Chicago Backpackers haunted Halloween hike and the legend of the insane Hoosier

November 2, 4:32 PMChicago Adventure Travel ExaminerTed Nelson

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Insane Hoosier even made Jason de-mask in befuddlement while the Adventure Travel vampire looks on
photo courtesy of Rob Arcykiewicz

The Chicago Backpackers haunted the Charles Deam Wilderness in the Hoosier National Forest this past weekend for Halloween and the woods will never be the same. Fourteen Chicago hikers dressed up in various costumes and headed out to the peninsula campsite on Monroe Lake.

It was an inauspicious start when our Catholic nun and the crazy Hoosier crossed the street and received some incredulous stares from a car of innocent hikers heading farther into the forest. Those people will never be the same. Once the crazy Hoosier is seen he will haunt the dreams of his victims forever.

    Catholic nun before de-frocking tries to out hike the crazy Hoosier while Jason takes a peak
    original photo by Rob Arcykiewicz

 

After weathering a bit of rain on Friday night not to mention the twisting turning Indiana scenic roads, the club set out in costume the next day on a cool, clear, crisp Autumn day. Unfortunately, the leaves were a little past their prime or maybe they saw the crazy Hoosier coming and all fell in advance of his maddening stare.

The rain took its toll on the trail as the hiking was slow going through the Indiana mud. Or was this nature’s defense against the insane Hoosier? Nature has a penchant to develop odd forms of defense to ward off intruders and the crazy Hoosier was definitely that. Just like the thorn thickets protect with irritating slashes to bare arms and legs perhaps the mud was nature’s way of resistance to the hysteric Hoosier, or whatever he really was.

When hiking with a forty plus pound pack that digs into the shoulder and weighs on sore feet, one must do all they can to make themselves as comfortable as possible. This mode of self-preservation did away with many costumes soon after the hiking festivities began. The walking canvas became de-easled, the adventure travel vampire took off his fangs, the catholic nun de-frocked himself (or herself), and even Jason took off his mask.

    Jason tries to kill the crazy Hoosier, but he somehow came back
    original photo by Ted Nelson

Despite the series of discomforts, nothing could stop the descent of the crazy Hoosier into the heartland of Brown County.  Although the Chicago Backpackers have gone home, legend has it that the crazy Hoosier still walks these woods with his wild-eyed stare and those that even glance into his kooky kinetic kaleidoscope eyes will never have a restful night again. 

Insane Hoosier is not a crook
photo by Ted Nelson