SkidvonArk's Knobstone Bailout!

**SkidvonArk** · 12-29-2013, 10:35

Well I set out with the intention on doing 3 days solo on Knobstone trail. I had been quite looking forward to my time alone and just being able to decompress... A few hours into my trek my instincts started throwing little warning signs up and it just got continually worse the further I got... Eventually I realized that this was one of the first times in my life I had been running around in the woods that I was, for some reason, NOT having fun... I've spent plenty of time alone in the woods, but there was just this eery off feeling... I learned a long time ago to listen to my gut and ended up bailing. I did enjoy my time alone (introvert) and got a bit of a recharge (other than that eery being watched feeling I had at parts..) as well as hiking one of the sections I had been anxious to hit for awhile Did get some cool footage from my "dayhike" though! Luckily I'll be heading out to camp with some friends at a nearby area tonight so I'll still get a night out in the woods this weekend. I also have some more vacation days I get to use in a few weeks (making a trip as a birthday present to myself!) All in all I learned a lot about myself this trip so I'm both glad I went AND glad I decided to bail. Wouldn't have learned the lessons I did if I hadn't. Can't wait to get back out there on the trail, but I'll probably start at a different trailhead next time as that section just totally felt off to my senses...

Let the "you're a pansy" jokes commence!!

**Rolloff** · 12-29-2013, 12:39

Good video and report on one of the sections hardest hit by the Henryville tornado. The change to the area is stark to say the least. That trail head was heavily wooded, and you simply have a hard time recognizing anything around there. Some areas were simply snatched bare.

Always follow your Spidey Sense!

I'm not kidding

**SkidvonArk** · 12-29-2013, 13:11

It was certainly awe inspiring hiking through the devastation... You could really feel the power of the storm it took to cause all that.

I've learned the hard way to always trust my "spidey" sense..

Thanks for watching!

**STinGa** · 12-29-2013, 23:21

I second the advise to follow your spidey senses. No worries about losing your man card or suffering a hit to your machismo for following your gut feelings.

STinGa

**I-Hang** · 12-30-2013, 07:08

Always go with your gut feeling. Years ago I was in Norway and set a tent up on the side of a hill on the snow. I was not real thrilled with the setup and did not feel 100% comfortable. I woke up early in the morning and the tent had slid down the hill a couple of feet overnight. A couple of more feet and we would have gone for a heck of a "sled" ride.

**Redpath** · 12-30-2013, 08:13

Enjoyed seeing some footage of the area. I never trust my instincts and it has always guided me true. Just kidding, wanted to see how reversing the cliche sounded.

**SkidvonArk** · 12-30-2013, 12:00

I don't think I have much "machismo" left to begin with so no real worries about losing it!

The views were both beautiful and tragic. Mostly inspiring a profound respect for the capabilities of nature and how small and insignificant (and squishy) we are out there.

I'm glad I decided to bail. I probably could have soldiered on and crashed out there anyway. Would something have happened? Maybe si maybe no. Either way I'll always go with my gut instinct, especially running around out there solo.

**Shotgunred** · 12-30-2013, 20:01

Better to follow your guts than to leave them behind.
-ShotgunRed-

Post-apocalyptic trailhead

**Acer** · 12-30-2013, 20:23

Give it 3 yrs,,and you won't be able to see over the tall briars, and tree saplings, and it will be a bitchin time of trying to get thru that lower part for all the undergrowth. Hope they keep the trail maintained and cut back so that hikers can get thru it. Glad you made the call and followed your inside feelings. Enjoy the rest of the trail some other time. Enjoyed the video and the sights.

**SkidvonArk** · 12-31-2013, 03:24

Originally Posted by Shotgunred

Better to follow your guts than to leave them behind.
-ShotgunRed-

Post-apocalyptic trailhead

I kept expecting raiders or the like to pop over the hills for my bottlecaps...

Originally Posted by Acer

Give it 3 yrs,,and you won't be able to see over the tall briars, and tree saplings, and it will be a bitchin time of trying to get thru that lower part for all the undergrowth. Hope they keep the trail maintained and cut back so that hikers can get thru it. Glad you made the call and followed your inside feelings. Enjoy the rest of the trail some other time. Enjoyed the video and the sights.

The undergrowth certainly got thicker the further North I traveled... A lot of nice hammock spots thwarted via thorn bushes. Thank you for watching!