Planning a counterclockwise hike of the 40-mile main trail at Shawnee State Forest in Adams Co. Heat, hills & hammock for anyone interested.
Planning a counterclockwise hike of the 40-mile main trail at Shawnee State Forest in Adams Co. Heat, hills & hammock for anyone interested.
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
- Benjamin Franklin
I will keep an eye on this thread, I am doing a 50 mile hike on the AT the third week of July with our Scouts, this could be a good wamr up and it is one of the few hikes in OH I have yet to do.
If you haven't hiked Shawnee before, please know that it's no picnic. It's been a few years since I hiked it, but from what I recall, the trail seems to have been designed by someone who hates hikers. It's the most difficult hiking I've done in Ohio. I don't want to discourage you from going, but I want you to know what to expect. Backpackohio.com has a good trail description that I recommend taking with you.
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
- Benjamin Franklin
Any interest in doing this sooner? I am interested, but we are doing the SHT July 10th.
I did the Northern loop in early January. The trail has been widened by a bulldozer. I am sure the trail will be a lot better without all the over-growth in the way. I am not sure about the Southern loop yet.
I have heard plenty about Shawnee and it's lack of switch backs, although I live in Columbus, I grew up in WV about 30 miles from Dolly Sods, and I feel much more at home in the mountains and will look forward to the challenge.
Glad that at least a portion of the trail has been widened.
I'd like to go sooner, but work schedules will not allow. I want to have the flexibility to make it a 4-day instead of a 3-day if we get heavy rains. I think I've only been on 2 hikes in my life that did not include a bout of heavy rain, snow or hail (just lucky, I guess).
I may be able to get out for a quick overnight in late March, but was planning on hitting the Scenic River Trail or Wildcat Hollow for that one.
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting."
- Benjamin Franklin
I'm off that weekend, 4th thru 7th, so may get there early so OLD me can do fewer miles per day. What was your planned itinerary? From my limited experience there, water is only available AT the designated campsites (trucked in & left in underground cisterns), except for site 6. When there a few years ago, there were a few streams, but they were thin when I was there.
Anyway, where you planning on stopping on Friday PM so I can meet you.
When you have a backpack on, no matter where you are, you’re home.
PAIN is INEVITABLE. MISERY is OPTIONAL.
My younger brother and I were discussing, a trip to finish the south loop in march... however i will keep an eye on this thread, if all goes well in march i may try to make it out in July ... Shawnee is also nicknamed " The Little Smokies " of Ohio. We tried to do the south loop last year . our plan was camp 4 , 6 ,7 . However we were packed a bit heavy for the terrain at Shawnee and somewhere close to camp #4 he stepped on a rock wrong on 1 of the big down hills and twisted his ankle enough that it was too uncomfortable for him to continue. I dont know about July but i know that the Lone Star Ticks were very bad there in May ... Seed Ticks so small you almost could not see them without magnification
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