Posted here is a sampling of reports submitted by our leaders summarizing some recent club trips:

Yellowwood State Forest Backpacking, March 29-30, 2008
Isle Royale National Park Backpacking, August 29-September 5, 2008
Vermont Appalachian Trail Backpack, August 14-20, 2009
  Leader: Andy Jackson
Participants including leaders: 14

Fourteen hardy spring hikers signed up for a two day backpacking trip at Yellowwood State Forest the weekend of March 29 and 30. Eleven members of our group met Saturday morning at the Kroger store at Countyline Road and Emerson on the south side. From there we headed to Brown County to meet the remaining three hikers. After arriving at the campground at Yellowwood Lake, we picked campsites and set up camp. Once camp was set up we prepared to hike the 7-mile loop trail that goes north from the campground following the lake. About half of the group donned their loaded backpacks to train for longer trips later in the year. We headed north to the Jackson Creek trail which goes through a large stand of Bald Cyprus trees, a rare sight in Indiana. From there we took the YZ trail across the creek where some more agile members used the log to cross while the rest of us waded the creek. After a lunch break we continued on around the lake to the Scarce of Fat Trail and on back to camp.

While some of the group gathered firewood and got a fire going, others prepared supper. Everyone made short work of two gallons of chili followed by dessert choices of brownies and s'mores. Since this was the first trip for some of the members, an evening around the campfire was a good opportunity to get to know each other.

Rain was threatening the next morning, so we broke camp and loaded up before setting out for a three mile hike. We almost made it back to the vehicles before the rain started. The weekend allowed everyone the opportunity to get out after a long, long winter and limber up for the hiking season ahead.

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Leaders: Bob Hart and Ryan Barton
Participants including leaders: 9

Because of the long drive ahead, the group met very early on a Friday morning for departure to Minnesota's North Shore. Eight of us traveled in the club van while one would meet us in Grand Marais. After taking our last showers and having supper in town, we converged on a quaint Lake Superior cabin to bed down for the night. Our ferry trip the next morning to Windigo would take about 2 and one-half hours. It was pretty neat to chug into Washington Bay and spot a moose and calf at the water's edge. Once on the island the big point of confusion was the time zone. The island is in Michigan (EST), but the ferry operated on Minnesota time (CDT). The trip was billed as a "thru hike" which had never been attempted by CIWC. Our daily distances averaged close to 10 miles. Unexpected highs in the low 80s made us feel that we were carrying too much in the way of extra clothes. Blisters would be the main issue that kept us busy empting, and testing, the contents of our first aid kits. Along the way we met some very nice people from just about everywhere you could imagine. Throughout the trip our minds would wander and think about the group of six women from Iowa who were "taking the trip of their lives." At another point we relayed a message from three hikers to some friends up the trail "not to worry," they were just running behind schedule and would catch up in a couple of days.

Wildlife was abundant. Our sightings included moose, wolf, fox, eagle, ground squirrels and many varieties of waterfowl and birds. It was obvious that past visitors to Rock Harbor had made friends with the foxes; they just wandered around like neighborhood dogs. And the scenery was awesome, and oh those views! Along the Greenstone Ridge Trail we would often see glimpses of either Canada or the Michigan mainland.

Camp life was a chance for group efforts and some nice meals, especially the great breakfasts prepared by the Ryan, the master chef. After supper there was always time to tell campfire stories, even though on this trip there were no campfires. On the returning ferry ride and van drive back to Central Indiana conversation focused on how to configure a return trip. Should we hike less and explore more? Most agreed that McCargoe Cove might be the best spot to start the next hike.

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Leaders: Andy Jackson and Heidi Dixon-White
Participants including leaders: 10

The group departed Indy in the dark and returned in the dark, which along with the long drive seemed a reasonable price to pay for four gorgeous summer days of backpacking in the Green Mountains of Vermont! After approximately 16 hrs in the van we arrived at the Camper-Rhoads guest cottage which had graciously been offered to the weary CIWC road warriors. Unfortunately we had little time to visit with our hosts but were treated to homemade cookies made by the local elves as we scrambled around to pull together dinner, organize gear, and formulate our plans. CIWC member Brooke drove up form her home in New York to join us for the hike, yeah!

We were up and out bright and early to day-hike the Mt. Greylock, MA section of the AT. The day was perfect, sunny and warm, and everyone enjoyed a quick visit to the War Memorial at the summit of the highest point in MA before heading to VT for lunch. We managed to get in some last minute carbo-loading before heading to the AT trailhead at the southern end of our VT section. Heidi and Brooke deposited the group and their gear (well, most of their gear) and sped north to shuttle a vehicle in hopes of returning with enough daylight to hike in to camp to meet the group before dark; they almost made it, having to don head lamps for the last half mile or so. It seems we picked the favorite weekend for visiting Little Rock Pond as what is typically a very peaceful, serene campsite was completely overrun. The Ridge Runner on duty did his best to accommodate the mob and ended up splitting the CIWC group into 3 different locations. All worked out fine in the end although sadly the group never was able to convene (i.e. locate each other in the pitch dark!) for Jiffy Pop and S'mores.

Day 2 was another perfect sunny day with a couple of fairly strenuous climbs mixed in with interesting stops like the rock cairn arts garden and White Rocks Cliffs. Late afternoon the group arrived at Clarendon Gorge, one of the premiere swimming holes on the AT. It had been a very hot day and when it became clear we could actually camp in the gorge, no vote was even necessary to postpone the remaining 2 miles (of our 13-mile day) until the a.m. We enjoyed a perfect campsite, swimming, and great cooking accommodations along the river. As we relaxed with no rain in the forecast, we were treated to an unexpected cloud burst lasting a good 20 minutes or so, soaking everything. NEVER trust the Weather Channel in the mountains!

The next morning we crossed the gorge via swinging footbridge and scrambled up a rocky ravine. All agreed it was best to be doing this on fresh legs! It was another long hot day BUT we were treated to Trail Magic in the form of a cooler full of iced sodas and snacks placed along the AT by a local Trail Angel for the enjoyment of hikers. What a treat on such a hot day! Mid afternoon the group huddled up for lunch and decided one leader and half of the group would make camp here enjoying a relaxing afternoon while the more restless half of the group would head to the top of Killington Mountain for the night. Both groups enjoyed a clear pleasant evening visiting with hikers and taking in the view from the summit or wading in the refreshing mountain stream at the bottom.

Day 4 was again gorgeous with beautiful views and pleasant hiking. All arrived at the Inn at the Long Trail, the northern terminus of our hike, in good spirits and ready for food, beverages, hot shower, and R and R pretty much in that order. That evening we toured the area with stops at a local outfitter and the Long Trail Brewery, and hiked a short section of the AT built as a boardwalk through a restored wetlands and leading to the largest waterfall in VT which, when we arrived happened to be…..turned off?? We headed back to the Inn for dinner and an early evening.

After a gigantic breakfast in the a.m., we bid Brooke goodbye until next year and loaded into the van for the 17 hour 6 state traverse back home!