Packrafting Adventure Hiking Trail Loop 2017

January 17-18, 2017.
A nice short packrafting and hiking loop on the Adventure Hiking Trail, Blue River, and Ohio River in southern Indiana.
It had just rained quite a bit for several days, ending the morning of my hike, which is why there’s so much water in the landscape, and why the Blue River was snappy for a few miles. Normally this trail is bone dry, so bring all the water you’ll need.
Rafting the Blue River and hiking up Potato Creek are highlights you don’t get to see just by hiking on the trail.
Start at the spur trail at the far northern end and hike south, leaving the trail when it gets close to the river, just shortly after the spur joins the main trail. Bushwhack north and west to the Blue River. Raft ~9.5 miles down the Blue River and take out the last time it gets close to the trail. Bushwhack east to the trail, and hike east. Spend the night in the coolest campsite in the state (which is at an undisclosed location a few hundred feet down a hill, off the trail) about 5.5 miles east on the trail. Rappel down the cliff in the morning, and raft west on the Ohio about 3 miles to Potato Creek. Hike up the creek until it meets the trail, then hike back on the AHT, about 9 miles. I dropped water at Cold Friday Road. Total time about 30 hours.