Crazy's Adventure Hiking Trip Report.

“Well here is the Northwest Indiana Hiking And Backpacking Clubs trip report for the Adventure Hiking Trail in Southern Indiana.

Day-1

We all got togeather at the Trailhead at 7:40 am.The club had a turnout of 8.The weather was great the sky was blue and the temps had got up to the mid 50's.As we were going along the trail this part of Southern Indiana is cave country and there were lots of sink-holes all along the trail as well as lots of neat rocks and nice sized hills.That night we spent the night at the Indian Creek Shelter above Indian creek.From that shelter it was about 400 feet above the creek which made it VERY HARD TO GET WATER!!!!!!!But we got water and it was over and done with.That night we had a nice camp fire and told backpacking storys.

Day-2

The winds had picked up and there was going to be some big changes in the weather.We did some very good hiking that day and the group had split up.We got to the shelter that was above the Ohio River and Gforce stayed behind to let the other club members catch up while me and 3 other members pressed on.We as it turned out we lost 2 members to a ride becuase one had hurt his ankle and the other had to be home by noon the next day so me and the other club member pressed on to the campground.When we got to the campground we set up camp and got a fire going by this time the temps had dropped about 20 deg's and the wind was still going strong.And low and behold 45 min's later Gforce and the other 3 club members into the campground just at dark.2scoops was very happy to see as all as he had gone throught a nice bunch of under brush to the camp ground.That night it got real cold and we had all gone to bed early.

Day-3

When we got up it was about 15 deg's out and the sky was baby blue.After a nice breakfast and a quick fire we hit the last 7 miles of trail.At first we were all kind of cold the hands and feet kind of thing but once we got going we all warmed up very nice.By the trails end we had all felt great about the trip that we where on and that it sucked that it was over.

I hope everyone had as pimp of a 3 day weekend as I did.

8)”

“Nice report, CMB.”

“Thank you.

It was a blast!

8)”

“Thanks for the write up CMB. Enjoyed your report.

Looks like you and the others had fun. Hopefully the one with the injured ankle heals up okay.”

“400 ft. to water?! Was it a steep drop, or gradual? Thanks for the trip report dude.”

“Just somethin to entertain ya':

A Charlotte, NC, lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire
among other things. Within a month having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet
having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed claim against the insurance
company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost in a series of small fires. The insurance company refused to
pay, citing the obvious reason: that the man had Consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.

The lawyer sued.... and won!

In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge
stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars
were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered
to be unacceptable fire, and was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid
$15,000.00 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the fires.

NOW FOR THE BEST ....... After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24
counts of ARSON!! ! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against
him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in
jail and a $24,000.00 fine.

This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.”

“Cool report Mike, sounds like it was a good trip!”

“There is a great past in that area that we had gone backpacking in.The area was settled in the 1800's and it was very cool to see some old traces of the past in the area.We saw some old homested foundations and stone fences.And the old Iron Bridge that goes across the Blue River.

Also the area is know for its sinkholes and caves.Everywhere you looked there were sinkholes and openings in the ground.2scoops found a cool sinkhole right by the Indian Creek Shelter right by where we stayed the first night.

The area has tons of neat rocks and over-hangs too look at.I must say that the trail is a hard one but worth the hike.

8)”

“Thanks for the trip report CMB, sounds like it was fun!”

“It was a very pimp trip!

8)”

“The Adventure Hiking Trail is a loop hiking trail with horse trails interlaced throughout the area. The trails cross each other numerous times. They also coincide for a very short period a few times, and just long enough to make you thankful that you are not following the horse trails the entire distance! So that is a major plus that the two uses are separated for the most part.

A word of caution for hiking after the leaves have fallen. It is very difficult to stay on the trail with all the leaves on the ground. For the most part the trail is very well marked . . . but some of the major twists and turns in the trail are not marked. So it is very easy to be hiking along just fine and then all of a sudden find yourself off trail. This happened to us (everyone) numerous times. This was my first time on this trail, but I believe without the leaves covering the trail this would likely not happen. So maybe the best time for this trail is spring through mid to late Oct. If you go after the leaves are down by all means make sure you take an up-to-date topo map!

This is the second most challenging trail in MI and IN, IMHO, of those I’ve hiked. The Knobstone Trail is the most challenging, but the AHT is by far the more scenic of the two. So it is well worth the drive to southern IN, and I definitely plan on going back in either the spring or fall.

To some of you who think IN is all flatland, think again. On average most of the hill climbs on this trail are only ~ 200’ up to hill tops . . . and ~ 200’ down into the ravines. There was one hill climb over 300’. Not much you say? Well day one total ascent was ~ 2000’, day two ~ 2300’, and day three ~ 1300’. So not a lot of difference in elevation from one hill to the next, but collectively . . . . hill after hill after hill . . . it adds up!

To get water from Indian Creek or the Ohio River is ~ 400’ down very steep embankments. It took me over 45 min to go down (slide) to Indian creek, pump one gallon of water and go (struggle) back up.

Mike did not mention there were two from the “other site” on this trip . . . City Girl and Arron (who reportedly just lurks). Two great people that I would gladly hike with anytime.

Oh yeah, one other thing . . . no controversies on this trip either. 8)”

“Well put dude!

8)”

“I hear a bunch a pansies...trying to be heee men...but ya'll sound like a bunch of heee hawwws...

Har dee harr harr...

sounds like a great trip...one of these days...alice...to the moon!!!”

“Way pimp CMB and Gforce. Sounds like a great trip!”

“I've lived here all my 26yrs of my life and although i've never seen snow, i've seen and hear the craziest things and probable slept next to the most poisonouse snake there is down here!!!! Saddly my country is considered by some a vacation destination! a destination where everything is ok and should be that way! but what would happen if it wasn't ok if everything went wrong and they are lost in the jungle??? I have been trying to get some people interested in learning survivor techniques especially in CAve And wilderness!! It's fun when u know what to do!! Anyway look like this year might be good!! anybody up for some seriouse caving in belize let me know.
PS: always think and try to feel what's it like to be ouside your confort zone”

“Thanks for the report CMB. I hope to get out there sometime.




I'm sure it means "Really really good" but I googled "Pimp" and this is all I came up with ; )”