Trip Report for Hoosier National Forest (Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area)
Friday, February 18 to Sunday, February 20, 2000

Deam offers several nice loop trails that can be combined to make longer backpacking trips. This weekend we backpacked with a few friends, starting a little east of the Fire Tower on Sycamore Loop Trail (the only one that’s mostly a hiking only trail). We hiked counterclockwise around the loop and continued west on the Axom Branch Loop. Where it hooked up with the Grubb Ridge Loop, we took the north fork and continued west and around to Blackwell Horse Campground. Actually, we took a side trail to Patton Cave, and when we tried to get back to Blackwell by a different route, we got off track and ended up coming out by Todd Cemetery. Even if all didn’t go exactly as expected, it was still nice hiking. We camped in nice pine stands both nights, and the beautiful weather on Sunday made up for the rather cold and dreary weather on Friday and Saturday.

These are thumbnails of some pictures from our trip. Click on an image to get "the larger picture".

filtering water in Patton Cave

large entrance to Patton Cave

a friend emerging from Patton Cave

panorama of campsite on Sycamore Loop Trail (very nice site :>)

nice silhouette shot from Patton Cave

nice formation inside Patton Cave


 
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