Deam Bushwack or Knobstone Hike

“where you guys going to be thursday night? if i dont have a job assignment friday, i may join you”

“We are? I didn't figger you would want to do that with such a large group, but we will be doing our own thing most of the time.

Crash I haven't even looked at a map. I'll get back to you later today.

Here's the dirt on the KT extension, and many other cool KT links on this page.
http://www.hoosierhikerscouncil.org/Trail_Work/Knobstone.shtml”

“that's fine. no rush.”

“Hey Nigal, did you already cancel the other trip?”

“The Pioneer section will include approximately 15 miles of Hoosier National Forest trail. This will cross from Miller Ridge, adjacent to Brown County State Park, to Browning Mountain, across Monroe Reservoir, pass over Nebo Ridge, cross the county road near Houston, then lead south to end near Route 58 at Kurtz.

it's almost 30 miles from kurtz to the northern terminus of the KT. i wonder what the plan is for that”

“Yahoo doesn't seem to want to send this e-mail so I'll post it here instead.

Looking at the map, we could meet at Jackson RD TH on Thurs night. and hike to New Chapel on Friday. That is about 11.5mi. Then Saturday we go north to Leota. That is another 7.5 mi. If Nigal and I get up and gone early we should be able to have lunch somewhere, and be home at a decent hour. Crash, if you can get down at a reasonable time then we could meet at leota and leave my car there which would eliminate the need to set up a shuttle Friday morning. It sounds like Nigal will be coming in kinda late. What do you guys think?


PLEASE NOTE: these plans are only for those coming in on THURSDAY NIGHT! If you plan on attending Crash's trip as it was planned above from Friday through Sunday please follow his schedule. Otherwise you will be a full day behind the rest of the group, and will not have a shuttle car on Sunday.”

“i cant make any guarantees as to when i will be there. it may be thursday afternoon, it may be friday night, so dont base your plans around me. just make your plans, and i will try to fit into them if i can”

“I will plan on Nigal and I setting up the shuttle on Friday morning, but if you do make it that would be excelent. Will you know by Thursday around 1500?”

“maybe.

a lot of it will depend on how much work i got earlier in the week. it is entirely up to me whether or not i work friday. subs can accept or reject whatever offers they want. it's a matter of whether or not i afford to reject an assignment.

so, for now, we're just going to have to play it by ear
last edited: 2/07/09 8:41:23 AM”

“I don't know what kind of snow they had in Southern Indiana, so I don't know how much needs to melt off.... but for next weekend, it sure looks like warmer temps, and with rain on Wed./Thurs., maybe some messy trails. At least that's the way it looks now, and I'm planning accordingly. Nothing like doing the KT as a slip & slide. Should be fun.
last edited: 2/07/09 9:21:50 AM”

“Well, if it's anything like west-central IN the snow's almost gone, but the ground is still frozen solid about an inch down. The surface is very muddy and water logged though due to the frost line. It's keeping all the snowmelt from sinking into the ground. Slip n' slide indeed! Better bring your poles!”

“the good news is finding water sources should not be a problem. the bad news is, im going to break both my legs”

“Rockin'! Sounds like fun.”

“simer, do you need help finding the trailhead or anything?”

““Hey Nigal, did you already cancel the other trip?”

Yeah, since it was just you and I I went ahead and deleted it.


Looking at the map, we could meet at Jackson RD TH on Thurs night. and hike to New Chapel on Friday. That is about 11.5mi. Then Saturday we go north to Leota. That is another 7.5 mi. If Nigal and I get up and gone early we should be able to have lunch somewhere, and be home at a decent hour. Crash, if you can get down at a reasonable time then we could meet at leota and leave my car there which would eliminate the need to set up a shuttle Friday morning. It sounds like Nigal will be coming in kinda late. What do you guys think?

This sounds awesome. I found a great site with interactive maps and everything. May not be new to you guys but I'd never seen it.

http://www.knobstonetrail.net/”

“Yeah CB, I know very little about this trip... I just kinda jumped in, any info regarding trailhead/camping that I should know, and do I need to worry about shuttles, permits, maps, or anything? Let me know. I'm sure I could figure most of that out on my own, if it's easy for you to give me a link to point me in the right direction.”

“I've always been a wuss on cold temps, and have never used my hammock in the winter. With possible frozen ground it might be wise to hang. On the other hand, it might be too cold.. anyone have any thoughts on just how low you've been out in a hammock? It's looking like Fri/Sat. nights might get in the mid/low 20s.”

“I've always been a wuss on cold temps, and have never used my hammock in the winter. With possible frozen ground it might be wise to hang. On the other hand, it might be too cold.. anyone have any thoughts on just how low you've been out in a hammock? It's looking like Fri/Sat. nights might get in the mid/low 20s.”

“I've always been a wuss on cold temps, and have never used my hammock in the winter. With possible frozen ground it might be wise to hang. On the other hand, it might be too cold.. anyone have any thoughts on just how low you've been out in a hammock? It's looking like Fri/Sat. nights might get in the mid/low 20s.”

“haha triple post DORK!”

“I know this is an important question, but not that important. sorry, my finger got stuck on the key.”

“im assuming youre coming down (or up) I-65. from 65 take state road 160 west (should be exit 19). go about 5 or 6 miles to south liberty knob road, between new liberty and bunker hill. turn right and go about half a mile to the kt parking area. from the parking area take the connector trail to the main KT. go north on the trail. immediately after the intersection, you will cross liberty knob road and find us camped on the other side.

i would, however, suggest hooking up with someone who is going about the same time as you, just in case. rural south indiana can be tricky to navigate if you dont know the area. you should have my cell number if you have any problems”

“if you have a chance to stop in bloomington i know jl waters has good maps of the knobstone. theyre downtown on either walnut or college, across from the courthouse

extreme outfitters in westfield (north side of indy, near US 31 and 146th street) might have them, but i havent checked”

“crash you still have that tent and jacket you are selling?”

““I've always been a wuss on cold temps, and have never used my hammock in the winter. With possible frozen ground it might be wise to hang. On the other hand, it might be too cold.. anyone have any thoughts on just how low you've been out in a hammock? It's looking like Fri/Sat. nights might get in the mid/low 20s.”

The coldest night I've ever spent on the trail was a night about 40 degrees and I was in a hammock. I tend to knock about 20 degrees off relative air temps when hammock camping. But I have seen people do it in cold temps and be fine.”

“i use an underquilt in the winter and sleep warmer than when on the ground on a pad. i'll be hanging! i sleep so well in my hammock that i want to install it in my bedroom. :)”

“i don't know about a hammock but a cot is surprisingly warmer then the ground. however, when i do crash on my pad i always use a space blanket, silver side up, on top of the pad. seems to be colder under it.”

“without an underquilt or a pad a hammock is very cold to sleep in. with a pad it's a little better than sleeping in the ground. with an underquilt it's like being in a sleeping bag where the insulation isn't compressed underneath you. very snug and comfy!”

“I wish I had a hammock for this trip, but alas... I'll be sleeping in my tent in the mud. I think I'll bring two closed cell pads though, and see how that works.”

“MG,

Yeah, that's the key to staying warm when it's cold out. Bringing two pads will definitely help you sleep warmer. Glad you, and Nigal are going to make this one.”

“looks like you guys have decided to do the KT. but just FYI, Deam is in great shape. not a single blow down on the GR/PT. i was amazed.”

“You guys all suck here I sit nothing do and want to go I guess I'll just have to sleep in my warm bed all night and think about you mighty hikers out getting some miles in oh well I'll be over at the mall walk with the 60 and above club but hey 50-60 not looking to bad these days HAHA have fun guys.

Windi I have not got the chairs yet but maybe tomorrow.”

“, Deam is in great shape

im planning on bushwacking in the deam in april, so im doing the kt now”

“Looks like I'm not going to make this trip. I'll look forward to the trip report.”

“great. another sausage party”

“That's what she said.”

“At least you won't have to slow down and wait for me. lol”

“That's what she said.”

“I'm pumped, I look forward to getting back out on the trail, haven't been yet this year.

A couple of quick things, The plan is to camp at the trailhead on friday night correct? I probably won't get there until late Friday night, though I'll try to get an early start. do I have to worry about getting a shuttle set up? Or will Forest and I be able to catch a ride back to the car? I know these questions have probably already been answered, I just want to clarify before I'm stranded alone at a trailhead.”

“Hi simer,

We're going to camp Friday just a little North of the TH. Don't worry about a shuttle back. One of us will give you a ride back to your car.”

“btw, my car will probably be at the jackson trailhead, so y'all gonna be responsible for shuttling. with the size of our group, might want to leave 2 cars at elk creek”

“my subbing schedule is full for monday thru thursday, so i can afford to take friday off. therefore, i will absolutely be there thursday night

meanqueen, what time you going to get down there?”

“I'm planning to pick-up JerBear, and Golf in Indy. We'll probably get to the New Chapel TH about 5 on Friday. Not sure how shuttling cars is going to work? Anyone else going to get there about that time? Attila?”

“shame shame, all you married men neglecting your wives on valentines day
last edited: 2/10/09 2:34:10 PM”

“theyre gonna be marred and scarred for life”

“Thrifty, you are sooooo transparent. We are only doing what you wish you could be doing, if you were able to do what we do when we do it this weekend. And you know it!”

“golf just called thrifty




last edited: 2/10/09 4:16:24 PM”

“LMFAO!!! Bash Crang, I'll prolly be there around 6 - 7. You interested in a car pool? If we left your car where we did last time, then you could get one of the other guys to drop you back at it on their way through Indy. Just a thought. So glad to hear you're coming because I got some sweet taters, and I'm thinking of making my poppers for Nigal, and you would be more than welcome to partake if you were in attendance. Sound tasty? I'll prolly get about a dozen peppers Thurs morn, and make them up at home so all I have to do is lay them out over the fire. OMG GOOD!!!
My sitter is confirmed, so things are falling into place nicely. I'm really stoked because I haven't been out since we did this trail in Oct. This is the longest dry spell I've had since I started hiking! Tragic!”

“lookin forward to it”

“HikNmachine- I wont/cant leave indy till 530 friday. anyone else leavin at this time from indy?

-did somone already post directions to the TH for friday.

Thrifty-dont think I aint payin for this trip!!
later”