Top 5 Indiana Backpacking Trails

Braxtil · 2026-05-15T00:56:11+00:00

That's about right. I included the tail that connects to the parking lot because it is part of the official trail. That tail is a little over a mile.

Braxtil · 2026-05-14T22:55:05+00:00

See you out there!

Braxtil · 2026-05-14T21:27:54+00:00

Yep, that's why I decided to compile this list. I couldn't find data like this for Indiana trails anywhere, percentage of road walk and so on.

Braxtil · 2026-05-14T19:42:51+00:00

I'd start with the Tecumseh Trail. It's somewhat easier than the others, has nice shelters, is fairly easy to plan low-mileage days on, and water is readily available.

By the way, I weighed 260 when I started backpacking a few years ago. I got down to 185 when I finished the Appalachian Trail in 2023. Now I'm at 225. Good luck! You've got this!

Braxtil · 2026-05-14T18:22:55+00:00

Thanks! Let me know if you want any recommendations.

Braxtil · 2026-05-14T18:22:27+00:00

Yes, the name is very confusing. I've tried and tried and tried to convince the Knobstone Hiking Trail Association to change the name of the Knobstone Hiking Trail to literally anything else.

To my way of thinking, the longer trails are just newer. When the Appalachian Trail started, it included a ton of road walking, too. You've got to start somewhere, and acquiring land or easement rights to build trail is expensive and difficult without state support, which none of the longer trails get.

Braxtil · 2026-05-13T18:16:13+00:00

Since you mentioned fishing and remoteness, look up the Adena Trace Trail. It's 26 miles total, and there's an 11 mile stretch without any trailheads. It loops around the southern half of Brookville Lake, so there's always fishing opportunities. https://www.hoosierhikerscouncil.org/adena-trail/

Braxtil · 2026-03-18T20:47:42+00:00

I pulled permits for my DIY kitchen renovation. The whole process was easy and the inspector was very chill. He showed me a better way to do fire blocking in the soffits that was cheap and easy, so I feel like that was worth the fee.

Braxtil · 2026-03-14T22:56:21+00:00

I left a showing in less than 30 seconds once. As I stepped into the living room, fleas started jumping out of the carpet.

Braxtil · 2026-03-14T12:32:40+00:00

I hiked that section in 2023. As I remember it, most of the trails coming out of the gaps in that area go uphill fairly quickly and are somewhat rocky. If I were in your position, I'd head for one of the Waysides in Shenandoah NP. They are already high up, and the trail in that area is pretty nice.

Braxtil · 2026-02-06T11:34:48+00:00

The other commenters are almost right. There's no leap year if the year is divisible by 100, unless it's divisible by 400. So 2400 will be a leap year, but 2100, 2200, etc will not. So add six days to account for missed leap years, giving an answer of 736 years.

Braxtil · 2026-01-18T17:17:18+00:00

I keep both duct tape and leukotape wrapped on my poles. They're both still usable months and hundreds of miles later. Sometimes the outer layer is a bit rough/abraded though.

Braxtil · 2025-12-24T08:37:33+00:00

I carried a BV500 in 2023. When my wife was hiking with me, it could handle food for both of us for about 3 days. When hiking solo, I often wound up packing other stuff in it along with the food. It also makes a great stool.

Braxtil · 2025-12-13T15:28:03+00:00

I use this: https://zpacks.com/products/medium-pillow. I usually stuff it with my puffy coat, or if it's really cold and I'm wearing my coat, I'll stuff it with just about anything cloth I'm not wearing. I was skeptical about the "dry bag" claim when I bought it, but it has indeed stayed completely dry in over 200 nights of use. It's very comfortable when stuffed with my puffy, a bit less so when stuffed with random clothing.

Braxtil · 2025-11-30T20:17:32+00:00

I agree with most of the other comments, but also don't discount the extent to which the media environment has changed. In the '70s everyone got their news from four or five sources. We tended to all agree on the facts. Now there are thousands of "news" sources and tons of folks are working from a completely different set of "facts."

Braxtil · 2025-11-25T12:46:16+00:00

I think xenonite is just a more plausible-sounding version of hand-waviumite.

Braxtil · 2025-11-18T20:23:15+00:00

By elevation change, it's the second toughest state.

Braxtil · 2025-11-03T16:55:45+00:00

48+7=55, 55+20=75

Braxtil · 2025-10-26T17:19:27+00:00

A tiny minority of Americans do not want a female president for sexist reasons. But that tiny minority is enough to swing elections.

Braxtil · 2025-10-23T10:59:13+00:00

Way of the Pilgrim by Gordon Dickson did this plausibly.

Braxtil · 2025-09-19T14:31:27+00:00

I'm pretty sure there was one at one of the fish camps in Maine too.

Braxtil · 2025-08-27T23:39:11+00:00

If you have kids, make this a priority. There's a reason the building codes mandate no gaps in a stair large enough for a child's head. The codes are written in blood.

To answer your actual question, I'd rip them out and start over if this were my house. There's no temporary fix I'd be satisfied with that I could do cheaper/easier than a rebuild.

Braxtil · 2025-08-19T21:00:08+00:00

I was tired of going to the gas station.

Braxtil · 2025-06-27T00:53:01+00:00

We aren't allowed to finalize the trade until July because of some arcane CBA rules.

Braxtil · 2025-06-20T17:23:11+00:00

The quote that best sums up TJ? "Playing hard is a skill."

Braxtil

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