Adventure Hiking Trail -- March 4-6

“Probably about 4-5 local guys on this one, but its open to all. I'd love to meet some more TTers. Spirit, CMB, Crash, WK, and Ruby come down if you have the weekend free!”

“Sorry John, I may be having a child that weekend.

Wait a minute...let me check with the wife.”

“lol at WK. Congrats and you'd better stay put for this one if you want to keep your manhood!”

“Yea, I know. Getting very excited! I will have a little Wounded Knee in about 2 months, maybe less!”

“I have been wanting to get down to the Adventure Trail, but unfortunately it's not going to happen that weekend.”

“Hey, I'm putting myself as a maybe. I'm not sure the timeframe is good but the may day trip seems to be bailing on the AHT so I'm going to see if I can tag along.”

“Sounds good Silent J. I'll keep you posted”

“Birch and I want to check this trail out! Maybe we could talk Dhutch and the rest of the team into coming along. No school this weekend but we'll have to wait until closer to the date to work on babysitter and vacation days for Birch and a definate answer about wether we can attend. Really want to though.”

“I'd like to consider this trip. The AHT is a cool hike, very pretty in March, with only a few leaves on trees... it's too early to be sure, but the schedule looks good so far. I'll be a maybe!”

“I'm a big fat maybe also. That's a great weekend for me. Do you have any idea what your daily mileage breakdown will be?”

“Its a good trail but you must have a eye for the trail blazes becuase the trail is hard to find sometimes.

I am in if work pans out.


8)”

“Yeah, I hiked around to the Iron Bridge the first night in and I lost the trail about half a dozen times. I never did see the shelter over in that area. Does anybody know if it's still there?”

“Great trail. Looking forward to hiking it again.”

“Silent J. I know the shelter/barn you are speaking of... If you want to find it, just ask Salem, or Rob, or Oldog, we tried & tried, and never did find the shelter. It must be a secret.”

“Last time I was there the shelter was still there, can't tell you now how to get there though.

We got lost last time too..asked a hunter for directions and he was lost too..LOL!

We bushwhacked till we found the trail again.”

“Are you planning to do the whole 27 miles or just a portion?”

“We haven't planned out mileage yet, but we will get together to do that soon. I'll keep you posted.”

“Anyplace special to get maps from? Does the Indiana DNR give freebies?”

“hmm, don't remember.. I have them filed at home. I'll check tonight if I have time.”

“I emailed the park office and they sent me a map free of charge about 2 years ago. I'm not sure if they're still free but the e-mail address is

HarrisonSF@dnr.state.in.us”

“thanks Silent J, I didn't have time to check last night”

“Yo.. Indiana John -- I'm coming in on this late -- but curious... where is Adventure Hiking Trail in relation to the Knobstone?

(Knobstone is in Salem Indiana)”

“Southwest from knobstone

From Knobstone take I-65 south to Louisville, then I-64 West maybe 30-45 minutes away”

“Thanks guys, I sent my email this morning. I'll let you know what the dnr tells me or hopefully sends for me.”

“It's not far from me then.”

“I got my email back already, no such address. I'll look and see what I can find.”

“I used thai address and the "contact us" bit.
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/index.html”

“HarrisonSF@dnr.state.in.us is the one shown on the website... sure you typed it correctly?

Just call them.

Harrison-Crawford/Wyandotte Complex
7240 Old Forest Road SW
Corydon, IN 47112
(812) 738-8232
last edited: 1/13/05 8:40:55 AM”

“yeah I double checked it but maybe it's a yahoo problem.

Anyways, I got a reply and was told to call the "map sales" number: 317-232-4200”

“Sorry, I pulled the address from the site. Indiana doesn't have the most hiker friendly web site. Not as bad as KY though.”

“I emailed Harrison State Forest at the email abby above about maps. They said they do have free ones and are sending me one.

BTW I am a maybe on this trip since I have cancelled my first two trips of the year.”

“I re e-mailed the same addy you gave Silent J and it worked this time. I checked my sent folder and the address was correct the first time, it must have been a yahoo glich. I have a free map coming too.”

“I received my map today of the Adventure Hiking Trail. Looks good lots of shelters per the map. Are we staying at the shelters?”

“Ok ;-) I'm in, Ruby and Gary you guys sold me lol, I guess all I need is directions and I'm going to send for a park map. Thanks again for the invite Ruby

~SBH~”

“Got our maps yesterday too. It's no wonder that people get lost with all the horse trails intersecting the hiking trails!”

“Cool beans, SBH! I got my map yesterday as well. My initial reaction after looking over the map was that it was a pretty decent map for a free one. But I bet we see lots of horses. Then again, maybe it will rain. ;)”

“They are very nice maps for free. Good service from that O'Bannon Woods! (what a fantastic name)”

“Got my new maps yesterday. Still need to talk it over with the guys, but my initial reaction is that we'll probably start Friday now and shoot for the full 24 mile loop. There are plenty of intersecting horse trails and other trail heads so that we could meet up with those coming in later.

When the time gets closer, we can start planning who's coming when. I looks like there are as many as six non-TTers coming on my end at this time.

I don't think there are any group size limits for this trail?”

“chances are if I come up I won't leave Nashville till I get off work that Friday. I know I can get to Louisville in 3 hrs then from there about 45 minutes to the where we are parking for Friday night. Plus I have the time change to deal with so it will be late when I come in.
How far are you guys going down the trail to setup camp.”

“Ewker it depends on what time we decide to start Friday. I'll post something more concrete soon. I'll suggest that we shoot for a point close to a trail head so that we can meet up with those coming in later on Friday.”

“I wonder if O'Bannon Woods was named after Indiana's late Governor O'Bannon? He died a year or so ago, maybe two. That's my guess.”

“What time you thinking of starting Friday? Friday morning, late afternoon? I have to hound Birch into calling in sick or taking a full vacation day if necessary. It may take a few weeks of cajolling, lol.

I talked to my supervisor about quitting my job today. =) No worries about vacation time here!”

“sass, you going to skip school that day. I can tell you were a trouble maker in school ;)”

“What town is closest to the trailhead?”

“Whoa...long drive.....this one may not happen for me. :(”

“I was thinking it would make more sense if anyone in my neck of the woods that is gonna make this trip, that we link up and car pool it, it'll save gas and make the drive easier on us northern folk lol, If someone has a van even better I have a hatchback, currently in the shop but all will be well way before the trip, any ideas TTers

~SBH~”

“I'm in for this trip . . . at least as a maybe right now.

The Adventure Hiking Trail loop is 24 miles. If you start at the trailhead on the northeast corner of the loop it uses a 2 mile connector to get to the main loop . . . making it a 28 mile round trip. On that connector trail there is a shelter, with a dirt floor, about .5 mile from the trailhead, which would be easy for others to find coming in late. It really looks more like an old abandoned barn of sorts.

The terrain on this trail is similar to the NCT side of the NCT/MRT loop . . . and probably a little more difficult. Expect to get a good workout! The shelters are four sided with doors . . . and will not hold many people. Usually there will be issues with water, but not likely in March. The trail can be somewhat difficult to follow if there are still leaves on the footpath. You do need to watch the blazes on this one.”

“SBH - we can get together to work something out when it gets a little closer. I think Salem could want to carpool also.”

“From Knobstone take I-65 south to Louisville, then I-64 West maybe 30-45 minutes away”
Indiana John
8:10:48 AM
1/13/05

in my case I will be taking I-65 north to louisville, then I-64 west for 30-45 minutes...where would I exit at??”

“Definetly Gforce, email me if salem wants in and like you said when it gets closer to time we will work out the details,

~SBH~”