Shades of Death - My First Story

By kark written 7/19/06 7:50 PM, published 7/19/06 7:50 PM
I was at the gas station pouring a stale cup of coffee at 5:00 AM this morning getting on my way to Indiana Shades State Park located about 17 miles southwest of Crawfordsville (off S.R. 47).  It used to be called "Shades of Death" because 600 Indian warriors from two tribes fought a battle there.  The winning tribe was left with 7 out of the 12 survivors.  

I headed south down US 41 until I hit Kentland.   I saw a diner filled with semis and pick up trucks.Popup LinkTrucks Stop   That means that the food is good and cheap.  I stopped at Joe's Fillin Station Diner. Popup LinkEat at Joes It looks like and old gas station from decades ago that was converted.  Great breakfast, service, price and atmosphere.  The locals couldn't be nicer.

I got to Shades about 9:30 and attacked the "Rugged Trails" for hours.  I was hoping to do every trail in one day but my joints wanted to go home.  It was a great day and I reccomend this trip to anyone who wants to get away from everything and everyone for a day.  It is very quiet.Popup LinkLight Shower   I did not see a single person on any of the "Rugged" trails.  Those are the ones to take if you want to avoid other humans all together.Popup Linkclimb

I know it was suppossed to be 87 degrees but it felt like 67 under the umbrella of the trees. Popup Linktrees  When you wind down the ravines, it feels like you are walking into an air conditioned room.  Very cool. Popup Linkcool  You will not need sunscreen.

I have three more trails to conquer before the state of Indiana considers changing the name of the park in my honor.  Fear not Indiana, I will return.Popup Linkgreen


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  • smalltown05
    •5
    7/19/06 8:04 PM
    Nice shots! Welcome.

    - blow.....hard

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  • littlesisterjme
    7/19/06 8:19 PM
    I live in Indiana and have never heard of this place!!! It seems to be beautiful. GREAT pics!!!!

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  • Sopris
    •4
    7/19/06 8:28 PM
    Beautiful place! Welcome aboard!

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  • mrssutton
    7/19/06 8:45 PM
    What an awesome story with pics! Nice Work

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  • gaileyes
    •4
    7/19/06 9:02 PM
    wow on all of your shot! especially "green". welcome!

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  • Anonymous Hero
    •1
    7/19/06 9:51 PM
    Awesome first post! Welcome....

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  • Anonymous Hero
    •1
    7/19/06 10:03 PM
    AWESOME story with pictures! keep it up..

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  • 20DShooter
    7/19/06 10:18 PM
    Green and Climb are terrific!

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  • andreaeagle
    •4
    7/19/06 11:33 PM
    Beautiful post! wonderful story, I really liked Trees and Cool. Please send more....

    - come over for lunch

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  • MRQUACKERS
    •5
    7/19/06 11:48 PM
    Welcome, enjoyed the light effect in 'light shower'

    - A quack with an camera

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  • bugaboo
    •4
    7/20/06 2:38 AM
    My kind of place! Thats one I can add to my places to see & explore soon. Wonderful shots, love climb!

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  • loweho
    •6
    7/20/06 3:27 AM
    Welcome, kark, great pics of one of my favorite parks. Sorry to see no waterfalls pics though, there is a cascade and small waterfall. Shades isn't as improved as nearby parks but it is also less used. The last three times I've been I've seen a total of 6 people and they were all together with a ranger taking a tour. This park is just a few miles from Turkey Run State Park which is more improved and busier. Also Pine Hills Nature Preserve is right around the corner from Shades, it's small but unique in that it has 4 very narrow backbones, including the infamous Devil's Backbone. We used to go to the Boy's Club camp, Camp Gulick, which is in between Shades and Turkey Run, when we were kids and they would always take us to Devil's Backbone on an excursion. It's basically, a parking lot on the side of the road but they do have a naturalist there in the summer. To quote their literature "The four narrow ridges called backbones, which were left between stream curves, stand 70 to 100 feet above the valley. They are recognized as one of the most remarkable examples of incised meanders in the eastern United States. " Again, welcome aboard, and great first post.

    - Fickle Finger of F8

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  • Candice
    •5
    7/20/06 3:43 AM
    Nice post...I esp like "cool" and "green"!

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  • OldManDan
    •1
    7/20/06 3:58 AM
    I've spent many happy hours and days in Shades, and these images do a good job of capturing the environment. I was going to recommend Turkey Run and Pine Hills also, but see that loweho has beaten me to the punch. In the same area, Fall Creek Gorge is also worth a visit. http://www.photographica.org/story/2006/7/3/72543/67469

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  • KayN
    •5
    7/20/06 5:36 AM
    Welcome to the site! I really enjoyed the walk! Loved the last shot bestest!

    - Ms.N

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  • Pyro43
    •6
    7/20/06 5:43 AM
    Welcome aboard. Good first post. I enjoyed the green. Thanks for taking us along!

    - Mmmmmm... Multiplicative

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  • buzibod
    •1
    7/20/06 6:47 AM
    Cool post. I live in Indiana and really have not been in this area, but when you have a 2 yr old it is hard to see good things like this. Thank you cant wait to see more pics. I liked them all.

    - Me and my friend

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  • Lidljo
    •5
    7/20/06 7:02 AM
    You did a lovely job of sharing this wonderful park with us and helping us see it through your eyes. Welcome!!

    - Flowers are happiness...

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  • TURBO
    •7
    7/20/06 11:11 AM
    Nicely done, Kark. Welcome to the site!!! some of your shots , like CLIMB, TREES and COOL remind me of a MYST game that I play. Cool, and again Welcome!

    - Hmm...Blonde or Brunette?

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  • kitzi
    •6
    7/20/06 12:58 PM
    good job...

    - ©kitzi

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  • sceneangel
    •2
    7/20/06 2:21 PM
    Nice shots, really liked climb, welcome to the crazyness.

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  • Anonymous Hero
    •1
    7/24/06 6:51 PM
    Kark, enjoyed your story & photos so much, I'm going to pack my twins in the car and head for Shades this weekend!

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  • ShadesofBlueArt
    •4
    7/25/06 6:57 AM
    Where's the Blue?

    - Art is what Art is!

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  • Zoser
    7/25/06 7:32 AM
    Makes me want to go for a hike, hiking through the mountains.

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  • javsmom
    •1
    7/26/06 3:03 PM
    climb and cool look so inviting but green is my fave, looks like the earth caved in there...

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