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  • Beginner Backpacking Trip: Patoka Lake State Reservoir Backpacking Skills Trip, June 8-10, 2018

Beginner Backpacking Trip: Patoka Lake State Reservoir Backpacking Skills Trip, June 8-10, 2018

  • June 08, 2018
  • 6:00 PM
  • June 10, 2018
  • Patoka Lake, 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN

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Beginners Backpacking Trip

Patoka Lake State Reservoir

(Birdseye, IN)

June 8-10, 2018 

Trip Leaders: : Dave Hoffmeyer and Sharon Williams

Type of Trip:   Backpacking; Hiking

Cost: $40 (non Refundable) - Saturday Breakfast/Dinner and Sunday Breakfast; Use of club gear - Bring lunch and snacks for the trail; (A park Entrance fee may be in addition to be split by the group).

Cancellation Date/Full payment: May 8, 2018 (fee must be received by this date)

Adults Only

Maximum number: 8

Wilderness Level: 2 (EMS help may be over an hour away) – cell service spotty at best. 

Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate Hiking

Leaving on Friday evening June 8th at 6:00 PM from the Southside of Indianapolis. We will car pool to Patoka Lake State Recreation Area (we will stop at a restaurant and pick up something to eat on our way).  Upon arrival, we will take a short hike to the Backcountry Camping area and set up tents for the evening and practice food storage that evening.

The next morning, we will cook a Backcountry Breakfast to start out the day.  Our skill training will begin with water treatment and packing our packs.  After packing our packs, we will hike the 6.5-mile Main trail. This is a moderate trail, well maintained but with a small number of signs. Average hiking time is 3 to 4 hours. One of the many sites is Totem Rock, a large rock shelter that was used by American Indians and early settlers.  We will stop and have a trail Lunch during the hike.  This trail follows the shoreline of Patoka Lake, with 26,000 acres of land and water, Patoka Lake is a fine example of lake ecology. An 8,800-acre lake provides habitat for freshwater jellyfish and bald eagle nesting sites. River otters and osprey were reintroduced at Patoka by the DNR.

After completing the hike, we explore the Visitor Center and some of the other opportunities the park has to offer.  After returning to the campsite we will continue to work on some of our camp skills including firecrafting and cooking.    We will prepare a Backcountry dinner from the Club recipe library and work on camp sanitation. 

On Sunday, we will cook a backcountry breakfast, break camp and then travel to Hemlock Cliffs Scenic Trail for a short day hike before heading home.  We will stop and get lunch along the way.

Cost is $40 for dinner and 2 breakfasts. Participants will bring their own lunch, snack and drink items. Meals enroute on Friday and Sunday will be each person’s responsibility. Gear lists and trip details, including carpooling options, will be emailed prior to the trip. 


Don’t have gear? CIWC has tents and backpacks you can borrow and we share some club-provided group gear, such as stoves and water filters. Dinner and breakfast are provided. Participants should bring their trail lunch and snacks.

All trip participants will be expected to submit a medical form, sign a waiver and complete emergency information documents prior to participation.


Rain Date Hike – Location to be determined

June 30th - July 1st

Leaders: TBA

CIWC wants you to have the best experience for your first time out. Therefore, we are likely to cancel trips in the event of rain. Rather than disappoint participants, this makeup date for any cancelled trips will give hikers the opportunity to have a beginner backpacking experience. Leaders will determine the location based on the group size. Should the group size be larger than eight, the leaders may divide the group into two separate locations. Regardless of location participants will receive the same information and experience they would have received on their original trip.

Those unable to participate in the Rain Date Hike will receive a refund of their trip fee.


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