Adena Trace Trail Shamrock Shakedown Tri p Report

“Hello and here’s the TR

Spotted Dick and Custard

The Friday nighters met up at the trailhead. Golfhiker, Windigirl and Coyote were the first to get there, with me running about a half hour late. We hit the trail and hiked about a mile to the camp. We had a nice spot up on a hill where we could get some water and stay outta the wind. Wood was gathered and a fire was built. Back to the trailhead to meet up with Jerbear and make the shuttle trip. I have to admit that it seemed like we really drove along way the Midway trailhead and I was glad when we finally got there. I think I saw some concern of the faces of my hiking pals. “How far are we hiking Randall???” Oh man, I was gonna hear that a lot in the next two days!!
We headed back to the Friday night spot and hiked back out to camp. Time for dinner and some down time. Windgirl bought a whole T bone steak and used some metal skewers to broil it over the fire. It sure smelled good !! Golfhiker waited until we were through with our food and then produced a pouch of something that his son had sent him from England!! He seemed very proud of it and the title was, well to say the least, very interesting. “Spotted Dick and Custard!!” Don’t sound too good, does it? Well, me, Golf and Jerbear tried some and it wasn’t that great!! (Yes, Jearbear did try some!!) Kinda like real bland fruit cake with a brown paste on it!! We sure had a lotta fun with the name though!! The group spent the balance of the evening setting around the around the fire, telling stories and I had some beer(s)
About 9:00 PM here came Bearbag up the hill!! He experienced a little trouble finding the trailhead, but made a killer effort and made camp right when he said he would!!
We talked some more and went to bed!!

Cold Morning, Early Start!!

I woke up at about 6:00 AM, someone was stomping around the fire, breaking sticks and working it back to life. That’s a good, good sound on a cold morning!!! It was cold too, close to 20 with some light wind. Lots of frost on my ceiling, but none in my bag!! I had slept well and enjoyed watching Coyote build a good morning blaze that was really appreciated by all. Up before light and time to get some breakfast!! The group started the morning thing early as we had to meet everyone at 10:00 AM and still had a mile or so to the cars. Golf made sure we stayed on the time track and Jearbear made sure the fire was out!! I always seem to be the last one packed!!! There must be some trick to it. I end up feeling like I left something every time!! Down the hill and along the lake. Brookville Reservoir was kicking up its heels and the waves were doing some heavy work!! The wind was starting to increase, making the air smell fresh and clean. I have always noticed that the lake water in southern Indiana has a scent that I can’t seem to find anywhere else. I can smell it now!! Hmm. The trail conditions were not great and getting worse as the ground started to thaw. We made tracks in running water and liquid mud!! Back to the cars and away we go to Garr Hill!!


The Dreaded Stream Crossing!!

Arrived right on time!!! Crash, Chin, his wife “Sa” (Hope I spelled that right!) and Mugsy, along with Hiking Machine were waiting at the trailhead parking lot. Crash said that Pinkfleece and her kids were not gonna maike it. Sorry Pinky!! Maybe next time Huh? Folks made some introductions as Coyote and I went to check the stream level at the first crossing. Not bad at all, A dry ford!! That’s cool, Coyote said we should tell em different!! Good idea,!! “That’s stream is damm near impassable!! It’s gonna take all we got to make it over” I couldn’t pull it off though, people were starting to change into their wading gear so I broke the good news. (Still didn’t tell em it was dry though!!) So where’s Thriftyhiker and Meangreen?? We tried to call but no luck. We went over to the Garr Hill sign to get a group shoot and Sa took pics for a lot of folks. As that was happening, down the road came Thriftyhiker and Meangreen. I guess Meangreen was running late. They ran over and got there picture took and we made for the crossing. Every one was expecting some water to cross, but weren’t real disappointed that the crossing was dry. All that stream crossing info I posted had em nervous!! Well, there were more streams ahead and that’s where all the trouble started!

It’s Only Two Inches Deep!!!

The Adena Trace trail heads up Garr Hill from there and so did we!! Always great to hit the big hill right at the start, yeah buddy!!! Just in case you’re wondering this trail has hills, and some are even kinda hilly!! At the top, the group started to string out as all groups do on these things. Some decided to eat lunch., some decided to move on down the line. I was thirsty and was having trouble with my water bladder!! I know I put water in it this morning!! Where’s it at now??? Bone dry!! WTF!!! I had cached my pack down at the stream crossing during my recon trip. I knew I was coming back in a few, so why carry it twice? I must’huv set it down just right and opened the bite valve!! I did have 10 oz in a bottle so I was alright!!
The next creek to cross is called Temple Creek and me Golf, Jerbear, Bear bag , and Windigirl and caught up with Chin and Mugsy at the only toilet on the whole trial. Golf said he had to “Drop of the kids” and went to do that. We then headed towards Temple Creek and a first class screw up!!!
Me and Jearbear got to the creek first and he got halfway across and stopped. I thought he was having trouble and was gonna turn back to set up a wade. This is where I made my first mistake!!! I went up stream to see if I could find a better crossing!! Golf and Bearbag followed. We looked at several places including a log that promised a “Full Body Immersion” if ya screwed up!! Little did I know I was already screwing up!!! We tried to build a crossing, that idea went south real fast! Damm, I’m going in!! I put my crocs and waded across!! It was cold!! But not swift!! Shudda done that right off!! Golf and Bearbag followed. I saw Chin and Mugsy at a picnic table and decided that was a good place to put my boots and gaiters back on. I could also watch for Windigirl and make sure she didn’t make the same mistake that I had.

Where’s Windy!!!

We thought she was still down the trail and so we waited. After about a half hour I began to get a bit concerned, then Bearbag said “here she comes”. Well, it wasn’t her and turned out to be the first of the three sweepers, Atilla. He was making killer time and said that he hadn’t seen her!! Well, that wasn’t what we wanted to hear!!! He ran across the creek and only gota little wet. Soooo, we waited some more and along came Gforce and Sarah, the last of the sweepers. They had stated out at the dam and were catching up with us. They had not seen Windigirl either!! Oh Crap!! Something bad has happened and I was getting ready to recross and go look for her. We all discussed the situation and decided that we should continue the hike and see if by some chance she had gotten ahead of us!!
Up the next hill and no Windigirl!! I was going back to look for her now!! I talked to Baerbag about me going back and told him how to find the keys so that the group could make the shuttle. Chin said that if she was ahead of us she might have stopped at the campsite where we stayed last night. That sounded like a good possibility so we started in that direction and sure enough that where she was!! While me and Chin were putting on our boots, Windigirl crossed the stream and we didn’t see her!! I felt much better now!! She was going to stay there again that night and we would pick her up at the trailhead in the morning. Back on the trail and only two hours behind the lead elements!! Geeesch!!

The Causeway And Finally, The Camp!!!!

We had to cross the Fairfield causeway and the wind was pretty rough, not to mention the cars that came flying down. We even had to dodge a big hay truck! We made it though and finally caught up with everybody at Saltwell creek. Some wanted to camp, others wanted to continue, We took a vote a went on about a half mile and made camp!! Atiila deicide to head back and camp with Windgirl. That made us all feel better, Thanks Marko!! Chin had some problems with a switch in the trail and Jerbear made sure he knew where we where going, Sort of!!!. Gforce and Sarah came in right as we where setting up. The mileage turned out to be about 8 miles. Camp went as camps go with everyone making dinner and talking about gear We had a good fire, told stories and hit the sack around 10:00 or so.

I woke up around 7:00 and built the fire up. It was even colder than Friday night, but I slept well again!! Made my tea and ate my oatmeal, Chin left the camp early and others followed. Jerbear made sure I put the fire out real good. I was the next to last on the trail and was thinking we had about 5 to 5 ½ miles to the cars. We had good weather. Very sunny, still kinda windy though. Along Wolf creek we tramped and through the Cedar tunnels, if ya ever get a chance to on this trail, this is what I consider the best part. Some of the group got turned around in there, not sure how that happened. The ended up behind me, lol. Time to cross wolf creek, no real problems here. (Thank you God!!) We made good time past No Name Creek and took a break. Just a couple of more miles to go!!
The Midway trail intersection was just over the hill and in less than an hour from our last break we got to the cars!! Had a few beers and drove back to Garr Hill!!
Thanks to everyone with the car shuttle and I see ya later.
Randall
last edited: 3/21/07 11:39:49 AM”

“hey pics, where are the pics!


tricky that windy, sneaking past you all like that! :)”

“Hey all
Pics in the trip albums!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“So how did the gear do. Ready for PA?”

“oh the drama!”

“Here's my pictures. I had a good time! Thanks Randall.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/xnelsyh6.php”

“DH!!
I tried using Aqua Mira for the first time and ended up a little sick Tuesday, not bad though. I think I will be bringing my filter and putting up with the weight. I never got to use the Sealskins, justwent barefoot in crocs. My new boots are too damm big!!
I will bring my POS Mendells and hope for the best!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“Can't wait to see you in PA Randall!”

“i can”

“Randall: Great TR, spotted dick & all. As for the Sealskinz, yes they work.. the weather was great, the company perfect, campfires were outstanding, but I'm still a little dizzy with all the shuttleing we did.... How many times did we go up & down the first hill? Have fun in PA. see ya later. Rick”

“Hey guys,

Looks like you had a great time. I completely forgot about this trip and should have tried to make it. I would have loved to see ya'll again.

Hope to see ya on trail sometime in the near future!”

“ms doo jsut wanted to ditch all ya'll. Especially CRASH!”

“Eh?

I wasn't signed up for last weekend's trip.

:p”

“Spirit is NUTS”

“looks like everyone all had a good time , sorry that I missed it. I'm ready for the next one”

“I always seem to be the last one packed!!! There must be some trick to it.

the "trick" is to not carry so much stuff...good god, you're pack is bigger than you

great trip as always randall, thanks a lot”

“good report Randall, and a great trip! Thanks!”