Snowshoeing in the UP, er, Southern Indi ana

“Alright, so all plans seem to have been scrapped for this weekend due to the snow storm.

We have about 10 inches of snow here so either a snowshoeing trip (okay so its a little shallow for snowshoes, but its better than postholing), or a short hike is in order. Somewhere with a plowed trailhead. I'd like to pick up snowshoes from IU rental (5 bucks a night) but I need to put in a reservation. If they are out, Indy people, does that outdoor store rent snowshoes? Otherwise we can posthole, but with 10 inches, I'm only good for two to three miles before postholing becomes annoying.

Two options:

Nebo Ridge - in and out for as far as we want. Looks like an interesting winter option, as the rest of the year it is a MB/Horse trail. Trail is 8.5 miles long Trail is off of 46 due south of Nashville

Pate Hollow - Several short loop options, off of 446 on Lake Monroe.


I think I am just going to do Saturday night, and I need to be back in Bloomington Sunday by 12:30. So maybe meet Saturday morning? Saturday night is only supposed to get down to 25. Friday night 5 degrees.

Let me know if you need/want snowshoes asap.

CM”

“i'm tempted to go x-c down there somehwere but the snow really needs to firm up. it was a bit tough today”

“im in reserve me a pair if you can.”

“Me too.”

“So I am guessing wherever we go, the trailhead parking lot will not be plowed. So maybe take only one snowworthy car to the trailhead, and if someone can bring shovels, we can shovel ourselves a spot if need be, or if the car can handle it, even better, I know mine can't. I know the nebo ridge lot is right off the road. I dont know about pate hollow.”

“pate is behind the dnr office on 446”

“Like offtrack says, Pate hollow is right behind the DNR office on 446. The area for parking is part or the parking lot for the DNR. I will be driving my beast of a vehicle and shouldn't have too many problems. I will bring a snow shovel. I could bring the snow blower as well if you think we will need.”

“Too funny.”

“Which trail and what time? How's the water source on the trail?
last edited: 1/29/09 5:08:00 AM”

“reserve me a pair if you can.�
crash bang
9:08:17 PM
1/28/09
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This could go into the quotes thread.....”

“anyone have one? How much snow is needed to use one?”

“wtf is pulk slede?

How's the water source on the trail?

bring it with you. everything will be frozen except maybe the lake but i am sure right next to the shore it will be iced over.
you could melt the snow, if you have the time and the fuel.
last edited: 1/29/09 11:43:07 AM”

“Pulk sled is one that you pull behind you instead of carrying a pack. You can carry much more gear and weight. I'm going to try to make one for this trip. I've been told that 50 pounds of weight on a sled is like 10 pounds of weight in a pack.”

“sled can be hard to maneuver up and down the hoosier hills especially if you bushwhack. but yes, it may be a bit easier then carryihng a huge load of winter gear.”

“I'm not sure if I would bring a sled - the snow is awful powdery and I would think it would be a lot of work to pull it, depending on how much was in it. I suppose you could try it out a few yards and if it didnt work, put it back in the car.

Should we try Nebo ridge? Are you just bringing one car from Indy? Planning on going 65 or 37?

Got snowshoes. The first I can pick them up is 10 AM Saturday.”

“powdery snow is good for the sled. it won't sink that much. the snow is firming up too. the sun is helping with that.”

“here's a site that shows the pulk sled. I've talked to a couple of hard cord winter backpackers and they said that a sled works in a little a s couple of inches of snow. It's suppose to be less work than carrying a pack. We will see.
http://explorenorth.com/articles/buildasled.html
I'll be coming down 37 unless the directions you post say otherwise. I would vote for Pate Hollow only because I think our odds of having a clear place to park would be greater. I don't know enough about Nebo Ridge to know. If we do Nebo Ridge, please post directions from the north.
Do we need to each pick up our snowshoes or can you pick them up and us pay you? thanks for getting those!!!

I don't know about who's all coming from Indpls, but if you are interested in carpooling, let me know.
last edited: 1/29/09 12:04:03 PM”

“is this just a day hike or are you all camping?”

“Camping Saturday night.”

“dayhike, shmayhike. we're camping

chris, i'd like to meet you at the place where you pick up the snowshoes. call me at 765-461-6500, or send me directions to where to go scottfchr at aol.com
last edited: 1/29/09 12:19:37 PM”

“It's an impossible parking situation at the IU outdoor office (right in the middle of campus). I might even take the bus to pick them up.

We could meet at my place and then take one car from there.”

““dayhike, shmayhike. we're camping

lol right on. you guys have a grand time. i bet the peninsula will be awesome.
last edited: 1/29/09 1:24:04 PM”

“I'm gonna drive over to Nebo Ridge tomorrow afternoon and check it out.”

“I might have access to another sled. If anyone is interested let me know.”

“Do we need a beer sled?”

““Do we need a beer sled?”

rofl. not a bad idea.”

“wish I could join ya guys, but I got a work thing happening this weekend.
-have a good time!
later”

“Doesn't look like I'm going to have an extra sled.”

“when and where we meeting, chris?”

“bloomington forecast calls for hi of 38, lo of 32 10 percent chance precip. for january, thats a sweet forecast”

“Crash, give me a call.”

“nebo ridge looks like an enjoyable hike, but it looks like we will have to take all our water. doesnt look like the trail ever crosses or is next to water. comb creek is not far, but i have no idea how dependable it is. chris, any ideas? i would not be adverse to bushwacking down to comb creek to camp if i knew water was there

i think the best plan of action might be to meet chris somewhere in bloomington, since none of the rest of us have been to nebo ridge, and chris has to pick up snowshoes, anyways

one more thing, nebo ridge is NORTH of nashville, and i dont understand how you would get there from 46, but if you know the way, we'll just follow you, chris”

“just got done looking at mapquest. i think i see how you would get there from 46, but it seems like such a roundabout way

in my opinion, it would be faster to take tower ridge road to 1000 north road to the trailhead. unless of course youre coming from east of town, then your way would be faster. im guessing you go down 135 to buffalo pike to houston, swing north briefly, then head west out of houston on 1000 north amirite?”

“combs cr. always has water in it. always. there aren't any great spots to camp though unless you want to camp on Browning Hill which has awesome sunsets.


nebo ridge is NORTH of nashville,

look again as it is SOUTH of Nashville man. SOUTH.
if you're coming from Beantown, it's easier and closer via Tower Ridge road to the southern terminus. Coming from Indy or Columbus or whatever, it's much closer to the North trailhead. The TH is just a bit outside of Story. It is at the bottom of a large hill and right before the tight curve. Not hard to find at all. It is well marked.

http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/Destinations/Hoosier_National/nebo_ridge_trail.htm
last edited: 1/30/09 1:25:44 PM”

“look again as it is SOUTH of Nashville man. SOUTH.

oh yea”

“where is browning hill?”

“what type of mileage are we talking about? We will be starting I'm guessing around noon give or take. Sunset is at at 6 pm and we are snow shoeing.”

“we' re doing whatever mileage we wanna do

YO CHRIS! WHOT THU HOOKUUP?!?!

WHENSIES WHERESIES, BRUH!?”

“Boy do I have a story to tell.

Long story short for now, if we can meet at my place around 10:30 tomorrow (or later if you want). And then if we can drive one car down to Pate Hollow.

Lets just say my day involved Nebo Ridge, a winch, and some bright yellow liquid under my car....”

“sounds like a fun day

email directions

scottfchr@REMOVETHISaol.com”

“Sorry to hear that Chris. Sound like you did something to the radiator. Hope it's not too serious.
Could you e-mail me your address?”

“bright yellow liquid under my car

don't eat the yellow snow? lol

---

“where is browning hill?”

just "north" of the "NE" corner of the legend.


this is just west of where the trail and the old combs cr. road almost cross. it's a very nice walk on top of the ridge to the rocks. there was a camping spot right by the old road in this area and there are a few descent flat spots west of there. the rock outcroppings on browning mtn. are one of my all time fave spots for sunsets. this time of the year may just be perfect too. (angle of the sun; - leaves)

the road is where those white areas are on the map above. those are some private properties and they are just N of the gate to about halfway up the hill (there is a turn to the NNW in that area)


oh, you could "bushwhack" too. there are old trails leading south from browning hill (alt name) and they all end up on combs cr. road. you could just cross the road and whack up the next hill (SE-ly)and should be able to pop onto Nebo trail. or the other way around.
last edited: 1/30/09 5:12:06 PM”

“looks like we're heading to pate hollow now, but thatll be good info for a later day”

“I'll go to mount nebo, but I accept no responsibility for what happens to your car.

Dont forget snow baskets for your trekking poles.”

“i'm sure 1000N (Maumee-Houston Rd.) is plowed but i bet the TH is not.”

“So what time are yall coming”

“i'm not. i'll be sledding tomorrow.”

“Long story short for now, if we can meet at my place around 10:30 tomorrow (or later if you want). And then if we can drive one car down to Pate Hollow.
We'll be at your place at 10:30”