www.michaelhenry.rocks/shawnee-state-forest-three-day-solo-backpacking-trip-report-10-dec-2015/A while back my buddy Mikey C. told me about a hike that he had taken at Shawnee State Forest. He remarked that immediately after getting on the trail it turned into a steep up and down roller-coaster trail that was very challenging. Sounded good! And a bit scary. I'm improving my fitness and working on my pack weight so whenever I hear anything about a challenging trail I both get excited to hike it and a bit apprehensive about the pain. Additionally I know I am a slow hiker, especially when there are hills involved, and I hate to hold others in the group back. With all that in mind I needed to burn a few vacation days and settled in on a multi-day hike at Shawnee State Forest. Though Mikey C. had started on the Northern loop I opted to go on the Southern loop due to many people speaking highly of Camp 6, which is located on that section. Due to work and other issues the trip went back and forth from four days to three days, back to four and then arrived at three days.
When the trip was going to be four days I decided that I was going to go from the Trail Head to Camp 6, which is counter-clockwise and would pass by the turnoff for Camp 7. On day two I would go to Camp 5 and back to Camp 6 on day three then hike back out to the Trail Head on day four. The first day would be 9.6 VERY challenging miles.
Southern Loop, Counter-Clockwise
Day 1 (Th) - Trail Head -> Site 6 = 9.6 miles
Day 2 (Fr) - Site 6 -> Site 5 = 3.2 miles + day hike
Day 3 (Sat) - Site 5 -> Site 6 = 3.2 miles + day hike
Day 4 (Sun) - Site 6 -> Trail Head = 9.6 miles
I didn't end up doing it like I described above, but we will get to that later.
Before going much further here is the video I shot while on the trip. I'm a terrible video maker but maybe you will find it interesting.
Soooooo here is my trip report, with mid-report chatter along the way.
Thursday - Arrive at Trail Head in overnight parking at 8 am, the time when I was hoping to start hiking. I had some difficulties located the parking place because I didn't see a trail. It turns out the parking was exactly where I thought it was originally. Whoops. I got out, registered, changed shoes and started walking at 9 am.
From the parking lot you head South along a road then down some stairs, across a bridge and then onto the trail itself off a service road. What struck me immediately was how primitive the trial was. It was just a little notch cut out in the side of the hill. It was easy to see that all the online talk was correct in that the trail system is not widely used. I suspect that it is because of the difficulty of climbs.
Mid-Report Chatter: Shawnee State Forest is also known as "Ohio's Little Smokies"
I made an online purchase of a highly informative report of the trail system. It gave a fair topo map, descriptions of trail sections, campsites, water, and other things that one would need. It pointed out that the first few miles were not that challenging but after that nature just started to hate on you (it did) and then before Camp 6 you got some flat miles. All that was true.
Noon - It took three hours from Trail Head to get to the turnoff to Camp 7. The campsite was down the hill with water being .4 miles away. I was doing well on water so I had no desire to add .8 miles, of hills, to get water. Additionally I was finding running water here and there when I was in a bottom and could filter some as needed. By the time I got to Camp 7 I was starting to feel the effort. BRUTAL, compared to what I was used to. From Camp 7 I ascended to the top of the next hill and set my pack down for a 30 minute break.
Mid-Report Chatter: When I say the effort was "BRUTAL" that's the truth. Part of it was my current fitness, body weight, pack weight, etc. but the other part is reality. All over the internet are comments about this trail. And here's something..... the Southern Loop is the easiest between it and the Northern Loop. Before I tackle multiple 10 mile days on the Northern Side I'm going to have to conquer the Southern Side in multi 10 mile days.
3:51 pm - I arrive at Camp 6. ELATED. Though my quads were shaking from the downhills the front part of my feet were in pain. I think it was because I did not have my boots laced properly and the downhills were putting a bunch of stress in places I don't normally have that type of stress on.
Mid-Report Chatter: I have Asolo Fugitive Gtx boots, a very popular model. They are heavier and stiff, which is good at my weight. I usually leave the top part unlaced so my ankle can flex. I didn't think about it and that allowed my foot so slide forward more than it should and I think that is what stressed my foot. on Friday morning I tightened the lower laces and also the top part of the boot and that seemed to help.
Camp 6 was awesome! Two creeks coming together right at the camp with Hemlock trees all over the place. It's one of the places that someone would want to come and read a book while relaxing and allowing their feet to dangle in the water. Assuming no snapping turtles of course.
Being physically tired can allow one to talk themselves into making a mistake. What I wanted to do was to just lean against a tree and take a nap as the first signs of the day ending were starting to occur. It would start the process of getting dark around 5 pm. Having gone through these things before I knew that was a mistake so I took the time to get my shelter ready and then with that done I made my dinner. While doing all that I noticed that as expected there was no cell phone service. The only reason this matters is that I was unable to let my wife know that I was well. As mentioned in the video I posted she needs to know where to direct the insurance agent to verify the state of a body before a check is issued. No body, no check. Them's the rules.
Dinner that night was "The Big Easy" Gumbo by Packit Gourmet. Packit Gourmet is backpacking comfort food for sure. It's one of those brands that everything I've tried from them so far has been spectacular. When at the end of a day sometimes ANYTHING will taste great but this is great, Lvl 5.
Mid-Report Chatter: Right before bed I took my Nighttime Recovery. If you are like me and you push beyond what you are comfortable with here and there this is an important thing. I found it by accident. It is by AdvoCare, the same people I have used to go from way way heavier and less healthy to a better version of me, and will continue to use it to get to an even BETTER version of me. Click HERE for the report that made previously, and is referenced by many on the internet.
Bed time. I don't recall falling asleep. It was good.
Friday - I woke up feeling great! I was glad for my Nighttime Recovery and a sound night of sleep. It rained gently during the early morning and that allowed me to sleep just a little bit longer. Sweet sweet falling rain.
I filmed the campsite and went across the creeks to the campsite on the other side, where the latrine was. The easiest way that I found to get to the other campsite was to continue on the orange trail until it dipped down to the consolidated creek and it appeared as if a service road crossed and headed back to where the other camp should be. Take that and sure enough you arrive at the other campsite. If you have multiple tents or hammocks this is the better site. If you are solo pick one and enjoy it as they are both nice.
At this point I have to make a decision. Do I continue on to Camp 5, which is 3.2 miles away or stay put? Going on to Camp 5 means that I would have a long miles (for me at my fitness level) on either Saturday (hike to Camp 7 from Camp 5) or on Sunday (Camp 6 to Trail Head). Another long miles day didn't concern me except for the pain I felt in my foot that I mentioned above. If I had it solved as I mentioned I wasn't sure if I would "heal" up enough to make the long hike whatever it really should be. I'm not going to put in miles just for the sake of doing it. I can suffer in many ways, and many times it is a very satisfying suffer, but I wasn't interested in that on my hike out. Fear? Maybe. Smart? Haha .... no that's probably not it either.
In the end I decided to hike to Camp 7, back towards Trail Head. I could then either stay two nights there or come out a day early ..... just depends.
After a breakfast of an oatmeal concoction I had prepared at home I packed up and at 12:30 pm I hit the trail towards Camp 7.
Three hours later (4:29 pm) I arrive at Camp 7. It's at the bottom of a hill so I know when I leave the first thing I'm going to have to do is climb a hill to get back to the trail then immediately as a reward I get to climb the next hill! Where is my medal?
Camp 7 is also very nice. It's basically just a spot in the middle of a forest. Done. That's it. Just forest. It's great. I also notice as I'm walking into camp that there is a pup tent erected with the front pole fallen in and a full sized sleeping bag rolled up and sitting outside the front door. Hmmm..... I did notice a fresh boot print on the trail down so maybe it belongs to that person?
I go over to the other cleared area that is used for a campsite and put my stuff behind a tree. It's getting towards the end of the day and I need to hike to the water source and replenish. I hurry a bit and when I come back there is no change in the status of the other tent. Nothing.
Shelter built.... water boiling.... tonight's meal is going to be something I picked up at Gander Mountain just to try out. The meal is "Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken" and I wasn't expecting much. In the past the larger produced meal companies left much to be desired but with the competition given by the cottage industries there have been improvements. I thought this meal was pretty good and I rate it a "Would use again, happily". I haven't compared nutritional values though.
Mid-Report Chatter: One thing about being outdoors at the time of the year it gets dark early. On Friday I went to bed because I felt it was time, which is ok, but in the morning I was awake too soon. I COULD have just gotten up and started to do whatever but I just didn't.
All evening and even while laying in bed I kept an eye on the other campsite to see if "whomever" would show up. Nobody ever did. I decided I'd let the Rangers know about it.
Hammock time. Wasn't REALLY tired so I fell asleep slowly, being brought back to consciousness by the many movements of the night life.
Saturday - Up and at 'em! No change in the semi-collapsed tent in the other spot. For breakfast instead of my oatmeal creation I had Camp Chow's "Bacon Cheeseburger Soup" and it was another winner. Usually on my meals I always put a fair amount of extra water in just to get some extra hydration, with flavor. I find plain water very refreshing especially on the trail but if I can get some at the end of the day flavored like bacon cheeseburger I would be a fool to not take that option.
Another decision to make. Do I hang out at camp all day with possibly a small day hike or head to Trail Head? I decide to head to Trail Head. I'm as relaxed as a human can get and still have a heart rate and if I don't have a destination I'd just as soon get home and have a day to unpack and get ready for Monday. So that's what I do.
So my breakfast can digest a bit I take an extra leisurely pace in getting my stuff packed up, paying close attention to things I have not used so I can improve my pack. Upon having things packed up and drinking my extra water I head over to the abandoned tent to see what's inside. I would have hated to have ignored an injured or passed away person. I go over and use my trekking pole to look inside and it's empty. Someone has abandoned a pup tent, a full sized sleeping bag, two small bags of trash and some cans and bottles of beverages. The bottles being some sort of wine.
11:00 am - Head out. The first part of the hike out is the hills. My feet feel good so I think the prior day's adjustment is working. As I get to the end of the hills I start to power up them. I'd like to get to my Jeep having gotten a good workout. The last part of the hike out is not as hilly so I just slow down and enjoy the last bit of time I have in the woods. It's so peaceful.
4:29 pm - Trail Head. I get back to my Jeep, throw my pack in the back and change my shirt. It takes about 20 minutes of driving to get cell service and all the texts and emails that I had happily missed start arriving. I let my wife know I'm alive and drive home, already missing the trail.
I was wondering how I would handle the solitude. I don't normally have an issue with it but it's been a while since I've gone most of three days without speaking to anybody else. No problems with it.
The trip was also a good judge of where my fitness is. Can't wait to do it again to see how I'll have improved.
