Sheltowee Trace Trail Thru Hike Day 11

Sheltowee Trace Trail
April 27th, 2023
Day 11, 26.2 Miles
Just a hiking marathon… easy enough.
Today was not easy. The GPS trace was off in many areas, which led to what we all believed to be some extra “mystery miles.” The terrain was chonky. Then the torrential rain… oh the rain.
First, though the day began with some quality stepping up towards Barren Fork Camp to refill our water bottles and utilize the facilities. Easy two track, wetter than normal, but Cruisey enough to follow.
After the camp, some road connector to get up towards Flat Rock Church, then the true fun began.
Thicker trail obscured in leaves and downed trees, with many turns led us towards the South Fork. At some point we got lost and ended up at the river itself, the only way to get back a nice healthy dose of bushwhack. Not super long, but what it lacked in length it made up for in slippery steep grades.
Connecting back into trail proper, the trail was beautifully surrounded by rock, but hard underfoot. Micro ups and downs coupled with downed trees and more thick brush was the flavor of many a mile.
It got better for awhile until Yamacraw Bridge, where on the other side the thickness made itself known again in the form of the bitey plants called nettles. It was also here the rain began in earnest, and would not stop for hours to come.
A nice ford of Rock Creek that felt “drier” than the dry ground we had been walking through later and some nice climbing to warm up the body.
Many twists and turns brought us into the last 2~ miles to Blue Heron Camp where Professor once again came in clutch and had set a pick up for around 6:30-7pm. Good thing too, because while it was not dangerously cold, the body with its constant saturation was starting to dip into a healthy chill.
Getting to the bridge around 6:23pm~ we threw down our gear thankfully in a little overhang to wait out the rain and wait on the boys. In the ensuing 30~ minutes or so the chill had become a shiver, it was time for some warmth!
It came in the form of a trail angel called Mary. Warmth literally in the heat of her car, and figuratively in the kindness of her soul. She picked us all up, brought us to a barn (with a heater), cooked us chilli, and was just a joy to be around.
Check out Professor’s posts for the details, but she is hoping to start a hostel on the Sheltowee Trace Trail, and we can only give the rennovated barn turned hiker paradise and her hospitality 5+++ stars! Highly recommend!
Bonus: She had (2) doggos. They weren’t necessarily “chonky” but we will forgive her for keeping her dogs in hunting shape as it is the culture around here.

[@krissmith2004]

Thanks again for your commitment to getting this footage and sharing it . One is able to get a full understanding of this very scenic trail.

[@MaxZomboni]

15:59 It's nice to see that it's not just the New Zealanders who can do pictogram signs. It looks like a lot of Kentuckians are fluent in picto too. 😎👍

[@wanttogo1958]

That was a North American box turtle of the genus Terrapene. We also call them a Terrapene. They are land dwellers that live to be 50-100 years old. You generally find them in wooded areas of Kentucky but their range includes all states east of the Mississippi as well as many of the states west of the Mississippi. There are several different species. The one you saw is of the Carolina species.

[@ajc389]

Turtle or tortoise?