705 is now clear down to the meadows and in excellent shape. It was mosquito hell of course! Insane. But what a beautiful place. There are about 4 down logs, but chainsaws can still be used there. Didn't see another person for 5 days. I also flagged 1/2 way thru the clearcut but ran out of tape before I got to the other side. I'd like to go to the lower trailhead before winter and get at least a decent route put in.
Has anyone looked for the abandoned part of 705 down to the Oak Grove Fork? It would be pretty cool to restore the entire length.
Also hiked up to Mt. Mitchell and beyond on Rimrock. That trail is stuck in 1922. Hauled a big piece of yellow plastic from the summit down to camp, what the hell was that doing there? Full of rusty nails too. 704 is in danger of getting lost for the first mile; the brush has all but swallowed the trail and it's pretty difficult to follow.
The trail to the spring is no longer marked by two orange dots on a tree, the paint has faded away. It is getting very vague to find, and the day was getting short so I didn't have time to explore. Can someone remove that bit of misinformation from the trail description? Looking for those silly dots took me way out of the way.
There is also a wilderness permit box installed at the trailhead. Neat, but 1/2 of the permits were watersoaked in their plastic bag and useless.
Next time I will have to wear a full body mosquito kevlar suit. No, I couldn't listen to the advice "very buggy". Nope.
I was never able to find the spring, although I never looked too hard.
What do you think should be removed from the trail description? Just the part about the two dots? If so, is there a better description of where to find the side trail with the spring?
Another Bull of the Woods nominee!
The yellow stuff is the remnants of a triangular helipad marker. That point is fairly open because it was cleared.
The blazes from the dots lead to an opening at the bluff. From which one can hear water below. Way below. A natural swale from the side trail junction area leads to the same place. I wish someone would find it an send a picture. "Good Spring".
I have looked a few times off the point at the lower trail head. No sign. Probably need to get into an older stand. Snooped around towards the bottom as well but found nothing. The mapping was vague.
D
The description is still accurate except for the dots. Maybe just mention looking for faint tread in 1/4 mile instead.
I followed the blazed and lightly treaded trail to the spring; well at least the ridge ledge where I could hear the gushing, quite a bit down. Hey you'd be interested to know that your flagging still survives up there, as well as the trail signs. I guess it must switchback down. Next time.
And what exactly is this Bull Bull? Implied awards? Oh mercy.
Thanks for the info. We'll just send Don, and Murphy will find the trail, then he'll steal your lunch.
Donovan said:
Another Bull of the Woods nominee!
The yellow stuff is the remnants of a triangular helipad marker. That point is fairly open because it was cleared.
The blazes from the dots lead to an opening at the bluff. From which one can hear water below. Way below. A natural swale from the side trail junction area leads to the same place. I wish someone would find it an send a picture. "Good Spring".
I have looked a few times off the point at the lower trail head. No sign. Probably need to get into an older stand. Snooped around towards the bottom as well but found nothing. The mapping was vague.
D
The description is still accurate except for the dots. Maybe just mention looking for faint tread in 1/4 mile instead.
I followed the blazed and lightly treaded trail to the spring; well at least the ridge ledge where I could hear the gushing, quite a bit down. Hey you'd be interested to know that your flagging still survives up there, as well as the trail signs. I guess it must switchback down. Next time.
And what exactly is this Bull Bull? Implied awards? Oh mercy.
Thanks for the info. We'll just send Don, and Murphy will find the trail, then he'll steal your lunch.
Donovan said:
Another Bull of the Woods nominee!
The yellow stuff is the remnants of a triangular helipad marker. That point is fairly open because it was cleared.
The blazes from the dots lead to an opening at the bluff. From which one can hear water below. Way below. A natural swale from the side trail junction area leads to the same place. I wish someone would find it an send a picture. "Good Spring".
I have looked a few times off the point at the lower trail head. No sign. Probably need to get into an older stand. Snooped around towards the bottom as well but found nothing. The mapping was vague.
D