Adventure Hiking Trail -- March 4-6

“It's the Corydon exit . . Exit 105. From I-64 take 135 south to 62, 62 west to 462, and 462 south takes you to the trailheads on the east side of the loop”

“gforce, thanks”

“When I was there I didn't have problems with horses. I came across 2 groups of people while sitting at the western most shelter on the Ohio River, but the trails are usually seperate, which was awesome. I saw some hoof prints on the trail but no horses. I did walk a horse trail north of the Indian Creek shelter and found an abondoned house back there.”

“I'd be interested in carpooling if it works out. I live in Gary. I might be too far west to make it work though. Let me know.”

“this trip is sounding better by the moment. If sass' foot is better I think we are in. I can leave early or all friday if needed.”

“I think we just might make this one too....should be a great time!”

“Sounds like a great group so far! Is there going to be a group size limit?”

“looks like I will be the only southerner on this trip. Not sure if that is a good thing or not.”

“hehheeheee, GET EWKER!


Maybe we can be bought off with another tipsey fudge cake and I'll protect you real good if you remember to bring that bottle of wine you owe me. (I hear they make cans of wine now...hint hint)”

“yes I do owe you a bottle of wine. What kind do you want?

Not sure you guys can handle another Tipsey Fudge cake. There were lots of gasp after a bite was taken”

“hey ruby,

Gary isnt to far, when we get closer to the date we can figure out who is definetly going and then plan a meeting point

~SBH~”

“Actually, by the time of this trip, I will be living in Valparaiso which is even closer. I guess our meeting point can be determined what highway we take south. I always take I-65, but out by you, you might take 31 I think.”

“Yeah 31 is where I would start, ofcourse the trick is if we decide to combine into one or two cars where do we leave the other cars for three days?

~SBH~”

“I'll put myself down as a maybe if you'll have me. I'll know for sure in the next couple of weeks if I can do this hike or not. I've hiked the southern portion of the knobstone with prosecutor.”

“I've hiked the southern portion of the knobstone with prosecutor.”
ULTRAPecker
1:05:03 PM
1/20/05

hmmm, we might hold that against you”

“That guy's a mountain goat.”

“lol, you are bad Ewker”

“Indiana weather is nortiously bad in March. You could get a tornado or a blizzard.”

“Oh, pshaw. Weather, schmether.”

“We'll take our Ruby's slippers with us (pack yer slippers Ruby), just in case. ;)”

“Actually bad weather is how this annual hike got started. Its always been one of the challenges overcoming what gets thrown at us. We've done everything from sunny and 70 degrees to rain sleet snow and wind and temps down to 0 degrees.”

“This could get crowded... I call first dibs at the 4 person shelter, or was it 3? It ain't big at all! But this sounds like a big ole time on the AHT!”

“Sounds like a crowd for this one... bring name badges! It should be a great time.”

“It is looking like a big group. I figured that was because everyone is really starting to jones for a good backpacking trip by now.”

“I second that Ruby, Boots are too clean, I need my fix ;-)

~SBH~”

“I guess now is a good time to ask, does anybody have a problem with dogs? I usually bring mine along when permitted but this is a pretty large group so I thought I'd check with everybody.”

“no problem here with a dog, they make a mighty tasty dinner”

“Nope. I'm saving him for when the economy gets REAL bad.”

“If its cold he's sleeping in my tent Silent J!

Wow, this is starting to become a big group..didn't expect this big of a turnout!

Is it too early to start a list of who's coming Friday and whos coming Saturday?

We'd like to get a start by at least noon on Friday.”

“Dang, this looks like an interesting trip. Count me as a definite maybe.”

“Birch comitted to taking the entire day off Friday. We'll be there by noon.”

“Sass...wine please!!!”

“OK, I talked to O'Bannon Woods people. There is no group size limit and no permits needed. You can register at one of the gate houses, but its purely optional and only for emergency reasons. They toss it out when you leave/check out.”

“IJ, don't worry to much about the group size. These things have a way of working out.”

“What are you wanting me to whine about Ewker?”

“where should I start..your foot, no work, cotton socks, no hiking or backpacking, no training..is that enough ;)”

“Well, I'd be there around 3pm but I'm really still a maybe at this point. I'm buying a house though so I'm not expecting to have to fork out for rent in March.”

“IJ: I have hiked this trail before, as I'm sure many others going have as well. Most of the time the trail is fairly dry, and we have cached water in the woods near the road bisecting the forest ( near #5 on the map). It may not be necessary in March, but even if it is, the cache spot is not a long drive from the trail head. Assuming you are thinking of starting at Pioneer Cabin... Anyway, as you finalize plans for start times, parking, trailheads, etc., you might consider some extra minutes to cache some water, which is nice..... Finally, to all those trying to get maps, I am hopeful that everyone is getting the latest version, as some earlier maps have been changed or were wrong, which is bad.... The one I have states Indiana Dept.of Natural Resouces, Harrison-Crawford State Forest, Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area. I think its up to date, at least it did work for our hike last May...”

“It's always fun to hike with a bad map.”

“Golfhiker, the new maps coming out of the Harrison State Forest office are up to date. I've hiked most of the trail before. We cached water but didn't end up needing it. We managed to find water on the trail although it was murky. If you use iodine or Aqua Mira, you might consider something to strain out the big pieces. All depends on weather I suppose. Been pretty wet so far.

Id like to start at pioneer cabin and hike south along the river, but that limits rendezvous points for those coming in Saturday. Maybe it would make more sense to start around #4 at the connector trail and hike south. That way we could meet people at #s 3,2, and 1 late Friday and early on Saturday? Any thoughts?”

“Yea, I will peek this one out also. Hikin in the spring, Ahhhh! Hi ya all!”

“I have to work until 7am on Friday...so I'll probably hike in and meet you guys late Friday night.”

“Yo bear! Hope we see ya there!”

“I am going to take Friday off and Nicole is also.I am hopeing that the trail has been re blazed becuase the last time I backpacked there you got lost quite often.But I guess that is part of the fun!

8)”

“FYI, for anybody that will be making a portion of the hike at night the moon will be in the last quarter so check your headlamp batteries, you'll need them.”

“I can get there any time. Noon start on Friday can work for me.”

“Noon Friday works for me... We just need to pick our meeting/ trailhead. It should all come together as we get closer to the hike.”

“Salem: I see you dropped from the list of maybes... Are you out? or still thinking of making this one? It looks like you'd have some company coming from SB...”

“we have a sitter lined up, we are in for sure!”

“And I am sooooooo excited!”