We normally like to backpack when we go camping, but this weekend we went car-camping in order to meet up with some friends who are avid car-campers. We got in around dark on Friday and found a nice pull-in spot with camping available in a pretty pine stand.

On Saturday we decided to do the Sycamore Loop Trail that starts near Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower. We climbed the tower before starting the hike, which was quite a warm-up in itself. About halfway up the lookout tower I realized that we should have stretched first. (We've been doing a lot of kayaking, and haven't been hiking in a couple of months.) It was a beautiful day, though, and the view from the top of the tower was worth it.

We saw plenty of wildlife this weekend, including a tiny frog, small lizard (skink or salamander?), lots of butterflies, a walking stick and a deer. We were also awakened by the hoot of an owl in the middle of the night.

The weather was perfect all weekend. Sunny and warm during the day, and cooler (though not the predicted 60°) at night. No rain at all.

We like the Sycamore Loop because it's the only hiking only trail in Deam. It also takes you through several nice pine stands, which are great for camping.

Our friends decided to leave early (around ten a.m.) on Sunday morning. We weren't ready to go home yet, so we drove around and documented pull-in camp spots throughout the northern section of Hoosier National Forest. We found over forty such sites.