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| Backpack | 13.40 Miles |
750 AEG |
| | Backpack | 13.40 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 750 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Wildcat Crossing Bridge (FR 25) upstream almost to Bear Creek.
Once again, the Black River delivers: beauty, solitude and isolation, wildlife, flowers, etc.
We spent only one night (having planned on two) due to a minor ailment (mine) and freezing temperatures at night (see ice on boots photo!!  )
My friend, Petra from Yuma, and I drove to Wildcat Crossing Bridge and hiked up several miles and set up camp on one of the Black River's fine park-like flats. No campfires are allowed at this time, and we spent a rather chilly evening and cold night. The hiking (and wading!) itself was great, with new awe and wonder around every bend. At one point Petra spotted a large herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, about 18 of them! It appeared that they were waiting for us to get the heck out of there, (darned paparazzi), so they could approach the river for a drink of water.
On the second day we arose, finding ice on my boots. I was kind of sick (no I was NOT hung over, didn't even drink--maybe that's the problem!) But I recovered by about 10 a.m. and was able to have my breakfast. We decided to leave our backpacking gear and just day hike upstream a few more miles.
Our destination was Bear Creek, but once we had gotten fairly close to it we reached an area that had been rearranged by the Wallow Fire (on the south side of the river only) and I was a bit confused about where we were. Anyway, we were tired and ready to get back, so we turned around, hiked back to our big packs and headed for the car. All in all, a great overnight backpack, but could easily be done by a strong hiker in a day. We saw a total of 5 people, all of them fly fishermen standing thigh-deep in the river.
This area gets so little traffic that in the midsection there is almost no trail, and you have to watch for the big cairns to find the best places to cross the river. You have to cross the river many times, which is why I call it "The Black River Wade." |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life. |
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