A wet hike in Hoosier National

S

Salamander42

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
945
And I remembered my camera this time. The camera sucks and my photographic skills aren't much better, but some of them turned out pretty good. I took the Sycamore Loop trail in the Charles C Deam Wilderness. A fairly short hike, but I wanted to take it kind of easy since I've been sick. It started raining about 20 minutes into the hike and didn't completely stop 'till the next morning.
hike002.jpg

hike003.jpg

hike007.jpg

I was thrilled to get a visit from this little guy as I was setting up camp.
hike012.jpg

He looks like he likes my knife, but he really just wants to hide under it.
hike015.jpg

hike018.jpg

The compulsory shot of my cutlery:
hike022.jpg

Stopped for a break near the top of a ridge on the way out the next day and the sun came out:
hike028.jpg

I somehow found the energy and motivation to climb the fire tower that's by the trail head:
hike039.jpg

hike035.jpg
 
Thanks for the comments everyone! I'll be sure to remember the camera on all of my future hikes.

mog555 said:
Cool shot from the tower, looks nice and peaceful out there:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Yeah, with the rain I was pretty much the only person out there. I love hiking and camping in the rain.

troutfisher13111 said:
Nice pics! I love the one of the two turtles.
Click to expand...

I rarely go out into the woods in southern Indiana without seeing at least one of those guys. They're Eastern Box Turtles. I don't usually see more than one at a time though. I'm not sure if these two were fighting or getting ready to mate. The brighter colored one kind of lunged at the other one a few times before they noticed me coming up the trail.
 
mmmotorcycle said:
Great pics and nice knives! What sort of fixed blade is that?
Click to expand...

I put that together from a kit that I got from Atlanta Cutlery 8 or 9 years ago. I forget what they were calling the blade style, but it's pretty thin and takes an awesome razor edge. I wouldn't use it for any really heavy work, but that thin flat ground blade is fabulous for food preparation. One of these days I'm going to re-handle it and ditch the bolsters.
 
I love the Hoosier National Forest, don't get to spend nearly enough time there, though...

Great pics!
 
Hey Sal,

For a moment there, I thought you stole my camera. :D

I backpack Deam quite a bit and often take my Delica or Dragonfly with me. Matter of fact, I think I've camped on that site before. We mostly camp on the shores of Lake Monroe, but I also like the pond back by the cemetary.

Next up: Shades State Park on September 22nd. It's the only Indiana State Park that offers backcountry camping. :thumbup:
 
TAH said:
Next up: Shades State Park on September 22nd. It's the only Indiana State Park that offers backcountry camping. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Probably my favorite state park in Indiana. Do they still have that small grass airstrip?
I really like Pines Nature Preserve across the road
 
Not sure about the airstrip.

The backcountry camping is a little different. There's a $10 camping fee. 2.5mile hike. The camping area has available drinking water, which is nice when you're taking little children, pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings with cooking grates. Since it's a state park, you are not allowed to collect any wood for a campfire. Instead, a ranger drives back to the campground and sells wood. :o

It's all a little unconventional, but it's more fun than staying home. :)
 
LOL, it's good to hear from some other folks who visit the same stompin' grounds as I do.

TAH said:
Matter of fact, I think I've camped on that site before.
Click to expand...

Normally I just make my own site in a stand of pines, but with the wet weather I decided to take advantage of those log benches that someone had made to keep my gear up off the ground. That fire pit was a monstrosity, but it worked just fine. Those giant logs on there were at the site, partially burned when I showed up. I used one of them as a reflector with my nice little fire built up against it, and then when it was time for bed I laid the other one on top to keep the rain out.

TAH said:
Not sure about the airstrip.

The backcountry camping is a little different. There's a $10 camping fee. 2.5mile hike. The camping area has available drinking water, which is nice when you're taking little children, pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings with cooking grates. Since it's a state park, you are not allowed to collect any wood for a campfire. Instead, a ranger drives back to the campground and sells wood. :o

It's all a little unconventional, but it's more fun than staying home. :)
Click to expand...

I've only been to Shades once, and it was before I got into bacpacking so we just camped in the regular car camping area. We were originally going to camp at Turkey Run down the road, but we saw the campground there and all of the electric hookups and stuff and said no way and drove over to Shades and had a nice quiet peaceful time. The Hiking trails at both parks are great.

The back country site there sounds like a nice intermediate step between car camping and full out wilderness backpacking. I'll have to give it a try sometime.
 
For me, the best car camping in Indiana is Yellowwood State Forest. I think it has the most primative and woodsy feel. Lots of pine trees and Lake Yellowwood. Best part is, if you camp there in the winter months, you have the place to yourself. Well, except, I'll be there. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top