Blood Root Trail: Feb 15th

[HomeMadeHiker]

How about campsite 2 for a nice low key winter campout!
Who's in?

Salmonie Lake: Mt. Etna, IN

[robblandon]

Not heard of Blood Root Trail. Where is it?

[HomeMadeHiker]

Not heard of Blood Root Trail. Where is it?

Northeast, IN. about 3.5 hour east of Mohican.
The site itself is very similar to site 9.

[bluejeans]

What dates are you thinking about?

[HomeMadeHiker]

What dates are you thinking about?

Weekend of the 15th, so Friday 14th through Sunday the 16th.

Hope it works out for ya, it's been to long my friend.

[mountainhanger]

Beautiful site! Did this last summer, a little tricky getting down to the water but plenty of wood around and even has a table! Also some good hanging trees! Enjoy!

[bluejeans]

Weekend of the 15th, so Friday 14th through Sunday the 16th.

Hope it works out for ya, it's been to long my friend.

Yes your right it has been too long. Life happens and you just have to focus on the issues at hand plow through until free time opportunities emerge again.
Thanks for the dates and I am going to try and make it. Be well

[riverjoe]

That would be great Zack .

[HomeMadeHiker]

That would be great Zack .

Feel free to let your BCUSA folks know.

[Thumbs]

Valentines day and anniversary weekend. Not in the cards for me.

[riverjoe]

Thinking about going this Saturday . Looks a lot more wintry then the 15th . Looks like another mixxed rain and snow for the 15 th .

[HomeMadeHiker]

I think, I'm locked in for that weekend.

[HomeMadeHiker]

Ok, Joe I got approval for this weekend as well! Can't believe my luck. The forecast has evened out and looks better for next weekend too. But regardless I''ll see you Saturday am! Wanna carpool?

Who's bringing the bacon?

[iuhanger]

How far is the hike to the campsite? Gonna be up in fortwayne this weekend and might be able to make it out.

[riverjoe]

Well call me Mr Fickle . Got a cold / flu thing kickin my butt right now , may not make it . Should be one heck of a gear test this weekend Zach .

IU hanger the trail is about a mile from the East parking lot or 13 miles from the West your choice .

Your right the 15 th looks great ,high in the twentys low of 6 .

[HomeMadeHiker]

Joe, "your killing me Smalls." Any BCUSA folks coming this weekend? Hope you can make it, if not rest up for next week!

IU, if your still in so am I. I'm thinking to leave by 9 and spend most of the day at camp. Would love to have someone to company around the fire.

[iuhanger]

Pretty sure I can be there by like 2?? Planning on trying out a DIY pulk sled I made and bringing my skis... See you then!

[HomeMadeHiker]

Pretty sure I can be there by like 2?? Planning on trying out a DIY pulk sled I made and bringing my skis... See you then!

Excellent see you then.

[iuhanger]

Need me to bring anything??

[riverjoe]

No BCUSA guys that I know of . Boroffski thought he might make the 15 th but I havn't heard back lately . Ill try and be healthy by the 15 th . Hopefully there will be snowmobile trails but if not you better bring snowshoes . Ive got at least 16 inches down in the river bottom maybe 18 . The snow likes to follow those river valleys like the Bloodroot .

[iuhanger]

Thanks for the heads up on the snow depth, got my snowshoes packed

[HomeMadeHiker]

Need me to bring anything??

Another pair of snowshoes:) I'm fresh out.

[riverjoe]

Feeling a little better . Might get out Sat afternoon . Low of 3 would be great . I will bring extra snowshoes but like I said might be later in afternoon .
Ill bet there is a snow mobile trail by now , but maybe not . Here is snow chart . looks like 14 to 16 inches

http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html?ql=station&zoom=&loc=40.740+N%2C+85.550+W&var=snow_depth_shallow&dy=2014&dm=2&dd=7&dh=9&snap=1&o5=1&o6=1&o9=1&o12=1&o13=1&lbl=m&o7=1&mode=pan&extents=us&min_x=-85.725000000002&min_y=40.349999999996&max_x=-84.783333333335&max_y=41.174999999996&coord_x=++-85.550&coord_y=+++40.740&zbox_n=40.87976785713886&zbox_s=40.73833928571028&zbox_e=-85.5490260416686&zbox_w=-85.71028645833533&metric=0&bgvar=dem&shdvar=shading&palette=1&width=800&height=700&nw=800&nh=700&h_o=0&font=0&js=1&uc=0


Zack give me a call when you're heading out . Your welcome to come up here and borrow the snowshoes or Ill be working at 2824 Edwards ST. today and Ill bring the shoes with me . Close to Quimby village so in your neck of the woods . 260 433 3887

[iuhanger]

Wish I would have seen that before I left bloomington, I have 2 pair, doesn't do
You
Any good to hear that now...

[HomeMadeHiker]

Thanks both of ya. I guess I miss my chance... twice. I think I'll be ok. I can probably post hole that far if I have to, but I can't imagine the locals not using that trail with this kinda powder. No worries. Well I'm all packed up and itching to head out first thing after my wife wakes up. So stoked!

[HomeMadeHiker]

Road back the trail head isn't plowed. No way get close without getting stuck. Might better luck with a biga$$ 4x4 but another than its no fun. If I can get my car unstuck. I might consider parking at the camper park but that's (atleast double if not triple) the hike in.

[riverjoe]

Is the road to the boat ramp plowed ? Not far to the trailhead from there . I bet you already thought of that .
Do you mean the private campground up on the main road ?

[HomeMadeHiker]

Ended up at the small snowmobile trail lot behind the boat ramp. It was quite a journey, might make for an interesting trip report.

[riverjoe]

Take a bunch of pics , this will be about the snowiest Bloodroot ever I bet . Any snowmobile tracks ?

[HomeMadeHiker]

Got a couple pics will try to post tonight. Solid 12inches if not more. Snowmobiles everywhere.
Took 4hrs to get unstuck and parked. Met up with IU hiked in set up camp and had a real nice time eating well making a new friend. Don(IU) and I just happen to catch other. Went from crappy to awesome real quick. Hope to do it again soon.


Also, remember folks we still have next weekend to look forward to!
Who's still in for next week?

[iuhanger]

Was a great time! Good snow, good food, good site, got eyes on a fox walking the ice on the reservoir, and tested some new gear. What more could you want. Overnight low of around 18 deg. And about 3"of overnight snow accumulation, made for a beautiful hike out this morning. Looking forward to showing you a sweet hang down in my part of state Zach.

[riverjoe]

Next Saturday the 15 th 25 high 12 low . Keeps getting better . I will be there . Hope the fox is still around . Ill bring the 4x4 .

[riverjoe]

Map to the campsight . Feb 14 and 15 .

Red = non interstate automobile .
Blue = foot power to campsight
Green = boat to campsight

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/riverjoe47/salamoniepath/salamoniepath.jpg

Parking lot
Follow red path to small lot for foot traffic parking .
Do not take the last left but go straight down 700 W to boat ramp and boat ramp parking if you elect to come by boat .

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/riverjoe47/salparking/salparking.jpg

Topo of the same trail . Black line is the designated trail . Blue line is the shortcut behind the yellow pipe gate .
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/riverjoe47/bloodroot/bloodroot-2-1-1.jpg

[riverjoe]

Homemade Hiker are you still coming ? Looks like 2 or 3 bcusa guys coming . The little parking lot we usually park in was not plowed I presume . How bad was it ? I really don't want to take the 4wd 13 mpg down if I don't have to .

[HomeMadeHiker]

Yep, I'm in gonna head in Friday. For some solo action.
Park at the small parking lot (with the outhouse) down from the boat ramp. The 700 W is plowed up to that point. Then hike to the trial head, adds about 10 mins to the trip if you use the road. The snowmobiles have broken trail down the road and all the way to camp. I should have nice fire going when everyone arrives. I'm also bringing so extra dinner goodies to share with folks.
Call if you want and I can meet and help carry things if needed.

[riverjoe]

Davros headed out Fri morn so maybe not alone time . Ill be there later in the afternoon .

[Davros]

Hey this is kinda like my first official Hammock Forums hang. I'm coming Friday. Probably wont get there till around noon.

[HomeMadeHiker]

Hey this is kinda like my first official Hammock Forums hang. I'm coming Friday. Probably wont get there till around noon.
See ya around 6!
I hid some firewood under a pile of snow to the left of the firepit (if your back is to the river). dig until you find a red emergency blanket.
I'll also be bringing in another load when I arrive so don't work to hard getting fire wood. Even though I do expect I nice warm fire when I arrive:)

[Doug4566]

Well was going by to say "Hi" with the wife. Got stuck trying to get around the 4x4 stuck in the ditch..humm Did see that a Jeep made it in. My 4x4 got us out but ALOT of shoveling to do it. Went to the Interpretive Center(nature center). Hiked about 3 miles and went back. Told them about stuck trucks and to plow you out. I don't thinked they cared about campers at that point.. Eagle Watch was underway.
Hope everybody got out OK..

[HomeMadeHiker]

I think I heard you. There is easier parking if you follow the picnic site signs (for future reference). Everybody unstuck and good to go. Sorry we missed ya! Maybe next time.