Red River Gorge / Rough Trail Loop Hike

What a beautiful day for a hike! The weather topped out at around 45 degrees and it made for some easy walking. Well, not really easy but the lack of snow and rain made it very enjoyable hiking.

Billy Sherlin and I went for a tune-up hike on Saturday. The idea was we would get some miles in, ring out our gear and just spend some time in the forest. A bit of therapy to let our minds relax and wander, I would say, as walking in the forest is simply relaxing to my mind. It doesn't go blank or stop in its tracks but rather it wanders, dreams, makes plans and settles down. Focus on thought becomes much easier and more clear. Now that was just too deep...sorry...on with the story.

The day started at the Koomer Ridge Campground and trailhead. We carried full packs to emulate the weight carried on an overnight backpacking trip. After adjusting our hiking poles, slinging our packs on our backs and locking the car (first making sure I had the key) we were off.

We traveled Rough Trail, The Sheltowee Trace and Pinch'em Tight trails for a total of 11 miles. We took our time and paced a little slower to make it easier on our knees. We took a long lunch by a creek and time seemed to stand still. The water babbled as it ran over the rocks and I filled my water bottles from the creek, filtered though a Sawyer water filter, of course. The water was cold and refreshing to the body and mind.

The hike was rough in places but the rock scrambling was fun. We walked through what appeared to be a small canyon but was actually a large opening or crack in the rocks.

I was amazed at the number of people we saw. Of the 18 or so people, 12 had backpacks and were on overnight trips. The others were day hikers and trail runners. Everybody we encountered was polite and friendly. We stopped and talked with a few but most were set on getting some miles in as we were too.

The gorge has a wide range of hiking terrains. Roots, rocks, sand and mud to name a few. Plenty of leg burning climbs that make the great vistas that much more special.

It was a good hike with a good friend on a good day and it made for a good story. I'm glad we went!

We head out this weekend for section 2 of The Sheltowee Trace Hikers Challenge, which is an overnight 24 mile trip.

It's going to be a great hike but it could be even better if you joined us!!

There are two hikes per month on the Sheltowee Trace, Team 1 and Team 2. You can join in for a weekend hike if you want. Just contact Steve Barbour at the link below. You can also contact me and I'll help you get signed up and geared up.

More info about The Sheltowee Trace Hikers Challenge can be found at http://www.sheltoweetrace.org

Unpacking & Evaluating

As I unpack from my Sheltowee Trace trip I find there are several items I carried 26 miles and didn't use. The heaviest item is extra food. It appears I have enough food for another day on the trail, about 2 pounds worth! I also have 14 ounces of useless hand warmers. I've used these in the past but out of the four I tried none if them really got hot enough to make them worth carrying. I have a rain coat and rain pants which I didn't use. I also carried about a liter of water too much, which weighs 2 pounds! I have used my water filter in the past to collect and drink creek water but was worried about not having enough water. I passed at least 4 wildlife ponds while hiking the ridge on Sunday and could have easily collected water on the go.

There are some items I would liked to have had but was able to live without. An extra pair of wool socks would have been nice. There is something about having clean dry socks to start the day with. Also, a windbreaker with a hood would have kept the snow from going down the back if my collar. But wait, I had a rain coat with a hood that I could have used! I had four knives and didn't use any of them.

There are some lessons learned that I will apply to my next trip. Evaluating what you are carrying can make the difference in pounds. In this case about 4 pounds!

Sheltowee Trace Section 1

As we prepared to step onto the Sheltowee Trace at the Northern Terminus in Morehead, KY, I wondered if I was really prepared for the weather.  It was snowing, sleeting and the wind was bitter cold.  My shelter for the night was to be an 8 foot by 10 foot nylon tarp.  I was confident I made the right choice on Thursday when I stuffed it into my pack but I was second guessing myself now.  Everyone was slinging their packs on their backs and I was trying to gauge if I had brought enough food, water and clothing for the weekend.  After all we were getting ready to walk 26 miles in the snowy forest.  All of my pre-hike jitters subsided as I walked into the forest.  It was like all of the worlds worries had been stripped from me.  My only concerns now were staying warm, hydrated and injury free.   

As the 10 brave souls began the hike, we all found our own pace.  I was a little slower than the three in front of me but a little faster than the 6 behind me.  I hiked for several hours alone with only my thoughts.  I didn't see or hear anyone.  The only evidence that anyone was in the forest were the tracks in the snow that I was following.  My pace settled in around 2 miles per hour which was comfortable considering the icy, snow covered trail.

As we approached camp on Saturday night my feet were tired and my left knee was needing some down time.  I pitched my tarp and got everything ready for a night in the forest.  My little cook pot was put into service and performed without a hitch.  In about 8 minutes I had two cups of boiling water for my meal of Ramen Noodles and Salmon.  The carbs and protein hit the spot!

I slept good and stayed warm all night.  I chose to sleep in my clothes so I would be warmer during the night and it makes getting out of a warm sleeping bag into 25 degree weather much easier.  I skipped breakfast, packed my gear and was on the trail in 20 minutes.  As I walked, I snacked on peanut M&M's, a Cliff Bar and some GU energy gel.  Around noon we stopped for a quick lunch.

The last 4 miles were all hills.  Short steep ups and downs.  One after another!  Billy Sherlin had a sore knee and was limping along in pain.  This guy gets the 110% award in my book.  You could see the pain on his face but it was behind a smile.  A rough day on the trail but well worth it.

I met some really interesting people and look forward to the next hike with them.  Steve and Karen Barbour made this experience possible by organizing and supporting the hike.

There are two hikes per month on the Sheltowee Trace, Team 1 and Team 2.  You can join in for a weekend hike if you want. Just contact Steve Barbour at the link below.  You can also contact me and I'll help you get signed up and geared up. 

More info about The Sheltowee Trace Hikers Challenge can be found at http://www.sheltoweetrace.org