Hoosier Hiking

“I've always liked HNF, and the terrain's not too difficult, so it will be a perfect place to get in my first bag night in over a year.

I've never camped by the lake before, so that is a good option. I also like the campsite above Patton Cave.”

“Sounds like a plan. Camp Peeper on Friday and Patton on Saturday.”

“I'm in for a December hike”

“woohoo! im off that weekend. im in!”

“Nice!”

“sweet. I posted a WV trip for after Christmas that's received no attention. I had a feeling this one would.”

“I'm putting myself down as a very strong maybe. Everytime I put myself down as a definite I end up having to cancel. And I really want to get out to hike with ya'll. :)

I know where "Camp Peeper" is but it would probably be a really dark hike in by the time I got there, (around 9'ish, especially with the New Moon being a few days later), not that it would be difficult to get to seeing as it's a road going back there. I may end up meeting everyone at the trail intersection heading down into the gorge area on Saturday morning.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a night hike on a brisk late autumn/early winter night. We'll see how the mood strikes me as time gets closer. :)

P.S. I really like the Patton Cave camping area. ;) How might the winds be in December camping on the lake shore (not that it's a huge lake by any means, but it may create some problems)?
last edited: 9/28/06 11:21:39 PM”

“i cant imagine there would be much lake-effect up by the cave. its treed in and away from the main body of water”

“Where is Camp Peeper? Is it back by the pond?”

“Yes, ductape, that is ware it bee.

I may be up for a Friday evening hike as well and would arrive around the same time as Doolittle. I do believe there are campsites closer than peeper off the trail though. I will see if I can wrestle up a map”

“http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/images/maps/trail_maps/deam_wilderness_backpage.pdf

Yep, here we go. There is a nice site a short hike in off the sycamore trail (under the 0.7 mile marker) that is closer to the trailhead there at the fire tower we could camp at Friday evening. Just a suggestion though.

We could make an interesting day on Saturday starting out hiking out of Blackwell, then head south on Cope Hollow. Follow it around until it links back up with the Grubb Ridge and stay at the cave site. Extra mileage for those that want it.

Again, just a suggestion.”

“Sweet, WK! I wouldn't have to worry about heading in alone then. Yeah, camp peeper is about 2.5 miles (somewhere around there...) in from the parking lot. Nice area and out of the way. Just don't forget to go right. If you go straight, you head into a cemetary and get yelled at by the locals partying at the grave sites. (?)

I love those cave sites, by the way. Our group split in two over Memorial Day weekend. Half went down to the sites on the Lake and we proceeded on to the cave sites. I think we got the better end of the deal (even though I packed out a trash bag full of boater trash).
last edited: 9/29/06 10:23:25 AM”

“That cemetary is awesome though.

I did not know there were sites down on the lake, huh.

I have never actually hiked at night, unless you consider portaging up in Canada night hiking. Just done the midnight paddle under a full moon to get a wounded student to the hospital.”

“"That cemetary is awesome though."

I wouldn't know. The local yocals wouldn't let us down there to take a look, see.

And yes, there are campsites along the shore (I believe they're mostly frequented by the boaters). There's a trail that heads north to the lake on the north part of the Grubb Ridge trail. That's where the other group camped. Right at the end of that trail.

I believe boaters can get up to the cave campsites as well (which is why I believe that I packed out boater trash). We could see the lake from the cave. I can't imagine that backpackers would leave all that trash (or, I won't let myself believe it). Horsemen can't get back there because of a couple of downed trees.
last edited: 9/29/06 11:46:09 AM”

“The local yocals wouldn't let us down there to take a look, see

wtf is up with that? its on public property, i believe. if not, at least its open to the public”

“I think so too Scotty.”

“Like I said, it was Memorial Day weekend. They were probably there doing their Memorial Day thing and didn't want interruptions. Who knows.... God only knows how many backpackers stumbled in there before our group... ;)”

“oic. if they were there with their deceased loved ones, thats understandable”

“Hello!!
Coordinates for Camp Peeper are:
N39 03.423 W86 19.065”
See ya later.
Randall”

“You're always saving someone, aren't you WK? You're good to have around.”

“Call me the camp medic.”

“Hello!
I am in for now, as long as it don't snow big time. Does anyone care if I deer hunt in the AM??? I think it might be muzzleloader season, if thats a problem I can skip it.
See ya later!!
Randall”

“I don't know if you can hunt in the wildernedd area. I could be wrong though.

Blast away!”

“and anyway ,you shot a dear , you hiking or you hunting ?”

“Camp Peeper is an easy night hike. Wide road all the way back. Should only take you 30-40 minutes to hike.

Sounds like fun. Randall you pop a deer and I'm expecting steak for dinner!”

“Steak hell! The tenderloins are what you wanna cook in camp. Now that's good eatin!”

“mmm, i hope you get one if that means we're all eating that night.

as far as the wilderness hunting thing, I don't know the rules, but I do know I've seen people walking down the Grubb Ridge Trail with guns.”

“there is no hunting in the wilderness, that's one of the things that sets it apart from the rest of the national forest...i'm not sure how far you'd have to hike out to get out of the wilderness”

“No Hunting!!!!
Ok, that's cool
I have seen people hunting there though!! I guess they were poachers!!
LOL
See ya later.
Randall”

“Hello,
Here's a link about hunting in the Deem!! It says that it is allowed.
http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/Destinations/Hoosier_National/wilderness_west_and_sycamore.htm
See ya later.
Randall”

“you just had to prove me wrong didn't ya randall ;)

so if you're allowed to do everything in a wilderness area that you can in the rest of the forest i wonder what's the point of designating it a wilderness area?”

“see no motorized traffic”

“Hunting has always been allowed in the Wilderness area. There are many things that set it apart from regular forests. You can find them on the HNF site. The hunting is a necessity to keep deer populations in check. All the natural predators are gone.”

“Randall is now the predator!”

“Hello!!
I will not hunting there anyway, just thought I was seeing things last November!!
lol
See ya later.
Randall”

“I am 99% sure I will make it.

Scott, you bringing the Bailey's?”

“Someone will need to. I am taking my last college exam and then leaving for this trip, so I will definitely be down to party some on Friday night.”

“hells yea!”

“sweet!”

“uh oh i better buy the gallon jug”

“and bring a bucket if you wanna LNT”

“You comin on this one Jim.

Scott, a little firefly?”

“i think so, i see no reason why not. i have nothing planned in dec.”

“Where is Spirit Coyote these days? Did I miss something, or is she no longer posting?”

“Cool. I think every hike I have made this year, you have been on it as well. Forgot about the Adena trail in March. Don't remember you being on that one.

Have not seen her post in a few weeks.
last edited: 10/19/06 3:15:51 PM”

“we need to do a "return to the bat cave" trip, wk... you need to set that up... ;)

hint, hint”

“spring trip?”

“hehe, that would be good... that place and wet weather might be good together”

“We could do that loop again or add a few twists to it. Not a twist of the ankle though.”

“What route are you guys that are coming down on Friday taking , I'll meet you at the cave on Saturday”