Tecumseh Trail Trip March/April

“Hey All!!,
Here are the directions and GPS data to both the Northern and Southern Trailheads of the Tecumseh Trail!!

Northern Trailhead at Morgan Monroe State Forest Property Office

Morgan-Monroe State Forest
6220 Forest Road
Martinsville, IN 46151
(765) 342-4026
FAX (765) 342-4505
morgansf@dnr.IN.gov

Approximate GPS coordinates (Ought ta get you within a 1/2 mile or so)
N 39 degrees, 19.772 Minutes
W 86 degrees, 28.384 Minutes

The TT at present begins at the Morgan-Monroe State Forest Office. This is located on Forest Road, about 15 minutes south of Martinsville. From Martinsville, drive south on U.S. 37 approximately 4 miles. You will see forests on both sides of the highway; turn left at the large brown sign indicating a turn for the MMSF. Follow the road to an intersection; this is Old State Road 37. Turn right, and drive south to the large stone sign marking the MMSF entrance (to your left). It�s 4.5 miles on a winding road to the office. The trailhead is marked (across from the office building and next to the privy).



Southern Trailhead. Approximate GPS coordinates (Ought ta get you within a 1/2 mile or so)

N 39 degrees, 6.234 Minutes
W 86 degrees, 19.941 Minutes

The last road crossing, at mile 39.2, provides parking for about 8 vehicles. It is used often by both hikers and locals, and no vandalism has been reported. It is best reached from Belmont, a town on U.S. 46 with one motel and a fishing tackle store, midway between Bloomington and Nashville. It�s about 15 minutes south from this point. The road is marked as the way to reach the T.C. Steele historical site. Follow the signs to T.C. Steele, continuing south to Monroe reservoir, a boat ramp, and beyond, as the road curves northward. Just after the paving ends, you will see the TT trailhead and Handicapped Hunter parking area on your right. A graveled, gated road goes up the hill here, for use by handicapped hunters. The TT crosses the road here. [This gravel road is marked as Crooked Creek Rd. on U.S. 46, but is easily missed, even in those rare years when the sign is up.]

See ya later.
Randall”

“Hey all,

Just a note about stashing supplies along the Tecumseh Trail. I am planning on stashing 2 1/2 days worth of food at Prange pond. That's approximately the halfway point on the trail.

I am also planning on stashing some beer someplace just a little north of 46 where the trail crosses it and also at Bear Lake.

I will be carrying 2 1/2 days worth of food from the southern trailhead. That's probably gonna be more than I need.

I am going to the doing this on Friday, 3/26/2010. If you want me to stash some food or other stuff (Beer, Wine, ETC) you'll need to send me your food and money for your libations (better include a list of said libations as well) and I will place these at the same point as my supplies. You can send me and e-mail and I will reply with my home address. My e-mail address should be on my profile.

I make no guarantees that the above mentioned supplies will be totally safe, but I will hide them as best I can. It really shouldn't be a problem.

See you later,

Randall”

“how far you planning on going the first day?”

“Crash,

I think were gonna go about 8 to 9 miles, maybe less depending on what time of day we complete the shuttle run.

Since I have never been on the section that is south of 46, I cannot speak with any authority as to the availability of campsites. We will probably stop wherever the is good water and some decent cover. Just like you and I have done many times before!!

I would be willing to help you with planning that BSF trip. I got that Delorme software and am learning how to use it pretty well.

I in no way shape or form want to Hijack that trip as I consider you a highly competent planner. Just offering my help

See ya later.
Randall”

“I would be willing to help you with planning that BSF trip

thats fine. you mentioned an arch when i talked to you the other day. what was the name of it?”

“oops. wrong thread
last edited: 1/31/10 1:13:36 PM”

“Ewker and I did 3 days out here last spring. Worst part was stream crossings. I think we did 15 or so.
Can't remember our exact route but it included the Arches and Charit Creek Lodge.
Take a map and be watchful of trail directions.”

“I'm hoping to join this trip for the weekend part of it. I don't think I can take that much time off. I would be joining Friday through Sunday. I'm sure there are plenty enough road crossing where I can figure out where to leave my vehicle. Where do you think you will be at come Sunday?”

“Windi,

I think were gonna be at Prange Pound Sunday Night!!!

You could park your car at The Yellowwood Forest Property office, ride down to the southern trailhead with us and then you would get there sometime Sunday PM.

That's about 12.5 miles from the southern trail head.

See ya later.
Randall”

“Hey All,

Me and Athena are going to camp at Yellow State Forest Friday Night. They have several primitive campgrounds to choose from. I am not sure what time we will get there, hopefully before night fall. I am planning on buying firewood locally so as not to spread insect problems.

If you are planning on getting there Friday night, we will need to connect by cell phone as the exact camp site will not be determined until 3 /26/2010 early PM. We can swap numbers by email later on.

In case yer wondering why there, it�s because we are gonna be down that way stashing stuff anyway so might as well stay there.

Here�s the address and rough directions to the property office

Yellowwood State Forest
772 South Yellowwood Road
Nashville, IN 47448
812) 988-7945
yellowwoodsf@dnr.IN.gov

Located 10 miles east of Bloomington off State Highway 46, or 7 miles west of Nashville off State Highway 46 (Follow signs from 46.)

Here�s a link about Yellowwood!!!

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4817.htm

See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 2/18/10 2:55:13 PM”

“Mugsy and I are in.”

“Bandit and I are still in for the weekend.
last edited: 2/18/10 6:22:35 PM”

“Depends. I have family showing up sometime around those dates so I don't know if I can swing it. Never done that trail. I may consider doing it as an in and out part way.”

“I may consider doing it as an in and out part way.”
free24
9:58:38 PM
2/18/10

Does CMB know about this?????? lol!

I just might make it down for the weekend portion of this one if the weather is good.

Randall - outside of where you are starting, I don't remember any water sources until you get to the the road walk leading up to 46, but it has been a few years since I've hiked that portion of the trail.”

“Gary,

I wanna make sure that everyone understands that this is gonna be a standard hike and I in no way shape or form plan on being a baby sitter, ever again.

I got the map from HHC and it shows some little watersheds and being March I am almost certain that there will be water.

Having said that however, it would be wise to consider a strategic placement of water.

They have mileages listed and it looks like the stretch you are talking about is only four miles long.

Of course that could be wrong!!!

All are welcome and all on their on leash!

Seriously!!! LOL

See ya later,

Randall”

“Get with Coyote about the water. He has hike this trail many times within the last couple of years and would know where water can be found. I know the north and middle sections, but can't speak to the south end. I don't think there will be any problems with water sources but a filter might be a good choice.”

“Randall stated that we would be around Prang Pond on Sunday. For those who are only looking at the weekend, can we set up a shuttle so we can leave our cars at Prang Pond and get a ride to the starting point?”

“Hey All,

FYI!

Prang pond is 15.8 miles from where we are starting.

I will be stashing some supplies there on Friday early PM.

See ya later.
Randall”

“Hey Crash!!!
How do you get the pics to post on the thred??
Randall
last edited: 2/19/10 7:30:26 AM”

“Screw it!!

If ya wanna a copy of the map, send me an email and I send it out as a jpeg!!!

My address is on my profile.
Have a good day and I'll see ya later.
Randall”

“Randall - (scratching head) I'm not sure when you had to "baby sit" me on any of your trips, but I'm sorry if you feel like I put you in that position.

windi - I know where the reliable sources of water are on this entire trail. I was just throwing out the lack of water in that stretch in case he considered camping there for the night. I should have been a little clearer in what I was saying. Anyway, I'll wait for another trip that I can attend without creating any special arrangements.”

“That was not fer you!!

Now that's funny!! LOL

I just took that opportunity to make the statement, sorry about confusion!!

I figured that I outta put that out there and since everybody knows you can smash all of us into the ground any day and on any terrain that it was a safe place ta post it, oh well!!

See ya later,
Randall”

“Damm!!!
I'm starting ta post like Crash!!!
I gotta work on that!!
See ya later,
Randall”

“Randall, I jsut got a virus warning from you link.”

“windi - I know where the reliable sources of water are on this entire trail. I was just throwing out the lack of water in that stretch in case he considered camping there for the night. I should have been a little clearer in what I was saying. Anyway, I'll wait for another trip that I can attend without creating any special arrangements.�

I got ya. It won't take anymore "special arrangements" than if we were hiking the whole thing, just leaving our cars at a different location.
As far as the baby sitting comment, that's probably more for those of us who are slower. I know it can be hard on the trip planner to have to be concerned about those of us who are not as strong of hikers as others. All who have hiked with me should know that I will take care of myself. Randall, you are off the hook, lol.”

“ditto. Even with group hiking, I keep a solo hikng mentality. If I bump into ya, cool. If not, oh well.”

“then again, he could jsut be concerned that ol' rusty is going to show!!! LOL”

“Prang pond is 15.8 miles from where we are starting.

I will be stashing some supplies there on Friday early PM.

Is that where it would be good to park a car from Sunday? How many miles are you planning on Saturday, 10 +/-?”

“I'm with gforce. What is with all this "baby sitting" pap?”

“I know there is parking at Prange Pond and that would be a good place ta end on Sunday.


I was thinking about camping just north of 46 Saturday Night, someplace in Yellowood or there abouts. Maybe 9 or 10 miles. Not relly sure about things south of 46, never been there.

See ya later.
Randall”

“Me and G force did the whole thing in a sat to sunday less then 21 hours!

That trail is weak too much in peoples back yards and on roads.

But have fun none the less.

8)”

“Hey Crazy Mike - Glad to see you posting.

Yeah, it's not the JMT but it's close. Good enough for early season.”

“too easy!

by the way how is baseball with your kids?

8)”

“Hard for me to justify 4 days for this trip, but I am in for the weekend and would like to coordinate with those looking to shuttle autos to accommodate that.”

“forgot to mention - Gary or CMB - if you want to go nuts (no offense) and do the whole thing over the weekend, I'd entertain that too.”

“I'm in for the weekend to.”

“Still a maybe for the weekend.”

“I might be able to do the weekend as well.”

“I'm in for sure with Windi on the weekend. Been far too long since I've done an Indiana Trip. Just emailed Pug to see if he wants to come along. I'll get there late Friday after work, probably 10-11pm.”

“The High King Trail (1/4 mile)from near Yellowwood dam to Tecumseh trail is very muddy and slick as of yesterday. Tecumseh trail was fine in the Yellowwood area. Saw flocks of Sandhill Cranes migrating north.”

“Sounds like you are gonna be the designated weekend coordinator for this trip!

According to the map I have Prange pound is 15.8 miles from where we will be starting.

That might be a good place to end for the weekend.

I really don�t see another place to park cars unless you wanna end at Yellowwood Lake.

That would only be about 11 miles though.

See ya later.
Randall”

“That sounds good to me. So we are looking at around 9-10 miles on Saturday, correct? We can work on a suttle set-up for those who are just looking at the weekend. I can leave my vehicle at Prange Pond (or as Randall spells it "pound") and the rest can leave their's at the start. I can give them a ride back on Sunday. I will need someone to assist me with getting my car to the ending point.”

“We'll be getting there late on Friday, like 11pm. Where will you guys be camping? So it'd be great if someone could help Windi shuttle on Friday so we can get up Saturday and start hiking. If not then Windi I'll help you shuttle.

I'm pumped! I used to hit Deam and Indiana about 3 times a year and it's been 3 years since I've been there. Looking forward to it!”

“Me and Athena are going to camp at Yellow State Forest Friday Night. They have several primitive campgrounds to choose from. I am not sure what time we will get there, hopefully before night fall. I am planning on buying firewood locally so as not to spread insect problems.

If you are planning on getting there Friday night, we will need to connect by cell phone as the exact camp site will not be determined until 3 /26/2010 early PM. We can swap numbers by email later on.

In case yer wondering why there, it�s because we are gonna be down that way stashing stuff anyway so might as well stay there.

Here�s the address and rough directions to the property office

Yellowwood State Forest
772 South Yellowwood Road
Nashville, IN 47448
812) 988-7945
yellowwoodsf@dnr.IN.gov

Located 10 miles east of Bloomington off State Highway 46, or 7 miles west of Nashville off State Highway 46 (Follow signs from 46.)

Here�s a link about Yellowwood!!!

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4817.htm

See ya later.
Randall”

“Count Mugsy and myself as in for that Friday.”

“Randall, I'll send you an email in the next few minutes. For you Indiana people...I'll be coming from Columbus and around Indianapolis' outer belt. Is it faster to take I65 down to Nashville, IN to get to the Friday night campground, or is it faster to take 37 to Bloomington like I normally would? Google Maps also show coming through Cincinnati as a good route too, taking 74 over and then some back roads. Any of you know what would be the fastest?”

“double post...
last edited: 3/11/10 8:37:27 AM”