Indy Backpackers

Indy Backpackers ruck (gear, advice, stories, recipes, etc swap)

April 27 · 10:00 AM
Hoosier National Forest - Hickory Ridge

I've seen quite a few questions on here about gear, etc. So we are going to have a ruck (gathering of backpackers to exchange info, stories, recipes, skills, etc.). I will talk to some local outfitters to see if they would like to be there to help explain different gear options. I would like to have different stations at campsites along one of the trails that cover different topics.

Navigation

Fire building

Cooking

Gear (hopefully we'll have an outfitter for this one)

This is to help people that are new to backpacking so suggestions as to what you would like to be covered are welcome and appreciated.

I am also looking for volunteers from experienced people to help at these stations. Please contact me if you're available that weekend and would like to help at one of these stations.

This will be set up for people without backpacking gear or backpacking experience. All hiking will be short day trip distances and car camping will also be available although overnight stay is not required and all activities will be on Saturday. For those who do want to camp, some of the group will be there Friday through Sunday and are more than welcome to get to know the rest of the group.

Additionally, due to short mileage and car camping availability, this will be a family friendly event. This is a good chance to bring the little ones and non backpackers in the family.

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Demian Moon Stevens

+pooch

0 · April 23
- John Little
  
  Demian, good to see you today and enjoyed meeting and visiting with you and Fran. Wait...you called Fran +pooch? :-) We'll get together soon.
  
  1 · April 28
- Bryan
  
  I wasn't going to be the first one to say that...lol
  
  0 · April 29
Daniel Vene Zuela

hey I'm new in indy, I dont wanna drive all the way by myself, so does someone around north or west indianapolis is interested in ride together?

0 · April 26
- Bryan
  
  Keep a closer eye on the meetup site,and post quicker,I'm on the n.w. side of Indy,and definitely could have given you a ride if I had more notice. This group is lots of fun though.
  
  0 · April 28
- Daniel Vene Zuela
  
  It was my first day at the group, but for sure i wanna go to the next meeting ;) thanks bro!
  
  1 · April 28
Kyle Musick

0 · April 28
Bryan

Great weather. No rain till 9pm Saturday. Too bad More people didn't show/RSVP. Still learned a lot from the experienced Backpackers(Kyle,John) Kyle's fire starting skills are impeccable,2nd only to maybe John L. :)
As usual Indy backpackers put on a great event. See you guys at 2 lakes loop.

1 · April 28
Bryan

Who's camping Friday,and where?

0 · April 26
Jessica Fitzpatrick

Sorry. I'll be volunteering at the State Fairgrounds that day. Hopefully I can make it down later in the year.

0 · April 26
Kyle Musick

And if anyone has some fire wood to bring, that would help out.

1 · April 25
tom mcginnis

Rats!

0 · April 24
Kyle Musick

Here are the coordinates for Hickory Ridge Horse Camp

38.976400,-86.293200

The map link above will already have them.

0 · April 24
Gary C

Custody Weekend

0 · April 2
- Kyle Musick
  
  This is a kid friendly/car camping event.
  
  0 · April 22
- Gary C
  
  I will have to see how it goes... taking one of my boys car shopping on Saturday. If he gets one, he isnt going to want to be away from it for at least 72 hours. He'll probably sleep in it. :D ...I found a tick on the hound, 1 crawling on me and one dead one in the laundry. Just a heads up. Surprised they were active considering how cold it got.
  
  0 · April 22
Kyle Musick

I just checked out the horse camp today. It looks like it will work for us. The only issues we may have is parking, but that shouldn't be too bad and there is no water source. Make sure you bring plenty of water with you. We can probably arrange some carpooling for Fri night for those who are going with backpacking gear instead of car camping gear. Google maps would have you take I65 south to IN 58. I recommend dragging that route over to IN37 (just click on the purple/blue route and drag it over to IN37). IN58 is slow and boring. It's just like going to Deam Wilderness, just a little further south of Fire Tower Road. FYI, this will be a fairly laid back event. I think we will just go with the flow so the only thing I have as far as an agenda goes is the Ruck part of the weekend will start 10:00 a.m. on Saturday (for those who plan on coming only for Saturday). Other than that, just a relaxing weekend with others who have the same interests.

1 · April 21
- View all 4 replies
- Bryan
  
  Where along hickory ridge will the set up be for the ruck? Parking lot?
  
  0 · April 21
- Kyle Musick
  
  At the campgrounds at the coords in the link above.
  
  0 · April 21
- Chris Hicks
  
  I am planning on coming over on Friday, what time was you heading down?
  
  0 · April 21
- Kyle Musick
  
  Chris, I have no idea yet. In all honesty, I would like to leave Thursday if I can get away with it.
  
  0 · April 22
Bryan

Who's camping Friday,and where?

0 · April 4
- View all 3 replies
- Kyle Musick
  
  I will probably be camping at Hickory Ridge Horse Camp.
  
  1 · April 21
- Bryan
  
  Do they have some good hammock friendly trees?
  
  0 · April 21
- Kyle Musick
  
  Yes
  
  1 · April 21
Kyle Musick

I was not able to get an outfitter to the event. So if you are going, and already have backpacking gear, could you bring it so those new to this can check out the different options that are out there.

1 · April 21
Ron White

I will be unable to make it, but there are still three others attending from Ohio Valley backpackers.

0 · April 5
Rumiko

Be out of town that weekend.

0 · April 2
Kyle Musick

Ok, so the group has become bigger than we can have in Deam. The group size limit in Deam is 10. So I am thinking we are going to move it to Hickory Ridge Hose camp. It's very similar to Blackwell Horse Camp in Deam but with more trees and a pond. I assume the horses drink from this pond and don't follow the "300 feet" rule so you should bring water with you. I have never been to Hickory Ridge. I am going to the Deam trip this weekend and will stop by there to check it out before heading back. Also please remember you can suggest topics for us to cover.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/...

0 · March 26
- View all 4 replies
- Ron White
  
  There are 4 from the Ohio Valley Backpackers planning to attend.
  
  0 · March 27
- Kyle Musick
  
  Ron, if you're one of them, will you RSVP with +3.
  
  0 · April 1
- Ron White
  
  Kyle, glad to just update this events settings to allow 3 guests.
  
  0 · April 1
- Kyle Musick
  
  It won't let me change it. I just added on guest to my name and 2 to yours.
  
  0 · April 1
John Little

Bringing my 12 year old daughter.

0 · March 31
James Eickman

Can I still attend if I can not spend the night?

0 · March 21
- Kyle Musick
  
  Absolutely.
  
  0 · March 21
Holly

I'll try to talk my plus one into attending : )

1 · March 14
Demian Moon Stevens

+pooch

0 · February 26
Lisa Boyles

Great idea to have a ruck.

0 · February 23
tom mcginnis

Kyle, if you keep it on the weekend of the 13th, you can hit Delaney Park (top of the KT), have shelter, electricity, videos, beer, cooking, tables and floors and lights to go well after dark, for less than $20/pp., AND there will be other runners/hikers there, who would all enjoy rucking around. Friday night-Sunday. Great times, cheap times, good food, EXCELLENT trail, beer. Beer. And beer. And trail.

Angela: I have a record of maybe 12/12 of going through people's pack/gear, and then having them finish the entire AT. If you'd like to be #13, lemme know. And I'm sure last year's winner (who's now working at REI) would be happy to join us -- his info will be that much fresher than mine. Google "Friar tuckerize my pack" for a fine tradition...

0 · February 12
Kyle Musick

So I just realized that this was originally scheduled on Easter weekend. I have moved it to the last weekend in April (26-27). I will probably still plan a trip for the weekend last weekend in March for those who still want to do one. Sorry for all the hassles.

1 · February 12
John Little

Sounds good to me. Deam or Yellowwood Lake would both be good places.

0 · January 5
- John Little
  
  Having spent the night at Yellowwood Lake last night I think Deam would provide a better back country camping experience. They do have some good trails for day hiking though.
  
  0 · January 6
Brett

sounds like a good idea to me.

1 · December 27
- Kyle Musick
  
  Can you think of a good place to do this?
  
  0 · December 27
- Brett
  
  for authenticity, we could car camp and day hike at Deam-there are several sites that might be good
  
  1 · December 28
tom mcginnis

What you are describing is a "ruck" -- if you google Appalachian Trail Ruck , you'll get the general idea. Making the trip to the Southern Ruck or the PA Ruck (now, No. VA.) is definitely worth the trip, but rucks happen whenever/where ever hikers decide to get together just as you've described above. Great for learning, great for sharing, (great for eating!).... FWIW, every fall, I try to post about the ALDHA Gathering, every winter about the eastern Rucks, and every spring about Trail Days....

1 · December 28
Kyle Musick

Any other suggestions, comments, ideas, etc?

0 · December 27