Peninsula Trail (Indiana) Backpacking - October 2020

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2020 has certainly been an 'interesting' year, and it got even more interesting for me personally after the June 2020 Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness hike. On that hike I took a fall coming down the uber-steep descent from The Gothics, and my left knee twisted underneath me in a sort of elongated 'hurdlers stretch'. It certainly didn't feel good but I was fortunately able to finish the hike (otherwise you might have been able to watch a helicopter evacuation to end one of my hikes!).

Well, it turns out that I tore the medial meniscus in my left knee during that fall. The ensuring series of surgeon visits, x-rays, MRI, surgery, and recovery effectively eliminated, for me, the 'prime' 2020 backpacking months of July, August, and September. But if there was ever a year to go on 'injured reserve' during that period it was 2020 - 'The Year of the Covid'!

By the beginning of October the knee healing was going well, and I was chomping at the bit to get out into the woods to enjoy the fall foliage colors. So Christian, the dogs, and I decided to head out on a local overnight 'test hike', and in choosing a destination we decided to head back to where backpacking started for me back in 2010 - the Peninsula Trail in the Deam Wilderness near Bloomington, IN.

I recently did a re-edited remake 'Throwback Time' video of my original 2010 hike, and I incorporated a little of that old footage into this new video. The contrast is fun to see. The hike we did in 2020, a 5-mile out and back to the shore of Lake Monroe, is identical to the 2010 hike, and we camped within 50 yards or so of my original camp on that first hike.

It wasn't a perfect replacement for an epic 2020 western hike, but it was still great to spend some quality time in the woods with Christian and the dogs. That night in front of the fire, eating grilled Spam and hot dogs, watching the sunset will always be a special memory for me. And the fall colors were really spectacular.

For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - a half hour in length, intended to bring the audience along for the 'ride', and with a still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes skip to the end and enjoy the pictures.

Equipment / Gear List:

Still and Video Camera: Nikon Z6 https://amzn.to/3dHJvni
Lens: Nikkor 24mm f1.8 Z-mount lens https://amzn.to/2QZqNOo
Tripod: Sirui T-025X carbon fiber tripod https://amzn.to/3bH3Rvg
Camera shoulder clip: Peak Designs Capture clip system https://amzn.to/2wRdusp
Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 16 https://amzn.to/2X5dKyu
Pack: Zpacks Arc Blast 55L
Tent: Zpacks Triplex
Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20degF Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir X-Therm https://amzn.to/2yjrUlj
Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite https://amzn.to/39zju6v
Pillow: Exped Air Pillow UL https://amzn.to/2WYE5hZ
Stove: JetBoil Flash https://amzn.to/3azKRi7
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 https://amzn.to/3dPtOL5
Pot: MSR Titan titanium 0.9L kettle https://amzn.to/3bF1RDB
Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot https://amzn.to/2R0JvoW
Buff: Merino wool Buff https://amzn.to/3dCYHSC
Recharging Battery: Anker 3500mAH ‘lipstick’ charger https://amzn.to/2URI7G3
Camp Chair: Helonix Chair Zero https://amzn.to/2xzbwgh
Camp Shoes: Xero Shoes Z-Trek https://amzn.to/3bA3X7I
Wet Wipes: Survivorware Wet Wipes https://amzn.to/2JwbQ2e