Knobstone Trail Weekend
Southern Indiana
April 8-10, 2022
September 16 - 18, 2022
Co-Trip Leaders: Will Eshelman and Steve Kinch
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $40/$40
Cancellation Date and full payment: March 8, 2022; October 16, 2022
Wilderness Level: 3 - typical meetup day event in good weather setting with cell coverage
Trip Difficulty: Rugged - 29 miles total with 12 miles one day max with steep elevation gains and descents
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 4: Denotes backpacking trips on established but rugged, unmaintained trail with multi-day backpacks (30-40 pounds). The hiking can be steep and sustained with long daily distances (up to 9 miles) and significant elevation change (up to 4000 feet). You should be comfortable running/biking/hiking for several hours without many breaks.
Group Size: 8/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
The Knobstone Trail gets its rugged character and name from the ridge of bluffs and knobs (hills) known as the Knobstone Escarpment. This trip we will start at the New Chapel access and hike 29 miles south to the Spurgeon Lake access.
This 3 day trip on the Knobstone trail is an intermediate backpacking trip. Previous backpacking experience is required. While a moderate terrain, the trails of the Knobstone are quite strenuous. You should be comfortable backpacking with a 25-35 lb. backpacks an average of 10 miles a day. This is an average, we may hike as much as 12. We will also have an elevation each day of up to 1500 feet. We will have a shakedown hike on April 2 at a location in Morgan Monroe State Forest. Those signing up for this trip should plan to attend the shakedown.
The plan is to meet at the Spurgeon trail head and shuttle to New Chapel early Friday morning. Water may need to be cached beforehand depending on the trail conditions and the leaders will evaluate to ensure we have adequate water. We will navigate the many ridges and ravines of the Knobstone over three days and we will end at the Spurgeon Lake trailhead Sunday afternoon.
Participants are responsible for all meals and for own transportation to the trail head
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
