Kentucky-Land Between the Lakes Spring H ike

“Here is a good way to get warmed up for the season. Lot of wild life and good camping conditions.

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

NORTH SOUTH TRAIL. This trail spans the entire length of LBL and ranges from rugged, hilly terrain in the north to more smooth hiking in the south. Length: 65 miles. Rating: Moderate to Strenuous. 200-foot elevation change.

I am on layoff until June and I have a flexible schedule for weather and other's schedules for this and other hikes. Late March or April would be best earliest time to go.”

“I will be posting an LBL Hike later on today for March. Just did the North South hike in November with Stomper.”

“where are you itrek? I'm 20 minutes from LBL.”

“I was just over there yesterday.”

“I am in Richmond,KY...Just south of Lexington.”

“are you planning on hiking the whole N-S trail?”

“Everything south of Golden Pond pretty much sucks.”

“I agree with Chili, the south end isn't worth doing. Everything north of Golden Pond is nice.”

“What is the downside of the southern part of the trail? Never have been there. I was looking for a good long hike somewhere I have never been.”

“Thanks for the heads up WG and C36.”

“Come join us on March 27-29 for a section of the trail.”

“Ok...I will go to the trip page and sign up.

I might as well go with those who know the area.

Thanks!,

IT”

“I was hoping too hike the entire trail. But with what has been said. I may have to rethink that idea. The north section would be a good walk. Want to keep going to Golden Pond?”

“But then again, if someone is game, it still might be fun just say we did the entire N-S Trace. Being originally from the mountains, I have never been in the lowland type country that the south part of the park has. Just might see something cool. We can start on at the north end welcome station on Thursday , shuttle the cars, hit the trail and be at Suger Bay Friday and hike with the LBL North End Group. Then go on to the south terminus unless someone convinces me why the south end sucks. Or at the very Least hike to Golden Pond just to make a trip out of it. I am going to post this on the trip page for anyone who might be interested. I look forward to meeting those of you who are going to be out there then.”

“and the N-S trail is closer to roads if not right along them. from y experience, the southern end of lbl is also somewhat busier.


also, just in case ya'll need to know, the surrounding areas in KY are dry counties so stock up before you get there. :D”

“There is something to be said for saying "I've done the whole trail." That's why I did it. The south end isn't great, but it's still better than sitting at a desk at work. The south end is mostly old roads. There is a part of the trail that is shared with horses. It was a mess when I hiked in last March, but it wasn't nearly as bad we I did it in November. I think the weather will play a big part in that. In March in was pretty muddy. Add horse dropping and it made for some interesting mud hiking. I about lost my boots a couple of times.”

“The only time I fell down the whole trip was on the horse trail. :(”

“I'm curious to know too, nobody has really answered the question .... so I'll pose it slightly different. The LBL, is it a good hike to do the whole shabang in one adventurous go, obviously N of Golden Pond is nice, doing a nice little thru-hike???? Or, is that S part so sucky that's it's not even suggested you do it, with the idea being whooptydoo we've thru'd the LBL, that just means we got to hike the S turd trail along the roads as well????

So to hike the S turd trail, or not to hike the S turd trail, that is the question.”

“Hike the south part to say that you've done it but the beauty is in the north. Once you see it, you'll know what we mean.

If you're going to do the whole 58 miles, I suggest starting at the south end. The views at the north end are breathtaking and most certainly motivating. The south is more flat and pretty much all inland forest. There is beauty there to, some scenic meadows. It's worth doing, once.”

“Ahha! T/y stomper, that's exactly what I was wanting to know!”

“Good point on the shared trails...I am no fan of having to dodge piles of S**T on the trail for miles on end and its no fun having to look down all the time. I may have to change to the North trail only and do the South another time or not at all.
Thanks for sure on ya'lls imput!

Another trip I want to do is the southern section of the Sheltowee Trace from Pickett SP Tenn. to Cumberland Falls SP.
You can park at Sheltowee Outfitters and catch a shuttle to Pickett SP and hike back to the car. Sharing the fare makes it much cheaper. A group of four would make it doable for the money.
It is a 66+ mile hike, has anyone done that section? I am looking for a good long hike to do as you can tell by now.”

“If your looking for a longer trail the Knobstone in Indiana is 45 miles and can be a good challenge. Here's a link to a weekend trip if you're interested in checking the trail out. http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1640.php
Here's another coming up soon.
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1624.php
I'm sure there are some TT'er who have done the area that you are talking about. Post a new tread about it and see who jumps in.
last edited: 12/30/08 1:47:44 AM”

“Hey All,
Here's a link to some pics from the south part of the North/South trail!

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/567338419SoqehJ


See ya later.
Randall”

““I'm curious to know too, nobody has really answered the question .... so I'll pose it slightly different. The LBL, is it a good hike to do the whole shabang in one adventurous go, obviously N of Golden Pond is nice, doing a nice little thru-hike???? Or, is that S part so sucky that's it's not even suggested you do it, with the idea being whooptydoo we've thru'd the LBL, that just means we got to hike the S turd trail along the roads as well????

So to hike the S turd trail, or not to hike the S turd trail, that is the question.”
naked ape
5:55:56 PM
12/29/08

NA, I hiked it through in March '08. I started South to North.

The Southern half was Jeep trails and horse trails. Relatively flat, not near the water (Kentucky Lake) and pretty much boring.

The northern half was much better. Several places the trail ran along the Lake and meandered through open fields as well as rolling ground covered with a hardwood canopy.”

“Thanks C36 and the rest of you for the insight...I owe you all a beer!...You have convinced me...The northern section sounds like a much better experience...So now the plan is The North Trace only...
Now the question is......
How many of you good hikers are going to show up?

*Sorry about getting off track on this thread about the Sheltowee section. I will dicuss that in another thread later.*

IT”

“Given my schedule right now, I won't be in position to commit until shortly before the trip.

I hope I can make it.”

“same as chilly here. LBL is 5h+ from me. :(”

“Car pool.”

“well hello there itrek :)
i hope things are going better for you, or holding steady at the very least. i'm still planning my thru-hike, but may have to join you on the LBL if I can swing it.”

“Things are holding steady...Thanks for asking...As you can see...I am still trying to get on a hike or two...Just more in the two to five day range for now. How are your plans going? It would great if you could go on this hike...Let us know if or when...
IT”

“If I can't make the trip, I will help with shuttling or just be a trail angel. Let me know when you nail down the plans.”

“Hell, nobody wants YOU for a trail angel....

....they want your husband to show up!”

“ROTFL

I stand corrected.”

“Ah t/y chili. Really it sounds like they's many better choices for a WNC feller for lawnger hikes.”

“If they ever complete the Cumberland trail, it will be a nice hike.”

“Nice pictures...Thanks...”

“Chili,
Turns out that my stepdaughter is going to Chattanooga in the spring to work on the Cumberland Trail!! It’s some kinda spring break thing they do at her college. So they are still doing summpin with it. Me and Attilla took her to Cableas this Sunday so she could get some new boots.
See ya later.
Randall”

“Cool! Hopefully we will see another few miles of trail opened soon.”

“Thanx chili and Randall, I've not heard of the Cumberland Trail....

Ape ---->off to google....”

“Ape, you silly goose, you have been on a part of the Cumberland Trail! Recall a few years back, way back??

How ya doing? :)”

“Whachewtawkinbout, Willis!!? I mean cow patty!!!!!!!!!!!! Was the Fiery Gizzard part of the CT?

Heya gf! It's been a dang lawng time!! Hope you are staying warm on them frigid Yankee nights!

Member them nice yeller hiking shorts you got my firstborn? My skinny-as-a-rail third offspring now can wear them, well he can when it warms back up again.

I'm fine t/y, still doing the housewife thang, I dont' thank that'll end til college finally arrives........ You need to visit WNC sometime!!!! We're now back home and done w/ the Air Force and Uncle Sammie. Gotta purdy place, yawta see it.

Izit outa the question to git aholt of a rabies vaccine for a 'coon???”

“Hmmm, remember turkey hunting, Prentice Cooper, you, jerbear, me...? Fiery Gizzard after? Aw, c'mon, surely you can remember!

I'm good, thanks for asking! About to go winter camping in this here north :)

No, no, no rabies vaccine for a raccoon. And, you are in the raccoon rabies danger area, not to mention the other lovely zoonotics raccoons willingly share - like the roundworm. Kids - hand to mouth - playing with raccoons = too high risk!!

EDIT to clarify: The oral raccoon rabies vaccine that was developed is intended, and has worked, to slow what was a rapid spread of rabies among raccoons and then to pets and livestock. It isn't intended for and isn't available for immunizing raccoons as pets.
last edited: 1/02/09 6:39:43 PM”

“Aww man, ain't you a party pooper! Have I heard correctly that opossums don't carry rabies? The kids want a pet raccoon something pretty bad!!!!! I had thought perhaps it weren't such a bad idea ..... guessun I'm wrong....

I thought perhaps the Fiery Gizzard trip was right next to Prentice Cooper, but I've googled it...... hummm, turkeys eh?
Dagnabbit, I'm gonna hafta thank on that some! I should prolly git more sleep.”

“Opossums immune? No, any warm blooded animal, mammal is susceptible to rabies virus. Some like raccoons, skunks, fox, bats and more even have their very own strains of the virus, but they all willingly share with other species. Party pooper I might be, but I'd like to see your kids safe from the viruses, parasites and more that raccoons commonly have and that are zoonotic.

Wanna stop de-railing this thread and take it to email? Mine's in my profile.”

“Man ain't you full of good news! With yer zoonotics and such.

Ape<---working on a "private" email ;)”

“Happy New Year all...Feel free to talk about anything you like in this thread...It is all interesting to me...Spring is a ways off...Speaking of the CT...I did the Ridge Trail from Cumberland Gap a few years back...The CT will be a great hike when it is finished...It will go through some really pretty country...

IT”

“I have canceled this trip to join the LBL North End group at the Sugar Bay Boat Launch Area and hike with them...Then go on to Golden Pond to do the whole North trail section....See ya there...

itrek”