Adena Trace Chainsaw Challenge

“Hey all!!

Me and Attila are thinking about doing a Backpacking / Trail maintenance type of experience on the West side of Brookville Lake focusing on the Adena Trace Trail.

The basic plan would be to start out on Saturday, 9:00 AM or so Eastern time at the trailhead that is located on the on the west side of the lake at the Fairfield Causeway. Here are the GPS coordinates for the Adena Trace trailhead on the west side of the Lake at Fairfield Causeway.

N 39 30.360
W 085 00.056

We would then hike/blaze and chainsaw our way south towards Wolf Creek with the goal being to make it to the intersection of the Adena Trace and the Midway Trail before dark. I think that’s close to 6 miles (don’t quote me here)

Camp at these GPS coordinates:

N 39o 28.404’
W 85o .168’

This site is on the water and very accessible by boat, plenty of room as well.

Continue south on the Adena Trace, doing damage to any of the offending blow downs that caused poor old Crash Bang so much trouble back in the Fall (Don’t wanna see him all bloody again). We would then finish up at the Dam Parking lot sometime Sunday.

GPS coordinates for the Dam Parking lot:

N 39o 26.270’
W 85o .059’

I’ll drop some gas and oil fer the chainsaws at the Midway Trail intersection on 4/18/2009 so we don’t have ta carry it all the way.

If you’re interested in doing the trail maintenance thing then I would suggest the following:

1. Work gloves and ear plugs.
2. Safety glasses are a good thing as well.
3. Back brace if ya have a bad back.
4. Think about long sleeves.
5. Old hiking pants/shorts that you wouldn’t care about if they got ripped.
6. A chainsaw and a couple of sharp chains would be great.
7. All your regular one night out backpacking stuff.
8. Extra food as you’ll really burn up the calories!!
9. Don’t bring an ax, shovel or pick ax, too heavy and we ain’t digging!!
10. If ya gota machete and sheath that would be cool!!

If you’re considering floating in here are the GPS coordinates for Garr hill Ramp it is probably the closest and easiest to get to:

N 39 degrees 28.815 minutes
W 84 degrees 57.662 minutes”

“Hey Randall,

I think I may go over, and hike some of the Tecumseh Trail.”

“Hk,
Ok, have a good trip and I'll catch ya later.
Randall”

“Who owns the land? Most land managers (NFS, States) require certification from a chainsaw safety class.”

“LOL, you must have never met randall..."badges?, we don't need not stinkin badges"”

“Can't make this trip but when are we going to hike it again I know that Crash Bang can't wait to get it out there again.”

“Well,
The sad truth is that if it does not get some work done on it soon most of it will cease to exist. The west side is practically impassable at this time due to blow downs and ice storm damage. The Southeast section from the Dam to Garr Hill ramp is so overgrown as to be unrecognizable as a trail. I did some work on it in February, but I only made a very small dent. The blazes are almost faded into obivlion and there are far too many blow downs for on person to handle. The DNR people at Brookville Lake consider it a nuisance and have done nothing to maintain it and probably never will. The Hoosier Hiking Council tried to fix it in February, but one of the volunteers died while working on it. I have heard nothing from them concerning a new workdate. If I am the only one working on it then it’s future seems bleak as I live 300 miles from the nearest trailhead.
I was hoping that I could get some additional help, but ya can’t force people to help. LOL
Oh well, there are always other trails I guess.
See ya later.
Randall”

“That would be sad to see it go as we have had some good times over there maybe sometime in July when I get some free time maybe we could set up another day to work on it.
Randall I am also thinking of a trip in mid July 2010 to go up and Canoe the BWCA if everything goes like I have planned it we usually go to Summer Camp with the BSA Troop but we are changing the date to June and I the boys are going to the National Jambo and I will have 14 days with no kids at this time Lou is a no go but I might change her mind I told her I thought of taking her on a cruise but I just didn't tell her what knid of boat palnning on going light and rent Kevlar Boats should cost some where around 200 a person for a Sunday to Friday Trip on the water take our gear and food. Trip would be Mid July 2010 you can only have 9 in a group 8 is a better number I know B is going to also go need someone who knows how to catch fish to go along too.

I'll keep the trail in mind and maybe we can do a service day other there.
last edited: 4/17/09 8:32:04 PM”

“Rannddall-according to the latest HHC publication, trails advocate, the work has been done. It was completed on a return trip inMarch they say.
So if this trip/location is stil a go we need to hike the whole trail.
later”

“Atilla,
Attila
That good news!!
I went to the website yesterday and looked for some info, but found none. I guess I should sign up for the newsletter. I did not go down there this weekend as planned.

The whole thing in two days huh?
That's possible if the trail has been maintained as they report, but we would be tired!!!
I'll call ya this AM (Late) LOL.

I think I will still bring a machete!! anyway!!

See ya later.
Randall”

“Hey All!
Ok they say the trail is open!! Lets go check it out!!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“i have student orientation at iuk on the 2nd, but i will try to find a way to support and maybe help with some work. look for me late afternoon on the 2nd”

“oh well now i see that this is no longer a work trip? well, let me know where you will be saturday night and i will probably join you”

“Ok Buddy!!
See ya later.
Randall”