Booker T. Washington S.P. 3.7.2023

 This hike took off well with the hike leader firmly in command.  It was a beautiful day with 15 hikers all told along with Red the Beagle.  All went well until Red, unleashed, disappeared.  The hike went on with a couple of hikers staying back to look for Red.  We finally met up at one of the view points, still without Red.  As we marched on we did receive a call from Red's finder who was holding him at the parking lot.  As we marched further we took a wrong turn and finally figuring out where we were, we turned back.  We found a shortcut to the original trail and and proceeded to the finish.  The total mileage for this hike was 4.7 with a time of just over 3 hours.   

If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, including maps and altitude graph, click here.

Piney River 3.5.2023

 Teamwork was the key to the successful hike on Saturday at Piney River. After 3 days of rain, water was cascading through the river & its branches & down the bluffs. McDonald branch, a wet weather stream over huge boulders threatened our way. The “mountain goat” hikers leaped easily over the wet, slick rocks; the rest of us crept over with a stabilizing hand from our fellow hiker. Another hiker decided not to cross and offered to drive and pick us up at the Newby trailhead, so we wouldn’t have to cross this treacherous spot again. The in and out hike turned into a through hike. With the “hard” part over, we continued along the tumbling river and enjoyed the emerging bloodroot & chickweed.

At a water break, we noticed a hiker missing. Texting “where R U” we occasionally received a reply from the hiker, but the cell service was spotty. She thought she was behind the group & continued hiking. But we were behind her & never caught up until we reunited at the Newby trailhead.

 Thanks for working together hikers! We hiked about 10 miles with an elevation gain of nearly 2000 feet.

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture above.