dark", I chose the latter.

I leave at 6:30, I arrive at 9:30. 3 hours, really good, and on time. Remember...A wizard is neither late, nor early, he arrives percisely when he is supposed to. I get all set and and get Khatru set, he's really excited to get going, and I keep him on the leash during night hikes, I'm not sure why cause he probably wouldn't run off, but coyotes howling reminded me why.

I've done this trail before, and at night, so I was confident I knew where to go, and had no problems...got to the sign post and NO chili. I turned my headlamp off thinking that I would be able to see the roaring fire, but couldn't see anything, I walked on a bit, and found myself on a road, and followed it a bit further and soon realized that this wasn't right, so I doubled back and got back to the sign and just bellowed out...JAMESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I heard a reply and walked towards it and saw the "shimmering light in the distance, and knew I had to stop for the night". I arrived in camp and saw the small fire, which soon was put to rights. We chatted, I set up camp, and soon to bed. Morning came with all the glories of a spectacular day to come.

Chili is powerful hiker and hiking with him pushed me to keep up. It wasn't a diffuclt hike, nor really long, so the pushing is what did me in. The 10 miles that we did was awsome, we were in shorts and shirt sleeves and were burning the trail in fine fashion. We encountered only scouts on the trail. The woods were grand. We got to the spot that I got sidetracked at 2 years previous, and found the trail, and stayed ontrack the entire time completing the loop, that I didn't complete before.

The rest is as Chili stated. On sunday, we only had a short bit to go (6 miles) but it beat me up. The pace was hard. I'm a lolligager, and don't really have multiple speeds, and chili natural pace is faster than mine, so, with 2 miles left to go I needed to really take a break and sit down, which we did at the N/S trail intersection. We got back to the car at 1:10 (I think) and we started at 10. That's 6 miles in 3 hours. I never hike that fast, and I paid the price last night...was really tight and stiff, this morning too, but not as bad as last night. I almost called in today, but backpackers don't call in sick cause they are too sore after a hike...only sissy hikers do that. Like the Incredible Hulk says..."the madder Hulk gets, the stronger he gets"...well, I'm like that in a way...the more tired I get, the more determined I become.

This was a great 2nd trip for the season...It pushed me in a way that I wouldn't been pushed, had I been solo...thanks Chili for coming along...and thanks to Memphis Hiker for setting up this trip (which you didn't make)...For all the rest of you that said you were gonna make it, and for whatever reasons, bailed..................hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...and phoey on YOU!!!!

Kidding...hope to catch ya'll on the next one. Next saga, next week on the Devil's Backbone trip. See there, or be square.”

“Sounds like y'all had a good trip. Wish I could have made it.”

“Don't worry, bp.....we talked about you.

;-)”

“No denial on the Zima. Not surprised.

I can only imagine what mealtime was like with the 2 best chef's of TT on the same trip.”

“somthing to the tune of "that bitpusher, he is some strange dude. Always putting up some nasty stuff. Always quick to put others down to make himself seem superior. Guys a real jerk, huh, thank god he ain't here, cause he really stinks the joint up...speaking of joints...the freak is a stinkin pot head too...always smokin dope".”

“Yeah...what stickmon said...


then we said "Wonder when we will see him on the trail again, he's such a nice guy to hike with"”

“lol...I gotta get in better shape. Even on flat ground I don't think I could have done 18 miles this weekend.

My next scheduled TT group backpack is the Walls of Jericho trip, so come on that one and you'll see me!”

“Sounds like a great trip, guys.

I'm jealous reading trip reports right now; I really wanted to be on the trail this weekend.”

“Tarabull, it was the best weather anyone could have hoped for.

I came back with my mental batteries recharged.”

“Mental Batteries Recharged. Yes, I need that!

I'll be hitting the trail in a week and a half. Hope I can hold out that long.”

“Did either of you guys capture a track or waypoints on this trip?”

“Sounded like you had a fun trip.”

“Mozark, no.

But the trail is so well defined, you could almost night hike the entire trip.

There was only one spot that was tricky where the trail did a quick sidestep up a ravine before turning back the way we were travelling. I quick look at the map cleared that up. The trail could use a few more blazes, but all the trail markers were up and in good condition.”

“but never pulled it out. So far, I've yet to learn how to do anything with it other than set waypoints and change the names from numbers to text. I need someone to show me how to work it, and I forgot to get chili to do that. I'll be with Dave this weekend, and I'll get him to do that with me. He has the same unit I do.”

“sounds like a good trip!! i like LBL. Glad you had a "fine" time.”

“we talked about you too....we were talking about the TT hotties and your name popped up and caused a rise in the ambient temperature.”

“I'm not surprised! Everybody loves me! hahahahaha.

Ok. But really. I'm mad at Chili 'cuz he ditched me in Memphis.”

“Actually, the discussion went like this....



chili: If I wasn't married, there is no way I would have bailed on yam in Memphis

stikmon: She is too young for you.

chili: What's your point?”

“I promise, I won't ditch you...I might bonk you on the head with my caveman club and drag you back to my cave, but otherwise, you'd be ok.

Actually, you'd be more than ok, cause, if I was outta line and you ratted me out, there are LOTS of people that would come and kick my arse. We know alot of the same people. Seriously, I'd like to meet ya sometime. (ok, let the sordid comments begin).”

“But she's too young for you, stikky...”

“LOL! Chili, I'm the same age as your wife!!

and stiky, how many times must I tell you...I've already MET you. geeeeeeeesh. I make such little impressions!! : )”

“See stikmon.......


I told you.”

“but my attention was averted elsewhere. I shoulda paid more attention, and if I get a second chance, I promise, I'll be all yours.

errrrrrrr...how old is CS?”

“Not as old as me.”

“your OLD!”

“Old???



Well I still have my own hair and teeth and don't need viagra, so I guess I haven't hit the skids quite yet.”

“got that and don't need viagra. The hair thing is past. hehehe...bald is sexy...and I can now do 15 pushups with my 30lb pack on...so I ain;t hurtin either.

Its good to be young and alive...you know your old, when your dead.”