Steve mentioned at breakfast that he would be more inclined to drive to the other end rather than try to find the trail and clamber over dead fall. We might get the same number of miles im but it would be more like 1.3 to get put and then 5.5 with our backpacks on versus the 11.1. Then we could day hike and explore the plateau in more comfort.
However. The path was hot. H. O. T. And when we got to the campsite, there was a dark cloud and eventually thunder. So we all got in our tents and hung out for a couple of hours. It was actually quite lovely. Then we did get up on the plateau. It was basically low key bushwhacking which is not a favorite of mine. Then back to camp for dinner and popping into the tent because, even with the breezes and fewer trees, the mosquitoes weren't pleasant
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Friday, July 31, 2020
PItchstone Plateau July 31st
Another 8ish mile day. Steve, Heidi, and Robin all wanted to go to Union Falls which would be a 13 mile round-trip hike with the last mile or so being like "walking through sand." No thank you. Karen and I decided to scout out the path for tomorrow instead. And it ended up being a good thing because it was not well marked nor well cleared for the first few miles. It looks like there were some fires maybe 10ish years ago and thr trail markers hadn't been replaced. There were a lot of times we would just sort of walk around until we found a cut log signaling that it had been a cleared path at some point. We just went to the second stream crossing but it was enough. The way back was remarkably easier to see and what too about 1 1/2 hours to get to took about an hour to get back.
We hung out at camp for awhile, filtered some water, but the mosquitoes were once again hideous so we decided to head back toward Cascade Acres to hang out and see if we could find a part off Heidi's Camelback. The part was found and we lazed. Karen got in the water for awhile. I just dunked my shirt and then read on the beach.
We got to see three otters playing and then headed back to our campsite that Heidi said is about elevation 7,021. The mosquitoes were disgusting once again so I was in the tent by 8.
We hung out at camp for awhile, filtered some water, but the mosquitoes were once again hideous so we decided to head back toward Cascade Acres to hang out and see if we could find a part off Heidi's Camelback. The part was found and we lazed. Karen got in the water for awhile. I just dunked my shirt and then read on the beach.
We got to see three otters playing and then headed back to our campsite that Heidi said is about elevation 7,021. The mosquitoes were disgusting once again so I was in the tent by 8.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Pitchstone Plateau July 30th
The morning drive was spectacular but foggy. It hasn't been cool at night lately so it was thick in many places.
Heidi and I were early so we tootled down to the South Entrance and back up to the Pitchstone Plateau trailhead. Luckily, Steve was there to meet us even though it was more than an hour early. So we dropped the truck off and went to find the other end of our hike. It took some doing because it was supposed to start behind the corrals and we only barely saw the trail markers. So we parked Steve's truck and set out across the swamp to the markers. We got there and there was a lot of dead fall. A lot. A Lot. Steve and Heidi quickly made the decision not to go any further because it would be about 6 or 7 miles before we got to the connecting trail that should be better. Then came the dilemma of how to let Robin and Karen know since there is no cell service. We ended up finding a pull out where we waited about 45 minutes and flagged them down. We made the decision to head in via Grassy Lake Road which would cut off a big part of our in hike but would probably mean that we would have time to take a side trip (without backpacks!) to a nearby falls.
We made it to the parking lot and ate lunch then headed off. Less than 2 miles later, we were at our campsite. Surprise! That definitely left enough time for a side trip so off we went. After deciding to go slightly NE to see if we could find the falls that way, it was turning into a lot of bushwhacking so we turned around and did the stream crossing. Well, two of them. Sort of an uphill hike to get to Cascade Acres but well worth the 6 miles we ended up hiking total.
Back to 9F2 which was hideous. Late July and it was wet so the mosquitoes were out in force. There was a cloud that followed anyone outside a tent. Even duplicate rounds of Off barely kept them away. I went to bed early but didn't end up sleeping well. Kept waking up for no reason.
Heidi and I were early so we tootled down to the South Entrance and back up to the Pitchstone Plateau trailhead. Luckily, Steve was there to meet us even though it was more than an hour early. So we dropped the truck off and went to find the other end of our hike. It took some doing because it was supposed to start behind the corrals and we only barely saw the trail markers. So we parked Steve's truck and set out across the swamp to the markers. We got there and there was a lot of dead fall. A lot. A Lot. Steve and Heidi quickly made the decision not to go any further because it would be about 6 or 7 miles before we got to the connecting trail that should be better. Then came the dilemma of how to let Robin and Karen know since there is no cell service. We ended up finding a pull out where we waited about 45 minutes and flagged them down. We made the decision to head in via Grassy Lake Road which would cut off a big part of our in hike but would probably mean that we would have time to take a side trip (without backpacks!) to a nearby falls.
We made it to the parking lot and ate lunch then headed off. Less than 2 miles later, we were at our campsite. Surprise! That definitely left enough time for a side trip so off we went. After deciding to go slightly NE to see if we could find the falls that way, it was turning into a lot of bushwhacking so we turned around and did the stream crossing. Well, two of them. Sort of an uphill hike to get to Cascade Acres but well worth the 6 miles we ended up hiking total.
Back to 9F2 which was hideous. Late July and it was wet so the mosquitoes were out in force. There was a cloud that followed anyone outside a tent. Even duplicate rounds of Off barely kept them away. I went to bed early but didn't end up sleeping well. Kept waking up for no reason.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)