Nice jaunt in the woods

“I had a fun time over the weekend. My troop went down to Bear Wallow in the hoosier national forest to camp and hike. We did a nice little 13 mile loop, just enough to get warmed up on. The going was kind of slow because some of the kids had never hiked before and weren't in the best shape for it. Fortunatly after lunch I was able to take off and reach my pace. Two of the kids were complaining about the slow pace so all the other adult leaders decided to let us go ahead a little ways. We went about two miles and waited for the rest of the group. They came walking in half an hour later. After that I decidd it was best for the group if I stayed back with them, so I was limited to running up the hills. It was fun though. That night we built a huge camp fire. One thing I did learn on the trip is that I have a new favorite piece of gear. The day started off kind of chilly, so I was wearing three base layers and my Windstopper vest. Standing around camp I was a little chilly, but it was bearable. Once we hit the trail, it was perfect. Even as the temperature increased, I stayed compfortable. That night as it really started getting cold, I just wore it under my fleece and was amazed at how much warmth it added. It's a truely amazing piece of gear.”

“Death, I remember doing a trail in Indiana when I was a scout; they even issued us a medal for completing it. Any idea what it might have been? It must have been in the central part of the state since it took us several hours to get there from far southcentral Michigan.

The hiking pace was always an issue on troop activities. I have always been a fast walker. Maybe age/extra weight will now take care of that, though everyone always says I'm in a hurry just in the hallways around here (sometimes I am, sometimes it's just my pace!).”

“I've never had Windstopper, but wouldn't it be most effective as the outermost layer?”

“pekka,
yea I think that's the place because there are medals you can get for hiking the trails.

Tommy,
I was using it under a fleece jacket, so it prevented the wind from cutting through me. I understand what you are saying, but I have always had it work wonders underneath a heavier outer layer. I did hike with it as an outer layer though, and it did regulate temp wonderfully.”

“Death, I just got an e-mail back from a Scouter at the central Indiana Council. I had figured out the name from a web search, and the Scouter said the trail, The Chank-Ten-Un-Gi Trail, was discontinued 20 years ago and the area has now been obliterated by a heavily developed, very expensive housing development.

At least I have the medal somewhere. What a bummer.”

“huh, because there still is an area down there called bear wallow. It's in a town called beanblossom near Nashville Indiana. That's too bad about the Chank-Ten-Un-Gi trail though.”

“A few years ago I was hiking the Ridge Trail at Cumberland Gap NP and I wound up hiking the last few miles with a Troop. I took some pics for them and they gave me a shuddle back to my truck. The Scout Master also sent me the patch that all the boys earned for completeing the hike.”