| | -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
5 |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 14.23 Miles |
3,213 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.23 Miles | 7 Hrs 15 Mns | | 2.15 mph |
| 3,213 ft AEG | 38 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | | Today was the day I was to complete the South Fork - Gold Ridge loop, so I thought. The weather was absolutely perfect and the air quality was just as good. Deer Creek TH was at max capacity with about 8 horse trailers parked. About a mile into the hike I met a woman who was looking for her lost dog and asked me to keep my eyes peeled for him. I wished her luck and moved on. The top 4 miles or so was in the snow which got deeper with elevation. The views are amazing from this trail, Roosevelt was seen very clearly. It was entirely solitude as I noticed all other human tracks ended at the snowline. The trek up to the FR at the top went by rather quickly. The trail itself is well defined. Only a few spots where manzanita had reclaimed the trail, nothing stabby. Less snow up top but more mud. It wasn't until I reached the top that I felt a sharp pain in my left knee that forced me to sit down for a few minutes. In pain, I knew the boulder hop down South Fork was out of the question. I had to decide whether to rest and hope to feel better, or just start heading back down Gold Ridge knowing it would likely be slow going. I chose the latter and limped my way back down at just over 1 mph. The slow going doesn't fit my demeanor but I didn't let it foul my mood. Kind of hard to be upset when you're all alone on a beautiful ridgeline with a hawk over head and elk grazing on a neighboring peak in the distance. About 1.5 miles from the TH my left knee miraculously begins to feel like nothing happened at all, very strange. This allowed me to increase my pace despite my right leg now aching from carrying all 215lbs of me down the trail for several miles. Finshined out strong at a now empty TH. So again I'm left wanting to return and finish the loop.. |
| _____________________
| If there is no struggle, there is no progress. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
