Trip Images |
First Creek Lake
|
 |
Moss-covered rock on Raymer Hollow Trail
|
|
This picture of the forest almost looks like a painting.
|
|
This looks like something...
|
|
Vomiting tree?
|
|
Sun setting in the woods
|
|
Camp
|
|
Fire pit at First Creek 1
|
|
Stump art near Three Springs campground
|
|
Climbing on McCoy Hollow Trail
|
|
|
 |
Trip Report
|
 Email to a friend
|
 Print this page
|
| |
Backpacking at Mammoth Cave NP
March 2007
KY
posted by The Brandon
Originally, we were planning on a three day trip, but the day before we left, the weather forecast said there was going to be a storm system moving in on our third day on the trail. Rather than replan our route, we decided to hike faster, which we later realized was a bad idea because of all the holes in the ground left from heavy horse traffic. It was an unseasonably warm day. It reached nearly 80 degrees that day. Our trip started at the Lincoln Trailhead. We were late getting started, so we didn't begin until noon. During our first day out, we hiked down to Collie Ridge Trail. We had a quick lunch at the Junction of Collie Ridge and Raymer Hollow Trails. Afterwards, we turned right on Raymer Hollow, and crossed a couple of shallow streams on our way to First Creek Trail. We were hiking when the sun set, and we still had two miles to go before reaching our camp at First Creek 1. By 8:00 that night, we had pitched our tent and started cooking dinner. We went to sleep shortly after because we were so tired. The next morning, we were on the trail again by 10:00 am. We hiked the rest of the way uphill on First Creek Trail and met McCoy Hollow Trail. Somewhere between Three Springs (which is misleading, by the way) and McCoy Hollow campgrounds, we were out of water. But luckily, we found spring water running out of a rocky outcrop. We had to climb down to get to it. It could have been the dehydration talking, but that was some of the best water I've ever tasted. Somewhere around this same area, we encountered a Rattlesnake. I couldn't see it, but the sound of its rattler was enough. We stopped for an extended lunch at the creek that flows into the Green River just downstream from Crump Island. Exhaustion was setting in at this point because this had been our first trip of the year. Then, we followed the rest of McCoy Hollow Trail, crossed Buffalo Creek, and then met Collie Ridge Trail again. We took another break at the picnic table there and threw away all of our garbage in the site's trashcans to lighten our loads. Once again, the sun set while we were still hiking. I think we were just past the cemetery near Raymer Hollow. It was around 7:30 that night when we made it back to my truck at the Lincoln Trailhead. If I remember correctly, we covered roughly 24 miles during this trip. That was the last time I have worn hiking boots. I have since changed over to trail runners, and what a difference it has made.
|
|
|
|
