Eight hikers attempted to hike all seven miles of trails at Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester on August 12, 2023. The hikers were Tom McElhone, John Prescott, Sarah Sandefur, Kendrick Mills, Sara Pollard, Cindy Watson, Margie Schumacher and Joan Hartvigsen. The weather was overcast and very humid. The waterfalls on the Duck River were roaring and beautiful. When we began the steep climb up the Back Bone Trail we encountered many large downed trees blocking the trail. We continued negotiating climbing over, under and through large blow down trees as we descended Back Bone Trail and were hiking along the very narrow, rooty, rocky section of the Back Bone trail along the Little Duck River. The large blow downed trees proved impossible to get around and complete the loop. We retraced our steps and forded the Little Duck River to access the Chumbley Woods Trail. This trail also was blocked by numerous large blow downed trees. As we ascended the steep Chumbley Woods Trail we climbed over many large trees blocking the trail. Halfway up the steep trail we met a park employee with a chain saw clearing the trails of downed trees. We finally made it to the Chumbley Woods Trailhead parking lot on Powers Bridge Road. Margie Schumacher called her husband to ask him to meet us at the Chumbley Woods Trailhead parking lot on Powers Bridge Road. Ray Schumacher made two trips to ferry us back to the Museum parking lot in the main part of the park off Hwy 41. We decided to “call it a day” and not attempt to hike the Garrison Road Trail and Nature Trail. These trails would also probably be blocked by down trees. About an hour after we ended our hike severe thunderstorms blew through the Park. All eight hikers got out safely.
If you would like to see a few photos from this hike, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment