KT trip planning

“A good site to read about the trail

http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/Destinations/Knobstone_trail.htm”

“Heya WK, how bout we do this as a dayhike next spring?”

“Got hiking poles? You guys will definitely want to bring them along for this hike.

Mohawkman,

Have you hiked any, or all of the KT? Just curious.”

“nope.i heard it's fairly tough,and people say it's a good likeness of the a.t..i can average 20 to 25 miles a day in the so.il. ozarks,so i hope i can hang with mean on this one.”

“Mohawkman,

Yeah, it's a tough hike with great views. Looking forward to it.”

“so i hope i can hang with mean on this one.”
mohawkman33
9:09:09 AM

Dude, I am not the strongest hiker on this trip. I'm just starting to actually push my limits, and actually train for hiking. For the past 2 years I have been hiking but have not been in the best of shape. Massive packs, smoking, inefficient hiking style etc. Lately I have made massive improvements though, but that has only been in the last 2 months. This is the most ambitious thing I have done so far. Hopefully it doesn't break me.

CHILI!!! U coming? That would rock!”

“Man I just noticed Randall removed himself. Bummer.

RANDALL YOU HOSER!!!

LOL! Maybe next time then. Take care dude.”

“come on randall, hell i'll even pack some kentucky windage for you. watcha say?”

“Is that like white lightnin?”

“Windi and I are going tuesday to scope some sites out and see what we can. Anyone want to come along should send one of us an e-mail.”

“Meangreen - I might need to change that to another Tuesday. I might have to work on that Monday and Tuesday so I can get to the RRG for the weekend trip.”

“Rats. I'm out on this one. Apparently I'm calendarly challenged. For some reason my head had this trip 13-15, which I could maybe swing the 15th off work. But now I see it's really 14-16 and I have a big meeting on Tuesday that I won't be able to skip out on...bummer...I was really looking forward to this challenge. Be sure to let us know how it goes.”

“Crap! I just saw this Mariposa. Sorry to hear it. Our numbers areexperiencing more shrinkage than the Fairbanks polarbear club. JimmySan is still listed as a maybe but he ain't coming either. That means the thruhikers are down to Me, Mohawkman, Hiknmachine and maybe Chili and Oldog. Windigrrl is support, and Thrifty said he may just dayhike part of it or something. Although 5 is a good group for a trip like this it would have been nice to see some of those who have dropped out. We'll miss you folks.

For those of you who are still signed up, if anyone would like to do a little recon this Tuesday please let me know, so I can be sure to be available.”

“i'm gonna try to work it so i can do at least the first day and maybe half or all day the second day but am not sure yet”

“Cool! I knida had you figured for Sat night camp, and that would prolly be the last we saw of you. I didn't think you were interested in higher mileage.”

“LOL, i'm not...that's one of the main reason's for just one day...that and it's during the week and i'm running out of vacation”

“I hear ya on that one bro. I have been out since July. That's why this one is on my days off, and not a normal fri - sun or what ever. I think we may have a nice big lazy trip in Nov though. Mariposa Stomper, Windigrrl and I were talking about setting something like that up. What we really need is another mobfest. I'll be ready for that after a trip like this.”

“A late Nov or early Dec Mobfest would be my vote.”

“Mine too.”

“ok, Windi and I are really going this Monday to check things out so if anyone wanted to join just let us know. Also, who dropped out? Now er are down to 4 and that really only leaves me, hikinmachine, and mohawkman doing the whole trip, as Windi is the 4th. Hmm, I'm begining to think y'all are getting scared of this trip.”

“MG!!
Damm, Take a chill pill dude!!!
I did not notice that the trip was not on the weekend, but rather during the week. That's why I bailed, sorry!!
See ya later,
Randall”

“Meangreen and I went down to check out the trail on Monday. We found camping sites for each night. Meangreen heads off on the trail from one of the trailheads to check it out. He goes down a hill, then up another and down again, then he does it all again coming back. He comes back with a big grin on his face and says "this trail rocks". He's crazy.”

“any idea on mileage in between?”

“Meangreen is indeed very crazy.”

“Meangreen,

What trail heads did you guys check out?”

“We started Deam Lake and found a camping site really close to the start of the trail so everyone came find it easily on Saturday night. We then went to where the trail crosses the road at around the 9 mile marker where I will meet up with the hikers for lunch. We then went to the New Chapel Trailhead and Meangreen hiked in ~ 1-1 1/2 miles, around the 18 mile marker and found a camp site for the Sunday night. After that, we went to find the road where I would meet the hikers for lunch on Monday, which is near the 26 mile marker. We proceeded to Oxley Memorial Trailhead and found a camp site for Monday night. However, that would make Monday's hike ~ 20 miles and not sure if that would be do able or not.
So, first day on the trail would be about 18 miles. Second day would be about 20 miles and the third day would be 8 miles.”

“18, 20, and 8 at Knobstone in October????

Bring some extra batteries for those headlamps.........yikes.”

“Personally, I think 20 miles on the second day is going to be too much. There are several 3 to 400 ft climbs, and decents, and that will be the toughest day.

Hey Chinmusic,

You're going to join us for this one, right?”

“I was somewhat in agreement with that assesment HM. I'll spend some more time looking at the map. I would like the bigger day to be on day one if possible, especially since the first 4 miles will be fairly flat looking at the topo, from there on in it's gonna be hell. I was trying to keep the camp sites so they were with in about 2 miles of each road crossing though for water purposes. I am totally open to suggestions on this. Would you rather camp at about mile 34 on Monday night? If we do 19mi on Sunday, then we would only do 15 on Monday, and that leaves 11 for Tuesday. What do you think about that?”

“Yeah, the first 4 miles will lull you into a sense of superiority. The climb to the first road will def get your attention.”

“I really could use another person to help me with support. Someone who would be willing to help with navagation.
Any takers? There will be the opportunity to do some hiking, just not the crazy stuff the others will be doing. I am planning on hiking in and camping with crazy hikers. I would be anything from a couple of miles to as many as you might want to do.”

“Hey MG,

Yeah, 18 miles looks good for the first day. It looks like there's a good place to camp around there, and 15 on the second.”

“There are some good camp sites around/past Elk Creek Trailhead heading north.”

“Meangreen - if we go with 15 miles the 2nd day, we would want change the place where we would be meeting for lunch. It looks like it would be better to meet for lunch at the Leota Trailhead for lunch if that's the case. That would be a good place for a water stop as well. Just let me know where and I'll meet ya there.
last edited: 9/20/07 2:06:11 PM”

“He comes back with a big grin on his face and says "this trail rocks". He's crazy.”
windigrrl
6:01:08 PM

I was actually blown away by the excellent condition of the trail. It looked like a trail crew had just been in ahead of me clearing everything very nicely.
I was flipping through my copy of "The Rag" last night and it dawned on me why. The Hoosier Hikers are hosting a 5 and 10 K run the weekend after we get out. It was published in the Waypoints section! Finally I get to say I have done a famous trail... infamous may be a better description though.

I think HM and I are on the same page here. This would put us up on ridgetops both nights so it may be a smidge warmer at night but dont depend on that. The ridge tops that I have seen are nice. Lots of wood, and some convenient places to make a campsite too.

Mohawkman! Do you have a map of the trail yet? The park office is closed on weekends so you wont be able to purchase one upon arrival.

I have got a couple hours vacation time approved, so I will be leaving Indy at 1500 on Saturday. Once I change my clothes etc I should be at the TH around 1730 Saturday night. Anyone passing through at this time is welcome to ride along with me. It may make the shuttle easier at the end of the trip.”

“There are some good camp sites around/past Elk Creek Trailhead heading north.”
windigrrl
3:14:42 PM
9/20/07
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“Meangreen - if we go with 15 miles the 2nd day, we would want change the place where we would be meeting for lunch. It looks like it would be better to meet for lunch at the Leota Trailhead for lunch if that's the case. That would be a good place for a water stop as well. Just let me know where and I'll meet ya there.
last edited: 9/20/07 3:06:11 PM”
windigrrl
3:19:32 PM
9/20/07


Hey I didn't see this Windi. I'll look at my map, and see. I didn't bring it with me today. Salem, please chime in here with your input if you know of some better spots than Windi and I are laying out.”

“Hey guys,

Let me look at my map over the weekend, and we'll figure this out next week.”

“Day 1

Lunch stop, and water stop at mile 8.75
, Pixley Knob Road, Windi meets us there.

Water stop at mile 16.5, New Chapel TH, Windi meets us there.

Camp - Mile 19

Day 2

Lunch - Leota TH, Windi meets us there

Water - Elk Creek TH, mile 31.5, Windi meets us there

Cross Highway 56 and Camp - Mile 34, Windi meets us there, not sure about parking here?

Day 3

9.5 miles to the finish line! :-)

I will be bringing 4 to 5 gallons of water, and assuming everyone else will too?

Saturday night camping:

Again, my daughter has a regional competition in Chesterton, IN that day, and I won't know until the week of what time I will be leaving to drive down.

Meangreen?

Mohawkman?

Windigrrl?
last edited: 9/25/07 5:47:59 AM”

“That's the plan! I figured on bringing about 5 gallons of water too.

On Monday night Windi could either park at Oxley or Elk creek, and hike in. Oxley would be less than 3 miles.”

“you guys want me to hike in 3 miles. WT.. you think this is a backpacking trip of something.
Works for me. I will have a cooler in the car with me, if you want to put anything in it. Cold Poweraide drinks might be good to have with lunch.”

“It's a thought. I'm actively trying to work out a menu for this now. We are going to need major calories. I may bring a case of honeybuns. They are about 450 calories each. We could posibly burn more than that every hour. They will at least be my breakfast, two honey buns, two oatmeals, a pack of precooked bacon for Sunday morning too. Got some met-rx big 100 meal bars and sport beans for snacks.”

“I understand the need for caloric intake...but "sport beans for snacks" really don't sound very appetizing. Good luck with that. Hope you've got a Snickers for a chaser.”

“They're really good! They're made by JellyBelly (the only jelly bean) and are the equivalent of a powergel. Except they don't taste like cu.. uh something not so yummy.”

“Gotta luv the sport beans!
Those work almost as good as chocolate covered espresso beans!
Btw you should try Hammer Nutrition's Hammer Gel..it's actually pretty good.”

“you guys are nuts, your gonna die!!!

Er....good luck. Can I have your gear if something happens?

LOL seriously, 31 miles in a day sounds PAINFULL :) ;)”

“Er....good luck. Can I have your gear if something happens?
That's the reason I'm doing support. I have first look at all the gear.
I could still use some help with support. What do ya say spirit coyote?”

“Hey Meangreen,

You're going to be so sugared, and caffiened-up you're not going to want to stop hiking! LOL I plan on bringing some gel shots, and lots of snacks to keep me going.”

“Sport beans rock!!!!!”

“Plenty of sugar in them I'm sure, and the met-rx bars too, I didn't know they had caffeine! WOO HOO! Bean me!
I gotta tell ya I'm getting pretty excited about this one. It's gonna be brutally fun. LOL!”

““Plenty of sugar in them I'm sure, and the met-rx bars too, I didn't know they had caffeine! WOO HOO! Bean me!
I gotta tell ya I'm getting pretty excited about this one. It's gonna be brutally fun. LOL!”
meangreen


I couldn't tell. LOL Yeah, I'm getting pumped-up for this one too!”