Okay, I know I haven't even gotten through the Jeff Memorial Forest Marathon Hike (http://www.meetup.com...) but I'm really setting my sights on a bigger goal... hiking the Knobstone in under 24 hours. Here's what we are looking at...

Just how rough is the Knobstone?
19,400' in 50 miles (taking the full "figure 8" between SPURGEON HOLLOW and DELANEY PARK)
438'/mile, or similar to ascending *and* descending a 219'hill per mile.
cum S->N Trail segment Rise/FallSum average/mile
7.0 JACKSON 7 3830 547
11.1 St.Rd. 160 4 1940 485
16.6 NEW CHAPEL 6 1670 278
24.7 LEOTA 8 2710 338
31.5 ELK CREEK 7 4440 634
37.2 OXLEY 6 3270 545
43.5 SPURGEON 6 1430 238
---- ---- ---
~44m 19290' 438'

It has been done in under 10 hours so its definitely well within the realm of possibility. I believe it would require some planning and some training though. 50 miles in 24 hours requires a 2.1 mph average pace which I think is doable with good conditioning and good meal planning.

I have talked to a few guys from the Louisville group who say they are interested in training for it. I haven't run across any ladies who have showed any interest yet. Anyone else interested in working out with us to accomplish this goal? I can see some good friendships being forged along the way as well as some great hikes and scenery and some pounds shed as a bonus.

I'd absolutely love to have 5-10 folks interested in training with me and hopefully at least a handful interested in doing the whole shabang.

The goal is to do some 15-20 mile hikes every 2-4 weeks then maybe bump up to a 30+ miler then plan the full Knobstone sometime in the fall when its cool again. I have been known to give tows up hills for those who show they are invested in the cause ;-) Some of the training hikes could be at RR Gorge to make it accessible to you guys.

Let me know what you think and if you are interested.

This is fanTAStic.
I'm in!

And (you knew this was coming), I have the perfect date to suggest! April 14th weekend! "KT50" will put everyone on trail at the same time, helping with shuttles and afterward. Wildflowers out the wazoo -- whole carpets of 'em, and no big leaves on the trees to block the views or the warming sun. YUM.

Fantastic, Tony!


http://www.groups.yah...

Since Tom is seasoned at this I think I'll make the Indy message board the official information site for the KT IN-A-DAY ADVENTURE.

I hope that some of you will seriously consider banding with us for training and actually doing this. We could do 20-30 mile training hikes in several places just to make it easier for folks to get involved.

KT-IN-A-DAY ADVENTURE information site

could be interested, like to know where is it, I am french and not familiar with the area. Like also to know what year period you would plan to do it, I do not like the cold! but the only show stopper would actually be the rain.

I'm routing all traffic to the site listed above. You can find links to maps and all kinds of good information about the KT there. If you are still interested please mark that site and we'll all coordinate there.

I'm waiting on more information but there's a big event there in April that I want to be a part of somehow. If I don't do the full KT at that event then it will be a long training hike at least. My thought is to attempt the full KT hike sometime in the Fall when its cool but not too cold.

To save you a click... here's a good link to get started

Knobstone Trail Information