HHC FOOT-TRAILS PLAN FOR THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST

HHC FOOT-TRAILS PLAN FOR THE HOOSIER NATIONAL FOREST

Submitted to the Hoosier National Forest November 4, 2000
by Suzanne Mittenthal and the Hoosier Hikers Council (HHC)
with contributions by Stan Newhall, Hoosier Backpackers; Bill Hayden, Sierra Club; Ron Craig, Indianapolis Hiking Club; Linda Elliott, Central Indiana Wilderness Club
Contact: HHC: hikers@hoosierhikerscouncil.org or 765/349-0204.

I. RATIONALE The current Hoosier National Forest Trails Plan does not provide adequate opportunities for human-powered travel; a system including an equable number of foot-trails for use by hikers, hunters, bird watchers, mushroomers and fishermen is needed. In the present system, a large majority of its trails are hardened or "armored;" these trails are expected to serve "multiple-users" (M-U). In the years since 1995 when the system was instituted, the M-U trails have become largely de facto horse trails because of their unsuitability for foot-traffic. It is time to rectify the imbalance.

II ORIGINS OF THE 1995 TRAIL PLAN, WHICH DISENFRANCHISED HIKERS The present "Designated Trails System" originated from a process set up to control effects of the explosive growth of horseback riding use and the proliferation of user-installed horse trails that had occurred in the 1980s in the Hoosier National Forest. Though horses and hikers had shared the trails amicably in earlier years, heavy use and no maintenance had resulted in horse trails that were permanent quagmires and wide bogs in forests, multiple ditches in fields, and eroded gullies on slopes. These trails had become unhikable, extremely destructive to the natural resource, as well as a danger to the horsemen themselves by 1990. A Forest Service attempt to limit use by horsemen in wet weather was met with uncivil resistance in 1991.

Citizen commissions were instituted by the Forest Service in 1992 to try to solve a politically troublesome problem. Broad panels dealing with both the Deam Wilderness and the Forest were set up with wide representation from the community, most with no expertise regarding trail use or trail construction. They were given the task of restricting use to a small proportion of the existing informal trails on old wagon and forest service roads, to minimize impact and make maintenance possible. Reconciling differences between hikers and horse users was difficult for the H.N.F. group.

A set of "designated," primarily M-U trails was devised by both teams. Hikers on the H.N.F. team only agreed to the M-U plan because it was understood by them that "the system of informal trails outside the designated system would remain for hikers' use" (personal communication, Linda Elliott, H.N.F. Citizens Trail Commission member, October 25, 2000). However, most city-bred hikers these days are afraid to leave the marked trails; in addition, the old unmarked trails were closed by the H.N.F. management. Further, the concept of M-U trails is a flawed one; hardening and dung create bridle-trail conditions avoided by most hikers.

The unforeseen--or perhaps foreseen--result of the 1995 Plan was to create in the eye of the average foot-trail user a system containing few foot-trails, with only 5 miles of trails (the Sycamore Branch Loop in the Deam Wilderness) within 75 miles of the major population center of Indianapolis. The Sycamore Loop is now regarded as over-used; the Deam Wilderness M-U trails are beginning to look like city park bridle trails as more and more miles of its M-U trails are being graveled in what appears to hikers as a violation of the Wilderness Act.

III AN HHC FOOT-TRAIL SYSTEM FOR THE H.N.F.: FULFILLMENT OF THE AIM OF THE 1992 H.N.F. CITIZEN'S COMMISSION TRAIL PLAN A foot-trail plan for the Hoosier National Forest has been devised by the Hoosier Hikers Council after consulting with long-term hiking trip leaders in the state (a map of this trail system is appended). This plan would put the foot trail offerings on a parity with other federal facilities in the region, such as Ohio's Wayne N.F., which has 154 miles of foot trails. This list of trails in the H.N.F. Foot-Trail System is primarily on old tracks. It is hoped that most of the trails may be grandfathered into the HNF system without E.I.S. Most are being used now by some hikers.

This plan gives some trails, not "more," to hikers, as horseback riders might suggest:

Many riders refuse to acknowledge that now hikers have few miles, though other riders have commented that "they wouldn't want to hike on them (the M-U trails)." Some hikers on State trails think of the H.N.F. as the place "with all the horse trails."
The HHC system simply gives hikers what the citizens in 1992 envisioned for the H.N.F., rectifying unforeseen consequences of the 1995 plan, which made all designated trails horse trails, effectively disenfranchising foot-trail users from most of the system.
More miles are available to more users at the perimeter of the Forest, thus making it easy for the public to discover the resource.
Cost-benefit ratio of the H.N.F. Trail System is improved because:
The total mix of trail miles is greater, but with limited additional costs, as foot-trails serve very low-impact users, compared to horse and bike trail users.
Costs of high-impact user trails can be accurately identified, and maintenance expenditures fairly allocated. Fee systems for biking and horse use reflect the high impact/high maintenance costs for such use. Comparable fees for hiking use are not warranted; hiking should remain free to all users (and accessible to horseback riders and bikers, it should be noted, on foot.)
This plan includes some through trails. The many contiguous miles of land in the HNF system provide an opportunity for this recreational resource that is being recognized as a major focus of hikers' interest today.
"Through trails" will be specially designated; such trails provide enough mileage to serve as a destination trail, for a weekend backpack or longer vacation backpack experience.

DEAM WILDERNESS:
(The first two have easy access from a major public road, U.S. 446; the third shares a trailhead with the well-known existing foot-trail, the Sycamore Branch Loop, expanding inexperienced hikers' alternatives on an existing, still-used historic trail.

1. BROOKS CABIN--FROG POND RIDGE--MT. CARMEL FAULT NATURE TRAIL LOOP.
2. COPE HOLLOW BACKPACKING LOOP [from Blackwell Base (not "Horse") Camp].
3. "Through Trail." TERRILL RIDGE--1980'S HNF BLUE DIAMOND LOOP

H.N.F. PLEASANT RUN UNIT:

4. PANTHER GAP LOOP Connects Y.S.F. trail north of Crooked Creek Boat Ramp, Panther Branch, Miller Ridge. Easy, visible access from Tecumseh Trailhead on Crooked Creek Rd. Or from Crooked Creek Boat Ramp.
5. BAD HOLLOW--BROWNING HILL LOOP. Return via Base of Ridge. Long-time backpackers favorite.
6. FLEETWOOD--COMBS LOOP, possibly from Hunter Creek Church Road. Hunter Creek Church Road is well-traveled, easy access from U.S. 446; road could become substitute for Tower Ridge Road if that road is closed.
7. Near Story: BROWN HOLLOW--CREAMER HOLLOW SHORT LOOP. Both Story loops depart from well-known area destination, enabling public to easily learn of availability.
8. Near Story: "Through Trail" BROWN HOLLOW LONG LOOP: Brown Hollow--Nebo--Greenbrier--(ridge east of) Bad Hollow--Browning Hill--Brown Hollow.
9. "Through Trail": KNOBSTONE NORTH/TECUMSEH (connect with Morgan-Monroe/Yellowwood State Forest Tecumseh Trail to the north) to U.S. 58 near Kurtz: Miller Ridge--Dan Sipes Ridge--Browning Hill--Nebo--down hollow west of Tidd Hollow to a road crossing just west of Houston--Hominy Mortar Ridge--Kurtz. Easy access, part of well-publicized regional through trail, the Tecumseh Trail (to be completed in 2001). Knobstone North Trail in future is to be extended south to existing 55-mile through foot-trail, the Knobstone Trail ( which follows the Knobstone escarpment), which ends just north of Louisville, completed in 1981.
10. TINCHER HOLLOW--TINCHER LAKE. A real hiking trail, still close to north population center.
11. LUKES KNOB SHORT LOOP: nearby Big Creek/Sams Creek/ Bill Hollow. Natural history is splendid; the area's historic/geologic history is best explored on foot.
12. LUKES KNOB LONG LOOP: NE from Natchez to Lukes Knob to Gobblers Knob.

H.N.F TELL CITY UNIT

13. A BUFFALO TRACE TRAIL.. This historic feature deserves a trail; there is no commemorative "trace" for the public to experience other than on a map.
14. A HIKING TRAIL AT LITTLE AFRICA This special historic area deserves a peaceful, contemplative trail; has the potential interest of a Hemlock Cliffs for hikers because of its human, not natural, Quaker/Black American history.
15. HEMLOCK CLIFFS, expanded to Mesmore Ridge, where the ATVs go. Very popular local trail; expanding trail will help keep ATVs from destroying the slopes in this very special natural and historic area.
16. ORIOLE HIKING TRAIL (east); many beautiful, historic, or botanically unique sites not incorporated in horse trail.
17. HAPPY HOLLOW, Oriole west; enchanting area.
18. E. MOGAN--Additional Trail Loops, e.g., into Rockhouse Hollow, from Phelps Cemetery parking.
19. E. MOGAN--North loop from Rockhouse Hollow, to Mogan Ridge. More miles, to make E. Mogan a destination trail, to increase hiker visits, protect it from the ATVs.
20. "Through Trail" MOGAN RIDGE--TIPSAW (via tunnel under old 37) Trail for hikers on route originally proposed for horses but discarded?