I had been wanting to get back into the Clear Springs / Bald Knob Wilderness areas again since Todd and I had so much trouble navigating there in September. I had four purposes:
1. I wanted to understand where I went wrong with my navigating
2. I wanted to get to know that part of the R2R trail better
3. I wanted to get more pictures of the awesome destruction caused by the 100 mph sideways winds that hit there early in the year - we were so focused on trying to get unlost that I took very few pictures in September
4. I wanted to make a contribution to the effort to clear the trail
Riley and I arrived near the Clear Springs Wilderness trailhead early Friday morning November 6 to find that about a mile from the trailhead the road was flooded.
I started preparing some hot breakfast and while my water was heating explored the land between the cliff face and the flood and found that there was a trail that would get me through. So after breakfast I got my pack ready to hike. I packed along an axe and two hand saws. I also took about a gallon and a half of water. I didn't know whether I would get to Hutchins Creek on this hike which is the only source of water in this area that I would count on.
Much to my surprise a little way into the woods I discovered that the trail had been cleared since Todd and I were there. The first few hundred yards took us about an hour in September. Here is how this looks today.
A little further down the trail I was able to identify the turn where I had led us astray in September. What exactly happened is a long story and much too embarrassing to share here in front of the whole world. Let's say I need to take more time when transferring GPS data into my machine and check it carefully against the trail guide before I head into the woods in the future.
About an hour into the hike we came upon this blow down and I went to work on clearing it. Riley supervised.
Before
After
This took me about two and a half hours to clear using the axe and saws. Strangely this would be the only place I would find still needing to be cleared. I guess they left it for me. My blistered hands were grateful.
We stayed overnight about a half mile west of Hutchins Creek. It's tough to find level ground for a campsite anywhere in this area and this spot wasn't especially level but it worked out. I discovered I had forgotten my headlamp so it was a very early dinner about 5:00 PM and into the bag at 6:00 PM as it was getting dark. I was tired and slept long and well.
Saturday morning, about 45 minutes down the trail we got to Hutchins Creek. This is easily the most water I have seen here in my probably five or more crossings. Hutchins Creek is the border separating the Clear Springs Wilderness to the west from the Bald Knob Wilderness to the east and is situated just about in the middle of the combined area.
The weather was awesome. The tree colors were spectacular. I was thoroughly enjoying being in the woods. I had plenty of time and wanted a good workout, so I decided to cross and just keep going East with the goal of hiking to Bald Knob Road, where there is a trailhead for those entering the Bald Knob Wilderness going westbound.
Then I would simply turn around and hike back through both Wilderness areas. This may be the very first out and back hike I have taken on the R2R. Every other time I can think of we've shuttled vehicles and hiked only one direction. Had I known I would find such a clear trail, I might have planned a different hike.
Nevertheless, this was alot of fun. And Riley was having a great time. He was full of energy this morning and would race past me periodically speeding along the trail and then go off to the side into the woods and explore until I caught up.
Here are some more shots of the destruction Riley and I passed.
It's a little hard to make out in the photo below, but the three blobs in the background are three large uprooted trees in a row on their sides.
Just as I arrived back at the place I had cleared the day before, a group of backpackers hiking east into the Clear Springs Wilderness met me. A young girl proudly informed me that there were 16 altogether in the group comprised of three families. Their ages appeared to range from seven or eight years to early teens. One young tadpole was carrying a pack almost as big as him. There were three dads, but strangely no mothers. Hmmm. What could that be about? If you are reading this and it sounds like the hike you were on this weekend, please send me your story and photos and I will post it to the blog.
I asked the lead teenager to take a picture of me proudly sporting my axe next to the work it had done. I would eventually pack the axe about seventeen miles altogether. Mission accomplished.
For more photos of this hike, click here.
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