Finally the triple vista TR
Jan 25, 2015 22:58:50 GMT -5
Post by AegisIII on Jan 25, 2015 22:58:50 GMT -5
Photos
You may recall I did a triple vista hike in Michaux State Forest in October, at peak color.
I started at Laurel Lake at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Weather was not good nor as forecast; overcast, light fog, light rain. But it wasn't bad, and I hoped it would clear up as the hiked progressed. (It did.)
I started hiking a trail through hemlocks mainly to avoid Cold Spring Road for a short bit, before having to follow the road a short distance and onto a gated logging road. It ends at a mysterious bunker by Sage Run. A trail continues, singletrack, imposed on what I suspect is an older iteration of Cold Spring Road. In the lowlands, color is mostly yellows and orange. The ascent is rather gentle. Two crossings of the stream lead me to Cold Spring, flowing well but not as much as the last time I was here. Here I transitioned to singletrack, following a trail through mostly pine, over numerous conglomerate boulders, still a gentle climb, until I reached the Buck Ridge Trail.
After Buck Ridge, the trail steepens and becomes switchbacked. The forest explodes in color, the sassafras trees appear fluorescent. At the top of the trail, I head under the first overlook, before taking the side trail up to it. A good view awaited at the yellowjacket overlook, and, thankfully, this time, no yellowjackets. The skies were clearing, and the oranges, yellows, and greens of the mountains and valley stretched out in front of me. Some chestnut trees were trying to grow below the rocks. A good stop for a break, even with the wind.
I then headed back down to the main traversing trail, taking it out to the yellow-blazed Buck Ridge Trail. I headed downhill a short distance, until I reached the sign for the unblazed Hammond Rocks Trail. It is singletrack until it reaches Cold Spring Road; on the other side it becomes a gated logging road. Since this became a solo hike, I decided to skip the first trail to the vista loop (the one I've always taken) and headed to the second one. I then decided to continue even further, taking a logging spur below the vista, past a clearing as it became a rough skid, and decided I had missed the trail up to the vista loop. Back at the clearing, I decided to bushwhack up, and soon found the trail as it climbed amongst the boulders and rock formations. (It turns out that it's connection to the clearing is quite overgrown.) I worked my way up to the vista loop, soon making my way to the main northern vista. Colors were somewhat more subdued here. Continuing on the vista loop, I picked the rocky trail option, and also headed out to a large boulder with a second view. Dropped one of my hiking sticks, and so instead of walking around the rock I decided to climb down. Halfway down (oh, we're talking at most a 4-5 foot drop) I decided this was a stupid idea and I should head back up and around. Gravity, however, had a different idea, as I slid/fell off the rock, but having a very nice foot landing. Only got some very minor scrapes. Picked up the lost stick and headed back to the trail. Decided that while I was fine, I should check my pack and clothes. Need some new hiking shorts.
I then circled the vista loop, here with the reds and maroons of both the trees and brush. Checked out the little fissure cave again. Then on my way down to the lower vista. This trail is a good place to make up time, as it is mostly not rocky, and generally either level or lightly downhill. Mostly yellows in the trees. After entering a pine area, I soon reach the ledges, and find the correct side trail for the Lower Vista, my stop for lunch. Of course, a great view of the South Mountain area with no signs of roads or buildings save a far away tower or two.
After lunch, I continued on the gentle downhill, before taking in a steeper, rockier section down past one logging road and to a second. Here I headed east until I found a singletrack heading down towards Mountain Creek. It followed along the slope above the creek, before crossing a slough on some logs and then reaching the creek. Mountain Creek was wide, well-flowing, and apparently somewhat deep, black water due to leached compounds from leaves. There is a bridge, long and narrow, two sections nailed together in the middle above the creek, stabilized as a suspension bridge via some cables. Past the bridge is a nice lowlands walk, mostly by the banks of the Creek, but sometimes wandering inland. Very nice in the autumn. Popular with hunters also. I had a snack on a bench by a pool on the creek, before continuing on until I reached the backs of the cabins along Hunters Run Rd. Plenty of places to access the road here, so it turned out I continued further along the trail than I had wanted to, arriving a the road a few hundred feet west of where I had wanted to.
After working my way back east on the road, I headed through a little cut to arrive at a small flooded quarry. Took a trail along its shore for a bit, and then climbed up to Old Forge Rd. Not gated (surprisingly), but after heading through an area of rhododendrons and old exploratory mines, trenches, and quarries, reached the limit of where vehicles could go, and I continued up along an old woods road. Sometimes the trail leaves it where it has become too eroded. I soon reached an old trail, formerly blue blazed. This, of course, headed straight up the back side of Pole Steeple, and so soon I was at the top looking down on Laurel Lake and the surrounding hills. Plenty of people here, of course. Hikers and rock climbers.
After taking in the view at Pole Steeple, I decided to once again altar my plan. Instead of just going down the Pole Steeple Trail, I instead took the blue-blazed trail towards the Appalachian Trail. In the middle of the flat saddle area, I found a faint trail heading west from the trail. I followed it as it passed some viewless rock bluffs, slowly descending from Piney Mountain. Some areas were faint, but lost I did not get. Even at the trail junction with the sharp turn, but that's likely because the straight-ahead trail was hidden. Some rock field crossings. Then onto an old logging road for a brief drop to the road following the old railroad bed. I then just needed to walk partway around Laurel Lake back to the parking area.
After the hike I headed over to the Fuller Lake area of the state park for Fall Furnace Fest. Just a short visit, got some fresh-pressed apple cider, perhaps not as good as the year before. I then stopped at the McDannell's Fruit Market's stand, where I picked up a gallon of their apple cider, much better. It is the best apple cider I've had, so they deserve a mention. (They are, however, closed for the season.)
You may recall I did a triple vista hike in Michaux State Forest in October, at peak color.
I started at Laurel Lake at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Weather was not good nor as forecast; overcast, light fog, light rain. But it wasn't bad, and I hoped it would clear up as the hiked progressed. (It did.)
I started hiking a trail through hemlocks mainly to avoid Cold Spring Road for a short bit, before having to follow the road a short distance and onto a gated logging road. It ends at a mysterious bunker by Sage Run. A trail continues, singletrack, imposed on what I suspect is an older iteration of Cold Spring Road. In the lowlands, color is mostly yellows and orange. The ascent is rather gentle. Two crossings of the stream lead me to Cold Spring, flowing well but not as much as the last time I was here. Here I transitioned to singletrack, following a trail through mostly pine, over numerous conglomerate boulders, still a gentle climb, until I reached the Buck Ridge Trail.
After Buck Ridge, the trail steepens and becomes switchbacked. The forest explodes in color, the sassafras trees appear fluorescent. At the top of the trail, I head under the first overlook, before taking the side trail up to it. A good view awaited at the yellowjacket overlook, and, thankfully, this time, no yellowjackets. The skies were clearing, and the oranges, yellows, and greens of the mountains and valley stretched out in front of me. Some chestnut trees were trying to grow below the rocks. A good stop for a break, even with the wind.
I then headed back down to the main traversing trail, taking it out to the yellow-blazed Buck Ridge Trail. I headed downhill a short distance, until I reached the sign for the unblazed Hammond Rocks Trail. It is singletrack until it reaches Cold Spring Road; on the other side it becomes a gated logging road. Since this became a solo hike, I decided to skip the first trail to the vista loop (the one I've always taken) and headed to the second one. I then decided to continue even further, taking a logging spur below the vista, past a clearing as it became a rough skid, and decided I had missed the trail up to the vista loop. Back at the clearing, I decided to bushwhack up, and soon found the trail as it climbed amongst the boulders and rock formations. (It turns out that it's connection to the clearing is quite overgrown.) I worked my way up to the vista loop, soon making my way to the main northern vista. Colors were somewhat more subdued here. Continuing on the vista loop, I picked the rocky trail option, and also headed out to a large boulder with a second view. Dropped one of my hiking sticks, and so instead of walking around the rock I decided to climb down. Halfway down (oh, we're talking at most a 4-5 foot drop) I decided this was a stupid idea and I should head back up and around. Gravity, however, had a different idea, as I slid/fell off the rock, but having a very nice foot landing. Only got some very minor scrapes. Picked up the lost stick and headed back to the trail. Decided that while I was fine, I should check my pack and clothes. Need some new hiking shorts.
I then circled the vista loop, here with the reds and maroons of both the trees and brush. Checked out the little fissure cave again. Then on my way down to the lower vista. This trail is a good place to make up time, as it is mostly not rocky, and generally either level or lightly downhill. Mostly yellows in the trees. After entering a pine area, I soon reach the ledges, and find the correct side trail for the Lower Vista, my stop for lunch. Of course, a great view of the South Mountain area with no signs of roads or buildings save a far away tower or two.
After lunch, I continued on the gentle downhill, before taking in a steeper, rockier section down past one logging road and to a second. Here I headed east until I found a singletrack heading down towards Mountain Creek. It followed along the slope above the creek, before crossing a slough on some logs and then reaching the creek. Mountain Creek was wide, well-flowing, and apparently somewhat deep, black water due to leached compounds from leaves. There is a bridge, long and narrow, two sections nailed together in the middle above the creek, stabilized as a suspension bridge via some cables. Past the bridge is a nice lowlands walk, mostly by the banks of the Creek, but sometimes wandering inland. Very nice in the autumn. Popular with hunters also. I had a snack on a bench by a pool on the creek, before continuing on until I reached the backs of the cabins along Hunters Run Rd. Plenty of places to access the road here, so it turned out I continued further along the trail than I had wanted to, arriving a the road a few hundred feet west of where I had wanted to.
After working my way back east on the road, I headed through a little cut to arrive at a small flooded quarry. Took a trail along its shore for a bit, and then climbed up to Old Forge Rd. Not gated (surprisingly), but after heading through an area of rhododendrons and old exploratory mines, trenches, and quarries, reached the limit of where vehicles could go, and I continued up along an old woods road. Sometimes the trail leaves it where it has become too eroded. I soon reached an old trail, formerly blue blazed. This, of course, headed straight up the back side of Pole Steeple, and so soon I was at the top looking down on Laurel Lake and the surrounding hills. Plenty of people here, of course. Hikers and rock climbers.
After taking in the view at Pole Steeple, I decided to once again altar my plan. Instead of just going down the Pole Steeple Trail, I instead took the blue-blazed trail towards the Appalachian Trail. In the middle of the flat saddle area, I found a faint trail heading west from the trail. I followed it as it passed some viewless rock bluffs, slowly descending from Piney Mountain. Some areas were faint, but lost I did not get. Even at the trail junction with the sharp turn, but that's likely because the straight-ahead trail was hidden. Some rock field crossings. Then onto an old logging road for a brief drop to the road following the old railroad bed. I then just needed to walk partway around Laurel Lake back to the parking area.
After the hike I headed over to the Fuller Lake area of the state park for Fall Furnace Fest. Just a short visit, got some fresh-pressed apple cider, perhaps not as good as the year before. I then stopped at the McDannell's Fruit Market's stand, where I picked up a gallon of their apple cider, much better. It is the best apple cider I've had, so they deserve a mention. (They are, however, closed for the season.)
