The Heat Is On

The heat was definitely on this past Saturday. I'm not one to bitch about the weather but dayum, what a scorcher! Still, no comparison to yesterday's gusty tragedy. Condolences out to that family.

Unlike the past hikes this one was like the polar opposite. Different mountain. Different trail system. Different vibe. To sum it up, the other trail is cool, wet, muddy, slippery, and basically a nature walk up to the lookout. From there on it gets rough.

In contrast, this puppy is hot, dry, rocky, and hilly. It's pretty much a two timer. First one is to see what lies ahead. Second is to finish off the trail.

This was our first outting up there. We hit the trail by 10:00am with the morning sun already beaming in our general direction. Luckily, the trailhead and a good ways in was filled with trees to help shade and cool us.

The trail winds up and down with many climbing areas. There are numerous enclosed drops where you're fairly safe from an extended fall. But up ahead lies many exposed hills where safety and caution is important.

About halfway through starts some of the more difficult climbs. Some are rocky, some are just hilly. The difficulty though is really in their frequent succession since they leave little time to stretch or rest in between.

A passing group mentioned something that we found amusing. One of them complained the [hiking] guide showed the trail as beginning to intermediate. If not for the fact we knew EXACTLY what she meant I'd have LMAO!

It's no joke. The trail is much more difficult than it appears. This is especially true on hot, dry days. My recommendation is to prepare well with at least two sources of water, lots of rest before the hike, and of course, a good meal.

Anyway, there's quite a hill toward the latter part of the hike. It's a long and dry with the sun blasting you. The ground is semi-brittle for the first 50' or so then it's topped off with dirt for about 20'. I've never been good at geometry but maybe it's at a 45 degree angle? Dunno but it was nice.

We found the easiest way up was to run it. If not, there is a side trail about halfway through on the right. It leads up to the top as well.

The top btw is only a resting point before continuing an endless series of climbs. It appears to go on for a while leading up to a very steep ridge where a tower sits. We went on a bit more but with the growing heat we agreed to pay a return visit on a much cooler and restocked day. Lotta sun so the pix are kinda bright:

Dry Day!

Being the last one before a much welcomed break, we set about with a fun goal in mind - the mudslide!! The day arrived and it was nice with blue skies and cool weather. We started the trail around 9:00am and were suprised to see how dry it was.

The trailhead is usually a good indication of the mud factor ahead. However, due to the recent dry weather the trail proved to be fairly decent. No need for contending with the slippery, squishy, stinky mess of dirt, water, bugs, fruit, leaves, rocks, and animal doots.

We figured on a short journey and stuck to the main trail. Along the way we came upon recent foliage clearing, the site of a recent cut. If you peered over the edge you could see the large trunk and branches. A pile of sawdust and roots were the only remnants left on the trail.

Anyway, we left the area and headed for the main junction. Our time was good and we got there fairly quick. Unlike in previous weeks, the water had sufficient time to either evaporate or be absorbed into the mesh.

Though dry in appearance the lack of water created a false sense of stability in the path. Without any visible signs of water the ground appeared solid. But on one of my usual hop, skip, and jumps across the web of tangled roots I hit a deep one! It must have been around 5" thick and felt like grainy pudding as my foot sank into it.

Surprisingly, when I pulled my foot out of the sludge it was dry. My pant leg, sox, and shoe were covered with a brown coating of something strange. I knew it was mud but it felt weird.

The whole incident actually only happened on the way out. It was a cruise on the way in which is probably what made me careless during our exit. On top of that I wasn't paying much attention to the trail so it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Anyway, getting back on track we reached the lookout rather quickly. Following a very short break we headed up the slippery path in search of the mudslide. Though only a week had passed I had already forgotten many of the details such as the number of climbs required to reach the fork.

Turned out to be a little more than anticipated but still manageable. The rain started creeping down the mountain in our direction. At that point I hoped it would rain sufficiently to cause some serious mudding. In retrospect, I'm glad it didn't otherwise it'd have been a bad outting.

I originally planned to do a "coffin" slide by selecting the most direct path, putting my camera on video record, and sliding down feet first, non-stop. The footage would have been great but as I examined the path it became clear the lack of rain meant more friction as well. It would have been difficult to obtain enough speed to create a smooth, consistent slide. In addition, there were several groups of piggy doots across the slide which made it less appealing to do uncontrolled.

Instead, I took the most direct path down along the weeds and brush. There were a few slips but nothing major for me. It was much more exciting for my hiking partner who had some nice spills. Sadly, I have no pix or video to capture those special moments. Let's just say it was fun to watch!!

Excessive

Wow, true fact. We thought we knew where we were going. We thought it would be an easy hike. We thought we would have time. Nope.

The day's events were excessively underestimated. Again, we planned for an early start but ran 20 minutes late. We all had to be back by early afternoon (at the latest) due to other obligations and it started going down from there.

My bro and I had our turkey-day party to contend with. Stink had his own stuff to do. And, Ducky had his usual series of tourneys to attend. It should have been a sign but we ignored and continued.

We hit the trail and already decided it would be the first junction alternative. The weather was good but the trail was at its normal mud bog. No slips but it still had the effect of slowing us down.

Finally, we got to the junction and started up the hill. It was more difficult with a bigger group so the time increased further as we pushed on to the next junction. Our goal this day was to try for the other waterfalls so we took the unfamiliar trail.

The trail led up a muddy slope then forked at another junction. We ignored it and continued forward. There were lots of pix views in this area since we could clearly see running falls across the valley.

After a time the trail headed downward and we came upon a few runners. From our brief exchange I gather they were on a 6 mile circuit and were startled at seeing us on this semi-deserted trail. We exchanged niceties before continuing on.

More time passed and the trail seemed endless. We had to have been walking for at least another 30 minutes before someone appeared and lucky for us. A father/son combo headed up the trail gave us an important piece of information in parting. The trail we were on extended another 2 hours!!

We looked at each other and said "f$@! that" before heading back. Tired from the excessive waste of time we got back to the junction and went down the intersecting trail. To make up time, we cut through much of the trail by blazing across the area. Saved us about 30 minutes or so.

Back at the web of mud and roots for the 7th time this year I rushed ahead anxious to reach the lookout which was a mistake. The smarter thing to do would have been to leave. We were already frustrated at the waste of time and knew we all had deadlines. As payback, we wanted something to come away with that would be well worth our time.

The mudslide was the answer. As we reached the lookout and stopped to rest, we made a final decision to continue or not. It was unanimous but again I should decided to return.

Pushing up the hill I couldn't recall all the climbing elements but knew there were quite a bit. The physical demands are high as a result. As we progressed past each section, it became obvious this was a bad decision. But we had gotten to the point of no return and moved forward.

A long time passed. It was just the four of us taking it to the limit one more time. We got through the climbs and made it to our destination.

Much like the first time this mudslide had a lot of action. More slips and spills but also some smart thinking. I guess not everyone likes to get dirty so my bro just used the ferns to get down by walking on them. Their already dead and dried out so they have tremendous traction.

Good thing he came down last though. I was first and I faired pretty good. The next two were successively worse. Stink slid in spurts but Ducky did a long, fun slide.

The action on the mudslide was topnotch. All the extra crap we went through was replaced by the fun. To remind myself of it, I view Ducky's slide as often as possible.

Photo Assignment

This time we were on assignment to help get some shots of naycha. The weather decided to be nice so it was just the mud. So, with an early start we rushed up to the trail.

The air was cool and all of the streams and minifalls were running strong. There was a nice, constant breeze that excelled at keeping the stench of rotting fruit and animal feces away from our nostrils. Aside from minimal slushing, it was fine.

We decided to change it up a bit. At the first junction, we headed up the side trail instead of continuing forward. The paths are like night and day. One is like a stink nature walk while the other requires more effort due to the rocks and upward slope.

There's also way less mud up there but the trade-off is a longer trail. It's almost double the other one but still a good change of pace. Nonetheless, gabbing and moving at even pace got us quickly to the next junction.

Here, we had several choices. One path led downhill to where both trails would eventually intersect. The other led uphill to a trail we were unfamiliar with. We decided on the first.

About 15 minutes into this area it started to rain. We took cover under some copses of trees and waited for the rain to subside. It did after a time then we continued.

The trail became semi-hazardous following the rain. Stones were very slick and the mud made it worse. In certain areas, we took a while to ensure safety.

After a time we finally reached the intersecting trail junction. The ground was saturated as usual and we were already familiar with the rules of engagement. We advanced through trying to avoid much of the mud until we hit the hill leading to the lookout.

By the time we reached the top it was nearing lunch. The final shots were taken here. Literally for me it was like the final insult.

Here's the story: I start recording the path leading up to the lookout followed by the two trail paths, one leading to the waterfall and the other to the mudslide. As the camera pans, I make some minor narration. The shot finishes and I press the stop button but can't figure out why it's not working. Then I realize I didn't even press start!! Now I have to record everything again so I do so but halfway through the damn battery dies!!!

Luckily I took the photos earlier:

Mudslide

Like the previous hike there was a newb joining. For you Nemo fans, the fish was fried and eaten by Uncle Nemo who was ready to match wit against all that is natchurell. Indeed, it would be this very hike that a breakdown of all intellectual thought went out the door AGAIN.

As in the past, we planned to start the trail early. Everything was set that morning but for some reason the timing was bad. We had a party of seven scheduled to meet at around 9:00am.

The first call came in as a cancel while we were still at work getting prepped. Next call was to acknowledge attendance, a good sign. Waiting for the final call, we packed up and drove off for the trail. There was still no contact on the way up and I wondered if the remaining group was lost.

Thirty minutes had passed and we decided to move on. Then as fate would have it the call came in just as we were nearing the first junction. The deadspots are so bad that the calls kept dropping. We played phone tag for another 15 minutes then gave up.

Mud and sludge were our constant companions following us everywhere. We picked up the pace to make up lost time and soon reached the trail end. It was fun and games from that point on. Three of us were now familiar with the layout and generally avoided most of the pitfalls. However, Nemo seemed to be attracted to them.

After 20 or 30 minutes we exited and reached the lookout. I thought about it prior to the hike and suggested we take the left trail up the hill. The adventure would be exciting for all (including me) and somewhat of a mystery. Everyone rested while I snapped more pix then we proceeded up the hill.

Similar to the trails along the waterfall ridge this one also had deeply cut paths. Normally, this would be good to combat strong winds but it tends to effectively trap water as well. As we climbed, there were fairly deep pockets of water that would easily pass your ankle. Who knows what lurks in those dark waters?

The trail probably hadn't seen much activity. Most of the plants along the path were covered with excessive dew and the ground was overly moist with puddles of water. Taking the lead isn't always a good thing since it felt like I had taken a shower in my clothes.

Quite a challenge, this one requires a lot of climbing. It's up, over, under, and around for most of the hour or so. There are many twists and turns, obstacles, broken ledges, and exposed rocky climbs. Lucky for us it wasn't raining!

Moving forward my goal was to quickly locate a path split where one of the forks would take us back down the mountain. I had my doubts and thought aloud that this might be the wrong trail. Right then I could hear Nemo laughing and I got back on track.

I retook the lead then carefully searched for the split. Everyone kept an eye out hoping we didn't already pass it. Then, 20 minutes later it appeared up ahead beyond a moss covered section of trees that resembled green snow. The vibe I got reminded me of D&D - a troll lurking around, a witch spying on us, or a green dragon ready to blast us with deadly gas.

Some brief pix then I investigated. To the right, a trail leading down the opposite side of the mountain. But to the left, a dead end. Our path was overgrown but still clear of large debris but after a ten foot drop it vanished under and beyond bushes and trees.

No one wanted to turn back so with careful maneuvering I navigated the unfamiliar, sloping path. I scouted ahead and learned it continued downhill, snaking around the tree past the thick, prickly bushes. Signalling the all clear, we headed down.

It was years since I last came this way and the lay of the land changed drastically. The condition was so bad that many deep tree roots were visibly sticking out of the ground further downhill. A sure sign of massive erosion it was no wonder my vague memories of the trail were distorted.

We proceeded down as I found areas safe to pass. This went on for a while until we reached the top of a long, steep slope. It was a thick mudslide around three feet wide and 100' long. Our wet shoes and clothes made the area slippery and unsafe to walk. The only option was to slide and hope there was no cliff up ahead.


It was so steep and slick that if you accelerated too quickly you'd have a miserable time stopping without doing a long tumble down the mountainside. We used anything and everything we could to slow our descent, grabbing onto bushes, broken tree branches, roots, and sometimes others. You could actually continue sliding another 50' if you wanted to but it might require medical attention once you landed.

When we finally reached the bottom we were filthy. It took a lot of energy just to get out of the mud forest that we were beyond ready to leave. Up ahead was the trail and a decision needed to be made. Downhill was much closer to a trail exit but we'd have to walk uphill back to the car so it was a no brainer.

The party looked beaten and I hoped it was the right trail. After 15 minutes we hit the trail junction and everyone was relieved. Regaining our bearings, more pix were taken but they were clearly of tired individuals looking forward to disposing of the mud suit and taking a nice long shower!

Enjoy the pix:

Make Up Hike

This one started a string of weekly Saturday hikes between 11/5 and 11/26. Tomorrow (12/3) is the fifth one. You'd think it'd be time to give it a rest but there's always something a little different about each one whether it's new people, a new trail, or a new challenge.

For this one, it was a new person. Actually, was someone who missed the previous trek up to the waterfall. She was bummed about it - more so after hearing the stories and seeing the pix - so this was the make up hike.

We started the trail a little early that day. The weather forecast showed light showers so we weren't too concerned about trail conditions. As it turned out, the mud up there never dries out so it didn't matter.

With a small party of two we made good time. There were still pauses for pix but we quickly passed the junctions and arrived at the mud trap. It was still there lying in wait for the next foolish victims unaware of the slippery, sludge.

Prior experience dictated the use of alternate routes around the more wetter areas. I had been there enough times that I developed a rhythm of movement. The idea was part philosophy, part balance. Of course, the whole theory goes out the door if you move like a demi-human! But simply put, look ahead, know where you're going, step purposefully, and be flexible.

Moving in and out of the muddy area we approached the trail exit and rested at the lookout. The view there is rather spectactular as it gives you access to the west and east. And weather aside, it is the only decent place to rest.

As an introductory hike, we decided to keep it short. We headed back avoiding as much mud as possible. No falls of note this time but as we left the trail I knew another one was hooked.

Here's more pix:

Owned!

Who'd have thought a simple word like that could create such bad vibes. Today, gamers typically use it to imply a thrashing was laid upon one or more player's backsides. But when not used in gaming terms, it's both funny and uncool.

On this hike, we had a fairly large group of nine. A few were familiar with the trail but it was a new adventure for most. We had a few kids with us who wanted to share the experience.

Luckily, weather wasn't a problem. We double checked our gear, took the "before" pix, then started the trail. The pace was even and allowed for much picture taking along the way.

There wasn't much fanfare and the march continued through the mud past the first junction. We continued for about an hour with an occassional slip, here and there. More slipping would occur when we entered the trail junction leading to the lookout.

The entire area is filled with raised tree roots which seem to form a diabolical web of mud and water pockets. Helping to retain the moisture in the goo is a thick canopy that helps block the sun from drying it out. Not much help for the first timers.

It wouldn't be so bad if the roots were low. But damn, they are high and low and wide and narrow. It's all random and all slippery. For most, it was step and slip. You were lucky if you stepped into the puddle but if you didn't, then that means you slipped and ate it.

We finally reached the lookout and took a well deserved break. More pix were taken before another group of hikers (college kids) appeared on the trail. They looked to be in worse shape then us, muddied, tired, and beaten by the slippery environment. After a time they left.

About then, we too decided on our next course of action. We pre-planned a lunch picnic after the hike and time was running short. A sensible decision needed to be made so with all in agreement, we pushed on to the waterfall.

To be fair, the trail isn't quite a walk in the park. It's a bit taxing with many hazards and obstacles along the way. There are holes and rocks and trees and ledges that require careful attention and patience. After an hour or so, our goal was reached - not the actual waterfall but the spine where it becomes clearly visible and audible.

After everyone caught up and more pix were taken, we headed back down for a quick and dirty exit. More slipping, more falling, more mud. It was fun (I thought) and I suppose everyone else did, eventually.

Can't really say the same for the college kids we met earlier. As we left the trail and headed for a good lunch, we noticed a large group of muddy, sad looking individuals strewn about the side of the road. It had just started to drizzle and as we passed slowly by a broken voice could be heard saying, "take us with you".

A quick moment of silence followed. Then, like a monster rearing its head for a vicious attack, a child turns and says, "Owned!" Ah, I tell ya these kids nowadays say the darndest things!!

Waterfall Revisited

Wow, this one was rough. It was almost 15 years since I last went there with my bro. He had been asking me year after year to go but I stubbornly declined. Now I could finally redeem myself but what a way to do it.

We tackled the waterfall head first! Time had claimed the original trail paths and it was difficult to locate. To simplify things, we decided to head for the highest spine and climb down.

After a time, we reached our goal and trailblazed a path down the side of the mountain. Eventually we hit the bottom but were far from anything we recalled from past adventures. Soon though the first of many waterfalls appeared.

They came in varying sizes but there were approximately 5 on the way downstream. Some were only a few feet high while others were like cliffs. The last two we hiked to were exactly that.

One was like a plateau that was visible on the trail up the mountain. It was still summer time so the water didn't flow well. That day was a blazer but we were cold from all the water. [Oh yeah, the damn rocks are deceptively slippery. Once wet, you WILL slip and fall.] This area provided a nice place to rest and dry off.

Time was passing by and we had to begin the hard climb up the mountain. There was a waterfall below us and we figured there'd be at least one or more downstream. Though this area was a good rest stop it sucked for climbing down. We basically had to jump down and hope nothing gets broke!!

I think this was the best looking waterfall so I got nice pix. The next tapered off into a narrow path. It was very slippery and the view was difficult to obtain without putting yourself into jeopardy. So I did and got as good a shot as I could.

That was the last spot since there was absolutely no way down without a rope. As much as I like to bust ass I'm no foolio. Jumping blindly off a 40' or 50' cliff into what you hope is a deep enough pool is for dumbshits. I guess I'm not one.

We headed back up and I choked on the way. Cramps in my calves, cramps in my thighs, cramps in toes... I thought I was getting delusional and it was retribution for all the crap I put the others through back then. Turned out I was wrong.

By the time we got out it was dark. The total trip was 12 hours and felt like 24 with rubber legs. Was fun in a painful way and I got some nice pix too:

Return To Paradise

It was like a breath of fresh air. I had been passing up hiking invitations for around 10 years. The Last Hike really did a number on us and I guess I felt guilty about the outcome more than anything else.

The timing was just good for the return trip. I was re-turning over an old leaf, cleaning up my act. It was a generic invitation but only one person accepted. KT, who is definitely an elf in disguise, was ready to rock.

Finally ready to put the past behind me I had only my fitness level to deal with. The hike was in August so I had about a month to prepare. With everything on track it became the main focus and I trained my ass off to get ready for it.

Weather looked bad at first but by the time we hit the trail it cleared up. There was a lot of mud and even some doggy doo which lightened the mood a bit. After a time the apprehension went away and I rejoined the rest of the party.

Occassional drops of rain sprinkled the area. Much of the ground was soft from the previous morning shower leaving fresh pockets of mud and muddy water spread over the path. The wind picked up some too and there was a slight chill in the air.

In years past I had a difficult time locating and identifying the correct trail markers. This didn't change much but fortunately we had map. It took some reorientating to determine the right one to take.

We continued until familiarity set in. I suppose the change in landscape over time distorted most of the memories. The only real thing I remembered was the mud. It wasn't until the bamboo forest that most of it started flowing back into consciousness.

Now we were in business. The area was muddy but my thoughts were now clear as we continued up the trail. I knew we were close by when it started to open up in the distance, exposing a gloomy sky and leaves rustling in the strong wind.

The lookout is actually a smallish area openly exposed to the elements - it's so windy there that you could jump forward and get blown back! There's a small seating area (like a bench) and a trail marker designating the end. To the left is a fairly steep hill with mud, water, and loose rocks. That path takes you through another trail system that eventually forks into oblivion. On the right, the waterfall!!

Overgrown from infrequent use, the path to the waterfall was partially hidden from view. Yet, I knew it was there, waiting, beckoning. I reminisced for a brief moment before retiring to rest and snap some shots. We headed back shortly after.

I had some personal doubts about bombing out on the trail. After all the only activity I was used to doing in recent years was feeding my face!! But thanks to my hiking bud it turned out to be a fun adventure that left me charged for the next one.

Here are some pix:

The Last Hike

Ok, not last as in most current but rather the one that happened way back when. It was memorable in an infamous way due to the sheer lack of common sense applied that day.

Severe weather conditions and hiking inexperience should have triggered red flags all over the place. But the four headstrong fools looking to tempt fate thought it would be the perfect setup. Go for it, disregarding the welfare of self and others, and if you survive, you are the mang! Foolhardy is probably a good description of what we were that day.

It was typical of all new year eve's - rainy, windy, and cold or rainy, muggy, and humid - basically just crappy. We planned the hike for about a month and were mentally ready to dive headlong into fate. In all that time there was no preparation or contingency planning just a simple checklist of what to bring.

The only wise move was that I bought a new cell phone just for the hike. I thought it would come in handy in the unlikely, remote, hell freezes over chance that we'd need it. Sadly, we did.

Long story short, it was a grueling 10+ hours of hell. Personally, it was exciting for me but I admit I was selfish(er) back then. Well, I won't go too much more about it since that would be a lot of typing. Instead, here's a summary of key points:

everyone arrived before 7:00am
last minute checklist then packed into the ride
saw the bad weather on the way
decided to go for it
pulled over to make walking sticks
hit the trail
walked into the middle of a storm
pushed to increase the pace
slipped, fell, hit our heads
made it to the lookout
weather got worse with heavier wind and rain
pushed again to increase the pace
hazardous trail conditions slowed us
found the waterfall area
trailblazed down the mountainside
took the wrong path
had to scale down slippery rocks at 15' to 20' interval drops
hit the riverbed and headed upstream
heard the flashfood crash up above and scattered
sluggishly climbed back up the rocky path
torrential down pour of mud and water nailed us
finally reached the trail
soaking wet, muddy, pissed we headed back
dragged our sorry asses up, over, under until we got back to the lookout
took the wrong path and extended the exit by a mile
finally got out.

We started at around 7:00a and exited around 6:00p. My cell was phuct, swimming in a pool of muddy water. Cold, wet, exhausted, and almost broken we lucked out and found a tourist couple compassionate enough to let me call for a ride.

Got home, got cleaned, got fed, got sick, got weary of hiking. In short, got owned!

Preface

Always had an affinity with nature but wouldn't call myself a naturist or anything like that. Not much of a green thumb either. The only thing I like is being outdoors, under the sky, day or night. Just seems like how it's supposed to be.