October 12
Rattlesnake Crossing to Cassidy Bridge – 14 miles (lots of downed trees, faint trail, many sticks and branches over trail, and brush)
Well I certainly didn’t have to worry about animals today. I made enough noise thrashing through the forest to scare anything away for miles.
Today was like a puzzle, putting the pieces of an unmaintained trail together. This section was a challenge mentally and physically, but I liked it. Largely because it kept me really busy.
I made goals for myself today and that helped. Time wise, I made it to ridge above Rube Creek shortly after Heinz Meadow at 2:00 pm (7 hours). Then I made a goal to hike downhill 5 miles to the Cassidy Bridge by sundown. The trail in that section continued to be faint with lots of downed trees and took longer than I calculated. It was to say the very least… a BIG day.
I pitched my tent in a lovely campsite by the river. It is lower elevation and warmer, so I quickly took a dip in the river to soothe my cuts and bruises from the day. Simple things.
Here are some tips for hiking this section (Late Fall 2018):
Rattlesnake Crossing to Rube Creek
I relied on looking ahead for old cut logs to find the trail (at one time, many years ago the trail was cleared)
Check your GPS at regular intervals, I got off course many times. Look for turns on the map ahead of time, they are never obvious. The creeks on the map are sometimes located different than the actual topography.
Look for depressions in the ground, that usually is the trail.
There are animal trails that go the wrong way, so check GPS often.
Ridge above Rube Creek to top of the switchbacks down to Cassidy Bridge
Cut logs disappeared and were replaced with a single rock cairn. I looked ahead for these. The trail is very faint or non-existent in many areas. I loved seeing them the rocks!
When Gregg and I thru’d in 16 we set a bunch of rock cairns at junctions or turns that were non-existent. I’m glad there were still some there! I loved that bridge and campsite too!
Really appreciate the trail finding skills you shared. Are you wishing you had someone with you to share in the finding part?
The Aspens are so lovely.
And your campground is just the spot!
Thank you for taking us on your adventure! Some of those pictures just cause the panic to rise for me! A friend and I spent an entire day hunting for a lost trail, a couple years ago. I was so glad she was with me, as we kept each other from total freak out. I am NOT at your level yet! lol Man, you have some beautiful views! Thanks again!
Congratulations you have become Quite a woods woman !!
What an experience ! That dip in the river must have felt like heaven!!
Did you make a fire…if permitted?
Good tips on how to navigate this kind of terrain. As you said it keeps you in your toes and forces you to look ahead for “Clues” where the trail was “once upon a time”.