Sheltowee Trace Trail Thru Hike Day 10
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- čas přidán 1. 05. 2023
- Sheltowee Trace Trail
April 26th, 2023
Day 10, 31.3 Miles
What a doozy of a day!
Mcdiddle, Mcdaddle, McNuggets type of day!
The morning began with some lazy lake miles around Laurel Lake, misty water that promised depths unfathomable, and made dark by Horsepower’s reference to a horror movie about a lake… thanks man.
Crossing the bridge near Laurel Beach signified the entrance into another world of looney tunes living. It started common place enough with a few creeks, a nice bridge, beautiful trees, and many footsteps echoed in heavy leaves underfoot.
Then, it became truly wild. The sizes and consistency of the rock walls, boulders, and cliffs became another world entirely.
We entered the Cumberland River portion of the trail and it was non stop viewage. The pace took a hit with heavy foliage and heavy “rockage”, but was well worth the slower miles for the constant sights.
Taking a break at Starr Shelter, the coolness of the shaded wood was hard to break from, and the energy was lost against the planks. Yet, no rest for the weary, today was to be a bigger mile day, and the trail beckoned forth, and as always we obliged the call.
Getting lost in the last mile to Cumberland Falls we took a straight bushwhack to the top. A little longer route, but at times we were standing directly on “the red line” and were surrounded by thick brush, gully’s, and woods without a sight of trail.
Popping down into the visitor center we took a quick picture with the falls, filled up the water bottles, and continued cruising.
The river section on the other side was… sporadic. Sometimes great track, sometimes not so great. Many twists and turns were the flavor with keeping eyes out for the next one.
Indian Creek was the goal for the night, and we knew Professor was ahead, so put the pace into cruise and bounced along a mixture of two track, road, and single track to find him and Horsepower waiting! Sly dogs!
Hiking for about another 30-40~ minutes we found a flat spot for the night, and not through actual choice, but just random bumbling, hit our first 30 miler on the Sheltowee. Felt nice to dip into that territory again.
A burrito, a candy swap, and a tick check brought about bedtime, and the snooze came easily. Well earned miles, harder than expected terrain, and ample reward in the sights, good day.
That burn area was a recent 25-acre fire (Devils Creek). The Sheltowee and Bark Camp creek trails had been closed until April 22. You all just missed it! Strange to run into 2 wildfires on the Trace in KY in the Spring.
15:12 I don't even want to Google where Dog ********* Falls got its name. 🙉
It must be difficult discovering weight limits without Magpie around.
Thank you for pointing that out, I do not remember if I said anything in the moment on video, but I definitely felt it. Who am I supposed to point them out to when she is not out there?!?!?!?! Ahhhhhh!!! It was indeed quite painful to not point it out to her.
Seen any bears on the trail yet?
Nope, no bears. We believe we heard a few in the brush, but never put eyes on any