Date(s) Hiked:
Sep 26-27, 2003
Trails(s) Hiked:
Rocky Branch, Isolation, Davis Path
Total Distance:
14.6 miles
Difficulty:
Moderate (long, tricky footing and crossings) but straightforward.
Conditions:
Wet. Yea, very wet.
Special Required Equipment:
Poles highly recommended for balance - most of the trail is rock-hopping, and much of that is where the trail is a streambed.
Trip Report:
Friday, we went up the Rocky Branch Trail from Rte 16. After the switchbacks, where the trail turned south and followed the contour, it got very wet, crossing runoff areas. Then going up to the ridge's height-of-land, much of the trail was a stream bed. Along here, an enormous pile of bear scat sat on the side of the trail. Two people we'd see later actually did encounter the bear and scared it off.
After the wet and mud of the height of land, we started descending to the river. It was wet. Much of the trail was a streambed. Don't misstep or you're going through the water deep into the mud. The first Rocky Branch Crossing required us to go barefoot. Other people with only day packs could make the one critical hop, but with full overnight gear we took the safer approach. We visited the #2 shelter - it's still in decent condition although the roof has lost numerous shingles.
All other Rocky Branch crossings we did by just rock hopping. The trail had a few minor wet spots, and the vegetation and ground were quite damp. After the last crossing, everything is wet. The trail is the stream and the stream is the trail and there is no way to step anywhere else. You can't go off-trail here - it's all bog. Balance carefully - poles were very helpful.
We camped at the designated site at the junction of the Isolation Trail and the Davis Path. It's somewhat confusing - as the Isolation Trail arrives at this open, wonderful-looking-for-camping site that think isn't legal, you get arrows pointing to the right and yellow blazes that meander around, but it isn't until you get to the Davis Path that you see the tent symbol, taking you back down a tiny route through shrubs and over downed trees ... into the same open campsite-looking area. There are lots of small spaces - fitting a tent in where it wasn't wet was difficult. This is hammock country.
The fog and wet really came in overnight, and the view from Isolation on Saturday was 50' and grey. We packed up and headed down, and the trails were even more wet Wet WET. The crossings were all fine, and in this direction we even made the tricky hop and never took our boots off. The hike out is interminable, especially when it starts pouring rain.
We had a fantastic meal, as always, at Cafe Noche. I'm working on adding the pictures to my web site.
Sep 26-27, 2003
Trails(s) Hiked:
Rocky Branch, Isolation, Davis Path
Total Distance:
14.6 miles
Difficulty:
Moderate (long, tricky footing and crossings) but straightforward.
Conditions:
Wet. Yea, very wet.
Special Required Equipment:
Poles highly recommended for balance - most of the trail is rock-hopping, and much of that is where the trail is a streambed.
Trip Report:
Friday, we went up the Rocky Branch Trail from Rte 16. After the switchbacks, where the trail turned south and followed the contour, it got very wet, crossing runoff areas. Then going up to the ridge's height-of-land, much of the trail was a stream bed. Along here, an enormous pile of bear scat sat on the side of the trail. Two people we'd see later actually did encounter the bear and scared it off.
After the wet and mud of the height of land, we started descending to the river. It was wet. Much of the trail was a streambed. Don't misstep or you're going through the water deep into the mud. The first Rocky Branch Crossing required us to go barefoot. Other people with only day packs could make the one critical hop, but with full overnight gear we took the safer approach. We visited the #2 shelter - it's still in decent condition although the roof has lost numerous shingles.
All other Rocky Branch crossings we did by just rock hopping. The trail had a few minor wet spots, and the vegetation and ground were quite damp. After the last crossing, everything is wet. The trail is the stream and the stream is the trail and there is no way to step anywhere else. You can't go off-trail here - it's all bog. Balance carefully - poles were very helpful.
We camped at the designated site at the junction of the Isolation Trail and the Davis Path. It's somewhat confusing - as the Isolation Trail arrives at this open, wonderful-looking-for-camping site that think isn't legal, you get arrows pointing to the right and yellow blazes that meander around, but it isn't until you get to the Davis Path that you see the tent symbol, taking you back down a tiny route through shrubs and over downed trees ... into the same open campsite-looking area. There are lots of small spaces - fitting a tent in where it wasn't wet was difficult. This is hammock country.
The fog and wet really came in overnight, and the view from Isolation on Saturday was 50' and grey. We packed up and headed down, and the trails were even more wet Wet WET. The crossings were all fine, and in this direction we even made the tricky hop and never took our boots off. The hike out is interminable, especially when it starts pouring rain.
We had a fantastic meal, as always, at Cafe Noche. I'm working on adding the pictures to my web site.
