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| Hiking | 9.50 Miles |
1,391 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.50 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 1.58 mph |
| 1,391 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | | Decided to give Fossil Creek another try. After turning away yesterday due to overcrowding, I was pleased to find 1/4 as many cars parked at the TH than Saturday. Today I had my friend Cylie with me. Fossil Springs was a good choice as I'm sure many of the Forest Roads leading into West Clear Creek were like mud bogs from the pounding rains the day and night before. Not having a 4wd, I wasn't feeling up to taking any chances at getting stuck. Cylie arrived in Strawberry only to be met by heavy rain. We decided to eat breakfast at the lodge and see if things let up. Conditions improved a bit...although not much. We decided to go for it anyway. Cylie and I started down the trail shortly after 9am. We hiked the first 3/4 mile in the rain. The rain soon turned to mist as we entered the clouds below us. By the time we reached the bottom of the canyon it felt like a totally different climate. Although still a huge mass of clouds overhead, the temp was warmer and no rain. I went from wearing pants and a sweatshirt up top, to zipping off pants legs and a tank top at the bottom. We continued down Fossil Springs trail towards the springs. In two recent trips to lower Fossil Creek I had never traveled far enough upstream to see the springs. These aren't little bubblers. Most of them are raging gushers. Before long Cylie and I were up to our waist in the crystal clear water. We arrived at the waterfall, which is powerful and impressive. We rounded the bend to get a look at the waterfall from down below and we were a bit surprised to find a bathing beauty walking out of the creek in full nude. She seemed a little surprised herself, but also not very shy either. We moved forward, had some fun on a rope swing, swam into a cavern with an 8 foot high diving ledge. The water looked like turquoise blue from inside the cave. There is a forest of what looks like wild blackberries. We snacked on the delicious wild berries as we made our way out. The 4 mile climb back up to Fossil Creek was a leg and butt burner, but we are both strong hikers and it got easier as the temperature dropped and a cool breeze picked up. This is a beautiful place to visit, but I fear the mass numbers of sloppy hikers and creek hoppers may ruin it in time. I toted out more than I carried in. People are just too careless, leaving clothes, soles of shoes, feces, wrappers, bottles and bottle caps scattered along the way. I'm not going to say its a major problem yet, but it has potential to go bad. I hope I am wrong. |
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| This is my gym. I have to travel down a bumpy road to get there. There are no treadmillls, no machines, and no personal trainers. I walk..I run..I breathe the fresh air. I can go any time I want, as much as I want and there is no membership fee. |
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Route Editor
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