Originally Posted by
Floridahanger
I arrived at Pat's Island parking about 2:50pm on Sat. in the lite rain. On my drive in, there where many dark clouds still rolling in and I knew it would rain while on the trail... Again. Seems like there is always a baptism on this trail.
While in the car, I put my pack cover on the pack and moved a few things around the pack before getting my gear ready. After getting my gear and poncho on and a little bush watering, I headed to the Juniper Prairie trailhead on the FT headed South around 3pm in a very lite drizzle.
It had been raining earlier and all was wet thru most of the way to the Yearling Trail crossways and the trail was overgrown getting my shoes/socks very wet.
On the way down the hill past the Yearling Trail, I noticed the bottom part of a hiking pole and decided to take it with me. It looked fresh and decided to bring it just in case. I found out later it belonged to MightyMouse.
It rained most of the way down the trail and I did see some fresh footprints that had kicked up some dry sand below. I picked up my pace and caught up to Duffy and MightyMouse after a little over an hour on the trail.
I arrived at Hidden Pond around 4:15pm and met OBoy just coming out of the pond. I was surprised at camp with a few large trees that had blown down with 1 of them hung up just over the fire sitting area.
Grinder was relaxing in his hammock and Riddled and son were adjusting their rigs. After greetings, I went to set up my rig. Some of those down trees were the ones we used in July's "no underquilt hang". What a site to see those large pines down with such large rootballs and tap roots.
After setting up at the second site, where FLRider was in July, I changed into dry clothes and attempted to get my bearbag line ready to go. After throwing a little bit too hard(or, way too hard), the rock bag/line wrapped around a branch stump and got stuck. Not good.
Soooo, I left it and went to gather wood for a group fire and a warm supper. Grinder got the fire started and I started to feed it. As I was getting my supper started, the Glen Springs gang came back.
I heard Life Scout calling me and talking about having a good fire. In walked Life Scout, C+1, littlelifescout, nukeofhazzard, Great White, lilricky, FLRider, and Skunkape. They got cleaned up and joined us; Duffy, MightyMouse, Grinder, Oboy, Riddled and son and myself, for supper.
Greetings around to friendly faces and some fun chat and good food around the fire. I had cheesy fetucini mixed with crushed beef Ramen, raisins and hot tea with honey. Later, lilricky passed me some very spicy spanish rice with sausage. Great supper and filled me just right.
FLRider was kind enough to hang my food bag with his so I didn't bother to try and eradicate my line from the tree since it was now ~11pm. As I got under my tarp and started to pull out my sleepwear, a huey sized skeeter started to buzz around. I was going to go bugnetless until that monster showed up in 69* coolness. So with that, on went the bugnet and glad I did so. All night they were buzzing under my hammy.
65* was the low on my thermometer with a little breeze. I was very cozy with my new DIY mylar/insulfleece 2/3 UQ and lite fleece blanket. With the tarp in porch mode I woke at 7am to a wonderful sunny morning after waking only once at about 3:30am.
I got up and gathered more wood for the morning fire. The coals were just hot enough to get a glow going and poof, fire. I love fire. We had a nice little fire to keep the chill in the air out for breakfast. I had oatmeal and raisins with a hot cocoa/coffee mix.
After we had breakfast, Riddled and son left to get an early start out. after some planning, the rest of us ended up deciding to all head out at the same time around 11am so I spread the coals and bid a farewell to my little fire.
All, but Life Scout, C+1, and littlelifescout were ready. They had a very late start to the day. We headed out a few min after 11am with Grinder in the lead and Oboy at the rear, just behind me. Skunkape and FLRider stopped to load up on water and followed later.
After a great game of trail leapfrog with Great White, Oboy, Duffy, and MightyMouse, we then proceeded to spread out on the trail, I reached my stride and caught up to lilricky and Grinder way up front. After a stop to relieve myself and a few sips of water, I took the hill up to the Yearling Trail crossing.
The temps hit mid to upper 80's in full sun and that last climb was a little tough. Lilricky had continued to the parking lot to unload his pack and meet us at the sinkhole trail and Grinder was at the Yearling Trail crossing at the top of the hill. Grinder and I waited in the shade for the rest of our pack and for a cooldown.
Soon after, the rest of the troops caught up. One by one, they climbed to the top. All were accounted for except Riddled and son, they had left earlier in the morning, and Life Scout, C+1, and littlelifescout, they had left sometime after our group had hit the trail.
We decided the hike was complete and not to go to the sinkhole. That will be for another day. We made it to the parking lot just a little after 12:35pm and said our goodbyes. After I unloaded and changed, I chugged down my still cold water I had in the car and had some yummy cookies as I left the Pat's Island parking lot.
Thank you to FLRider for a wonderful "Summer's Last Gasp Hang" and to the good friends and new friends that joined in. We missed those of you that couldn't be there.
I hope we will all meet again, soon on the next adventure.
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