Land Between the Lakes in March

“Trip is posted. We will have to pass by Golden Pond Visitor Center half way through on this, so we can plant a vehicle there to resupply and cut the weight on food carried.

If we need to modify this, let me know.”

“Thanks Chili!”

“can you say WET WET WET? :)”

“sounds great looking forward to it”

“I may try to meet up with you guys Sat night. I haven't looked at a map yet, but I'm sure I can cut in some where and find ya.

Do you need any help with shuttles or anything?”

“I'm looking at 1000 miles or so. No way even I thought I could handle the distance. Elevations sounds doable... but I can't make the drive”

“Stomper, we will be behind the Bison Range just off of 205 Saturday night.”

“Don't trust the point to point mileage on the map. You'll need to string it to get an accurate count.

When I was section hiking it, I tried to go by the point to point mileage but the mileage posted at the signs at each point didn't match the map.”

“I will try to fine tune it between now and then.”

“Cornmuffin going?”

“Cornmuffin not going to make this one I did not even ask I thought if I said 60 miles she throw the cast iron skillet at me or worst.

What about Meangreen,Randall,Mariposa,Chin they would probally go.

Stomper are there very many BIG creek crossing could I do it in Trail Runners.Is there a National Geo. Map of the whole trail?
last edited: 2/14/08 4:57:21 AM”

“

resupply and cut the weight on food carried.

If we need to modify this, let me know.”
chili

Since when are booze and beer considered food?”

“Since when are booze and beer considered food?”
I thought booze was included in the basic 4 you always carry and include in your weight. Isn't it pack, shelter, sleeping bag and booze. (Not Necessarily in that order,lol)”

“Hey all!!
I really would love to do this trail and might make it some time in mid May, but I can’t get the time off on these dates. I’ll be watching though!! Take lots of pics please and have a good time!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“so do I have a better chance of meeting chili if I sign up on a hike he organizes or does he bail on his own trips too? LOL!”

“I am non discriminate, nigal. I bail on both.

But you can book this one. I have so much time off I need to burn than I can't possibly take it all.”

“No big creek crossings that I know of. Course I havent spent much time on the south side of the trail. There seem to be a lot of foot bridges on the north side.”

“I am non discriminate, nigal. I bail on both.

Dude I'm just going to come down there to your house and kidnap you for a weekend of hiking. The federal charges would be worth finally meeting you. LOL!

But you can book this one. I have so much time off I need to burn than I can't possibly take it all.

I don't know man, I'm getting that funky umpa-lumpa, mobfest vibe from this trip.”

“Chili I was trying to find out some more info on the trail and came across this,keep in mind I don't know if this is even on the North/South Trail or if it is just a side trail.Anyway it stated it will be repaired by March 1 anyhow I'll call the Ranger Station and find out.

http://www.lbl.org/TrailsUpdate.html

Stomper could you give me some driving directions from Evansville,In
What would be a close town I could mapquest to?
last edited: 2/15/08 3:52:34 AM”

“From what I saw on that link Coyote, it doesn't change the plan.

The only question I have is whether the Trace is open at Golden Pond. If not, we will have to use the back roads to shuttle vehicles.”

“Coyote,
From Evansville, get on 164 heading toward Henderson. You'll see signs for the Pennyrile Parkway, this goes through Madisonville. Take the Pennyrile to Hopkinsville and then cut over on Hwy 68. 68 will take you across Lake Barkley and LBL. It crosses about midway through the park so when you hit the Trace you'll need to turn left to head to the South part of LBL which is where you're beginning the hike.

Another option is to exit the Pennyrile and head west on the WEstern Kentucky Parkway, toward Paducah. When this merges into I-24-head west, away from Nashville. Take the Grand Rivers exit. This will put you at the very North end of the park. You can then travel down on The Trace to the South end of the park.”

“Chili and/or Stomper
Do you know anything about the trail shelters? Are they like the shelters on the AT? Would it be worth staying in them if they are?”

“They are not like the shelters on the AT.

They are like steel culverts cut in half length wise and layed on the ground.

I am not sure if I will use them or a tent.”

“Do they have platforms for sleeping? Anything else in them?”

“I need to get the info from walkindude, but the only one I have seen was just on the ground with sand in the bottom.”

“It will be a tent for me.”

“Hey all!!
I am working on doing this trip to the golden pond vistor station! I will try and firm up later.
See ya later.
Randall”

“Cool.”

“come on go randall”

“Hey Coyote,
Atilla is thinking abouit this one as well and we might be doing something this weekend down by Tell City,(German Ridge) to early to tell yet.
See ya later.
Randall”

“Man I would love to go I have the Boy Scout Campout this month 46 scouts and scouters going to Mammoth Cave on Saturday I probally should not carry a pack yet I had a hernia surgery a couple of weeks ago.But I am getting around good and walking down there at the Mall with the Retired Crowd in the mornings they will give you a run for the money I'll get with you all soon.”

“I'm spending this weekend dehydrating a bunch of stuff for this trip. I'm looking forward to it!”

“Snickers and enertia meals for me.”

“I've been trying out some of the stuff in Sarbar's cookbook. Yum!”

“Hey Chili!
I am still trying ta make this trip. You still going???
See ya later.
Randall”

“Yes”

“I'm in Chili if you need to change the trip to make it fit for Randall or others I'm off work and flexible.
last edited: 2/27/08 2:56:07 PM”

“Thanks, but it looks like the date is a go.

Now we just need the weather to cooperate. Cold weather is not the problem. A week of rain will make this a "swamp" hike in places.”

“I pulled this up from a web site.

I think Walkin Dude can verify the conditions.

It appears this is a pretty good overview of the hike.


The major trail of interest to backpackers is the 65 mile long North/South Trail which wends its way from shoreline to inland area and back on the northern end, then follows the ridge line at the southern end of the peninsula. Along the way you notice signs of past civilization as you pass numerous cemeteries, occasional foundations for structures, stretches of old barbed wire fences, one partially disassembled and rusting Ford pickup truck, and old components of moonshine stills. Creeks abound and crossings vary from easy to "good luck." A number of the deeper/wider creeks have bridges constructed over them, though nearly all have broken or missing boards. Several bridges consisted simply of 6" by 6" timbers to step on and a cable stretched across the gap as a handhold (one of these was over 20 feet across and the timber to walk on was canted at an angle!) Other creeks simply had to be forded, and if your trip follows a recent rain, the water could be over boot depth. Though the elevation gain on the peninsula is only 200 feet, the trail is constantly going up and down and is rated as moderate to strenuous. Hiking/backpacking is NOT the major activity here, so the trail is not heavily traveled. A $10 permit per person (good for a year) allows you to camp anywhere you wish. A state license is required if you wish to fish here. Water sources are plentiful on the northern half of the trail but less ubiquitous on the southern portion where you might want to cache water.”

“Chili
Do you think we need to cache water?”

“I am thinking there has been enough rain up there it won't be a problem.

However, the Monday before the hike I will check with the Rangers. If we do, I will be there early and can get it cached.”

“Man, I'd love to join you guys for this, but I can't. Say "Hi" to Stomper for me if ya see her.”

“I'm not going to get there till late Friday night. I was hoping to leave early from work, but the boss has scheduled a training class that day, all day. Where will I find you?”

“We can work out the final logistics a little later, but since most people are coming in from the north, we can start planning on that site where we stayed the first night on Stompers first trip.”

“Pisgah Point appears to be the best spot for Friday night. We can leave at least one vehicle an the North Ranger Station, leave one at Golden Pond with supplies (if necessary) and take another on the South Ranger Station.

http://www.lbl.org/LBLGeneralMap.pdf”

“Chili would you be interested in going to the Ozark Highland Trip after we get done it starts on the March 20th? We could make a week of it.”

“I am considering it. I will think that through and be in position to commit by next week one way or the other.”

“I don't know anything about the area or how far a drive it would be you know since we would have a day to kill we could take a extra day on lbl or go on down and hike something around the other hike.I would need clearance from the big boss first see what you think and we will go from there.”

“The Ozark Hike would be about a 7 hour drive.

It is a good 4 hours the other side of Memphis...probably closer to 5. We could cut across the river at the bootheel of MO and get over there, but I don't think we could do it much less than 7 hours.”

“looks like they are planning on starting in the morning so I guess we would need to head on over there and find a place to camp maybe we could go in the car if we knew a safe place to leave one.It would be there for 4 days.”