Deam Wilderness (Indiana) Backpacking - May 2024

The second trip of the 2024 season took me back to the Charles Deam Wilderness southeast of Bloomington, Indiana. The original plan for this trip had been to do a hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but a number of factors made a return trip to Gatlinburg not feasible. Fortunately, Christian had returned to Indiana to join us on a Florida spring break trip so he was able to join me for the short overnighter in Deam. Also joining for the hike were our two dogs - chocolate lab Bailey, who has been on many hikes previously, and trail 'newby' (and family dog newby) Millie, a rescued 4-month old puppy terrier-black lab mix. (I talk more about Millie's story in the intro to the video at the beginning)

I've done many previous hikes in the Deam Wilderness going back to my first backpacking trip in 2010. Numerous Peninsula Trail hikes plus a 2021 hike to the same Tower Ridge/Sycamore Trail area of the Deam where this 2024 would take place. My plan was simple - get out for a night in the woods around the campfire with Christian and the dogs, blow the dust of the gear in preparation for my upcoming 2024 hikes, and see how Millie would respond to her first backpacking trip.

Hiking in late May in Indiana is a bit of a 'long green tunnel' experience, without the great views you would find in the mountains or even on the AT. So this trip was all about simply a 'therapeutic' night in the woods, providing information for anyone that wishes to hike in that area of the Deam Wilderness (specifically campsite #,4 on the Sycamore Trail Loop), and perhaps provide a vicarious experience to those unable to experience a night out themselves in the 'Deep-Woods Off'-type Indiana forest-'jungle'.

For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same immersive style, though shorter than typical at only 20 minutes in length and without a slideshow at the end. My goal is to make the viewer feel as if they were along on the hike with us.

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