Distractions and unexpected events have pulled me away from the Wildcat Hollow weekend. When I last posted we had suffered through cold, wet, heat, sickness, and getting lost. The park had pulled all the stops and was determined to beat us ... but persistent hikers we are, the score was evened up by Sunday.
Six remaining hikers pulled stakes and departed from the overnight campsite on a chilly and damp Sunday morning. Three of the hikers had decided to bug out early and take the roads back to the cars. Fine by me, I am good with "Hike Your Own Hike".
As the morning progressed so did the sun, and the temperature. Soon we were hiking through the next campsite (which I now know is much superior to the one I picked and is now my new official midpoint) and onward through some of the most picturesque parts of this park. Towering pines, steep valleys, wildflowers, and some challenging trails. We stopped for breaks in the pine trees, people and packs scattered about on the pine duff quietly talking and enjoying the breeze and the company as we relaxed, took it easy, and thoroughly enjoyed a great spring day.
We ate lunch perched on a log like birds on a wire. I had accidentally left one meal in the car and was planning on devouring my emergency rations for lunch: a Clif Bar and some leftover GORP. I was going to talk about how we shared food but, truth be told, that consisted mostly of my eating a goodly portion of Laura's food. I don't feel guilty, after all I was really just trying to lighten her pack. The tuna was delicious!
As we moved along the trail the temperature soared to 82, but the breeze was dry and the sun was out and the hike was fantastic. The actual Wildcat Hollow was wonderful, the trail winds down and around this sweeping valley lined with dozens of downed trees. A true testimonial to the power of nature, this area has been ravaged by storms and everywhere we went there were signs of destruction. But unlike man-made vandalism, this was beautiful and sad at the same time. The trail had to bob and weave around countless deadfalls and fallen tree trunks too big to climb. But the trail found its way and the trees will grow back and the park will remain beautiful year after year as it changes and restores itself.
We pushed past the hollow and entered some less attractive lands to finish up the last few miles. A few steep climbs, another ravine or two, and suddenly we are back at the cars. We made it! Two nights, two days, 15 or so miles, everyone safe and sound and ready to do it again. It took us from 10 am to about 4:30 pm (give or take, I was not really keeping track) to go 8 miles. Tells you something about the breaks we took ... and that was the point. Easy pace, but a real outdoor adventure.
This day earned the hikers two points. We slept in the cold, we hiked in the rain, we hunkered down under a tarp, we saw a temperature range of just about 50 degrees from coldest to warmest. We climbed hills and squished along miles of muddy trails, but we we rewarded with great views, big fun, and a great time with some wonderful friends, old and new. I think we earned these points ... but the true reward was a perfect hike on a perfect day. Can't ask for much more.
As to the score, we are tied with the park now. Wildcat 2, Hikers 2. Come back and visit Reboot, Select Adventure for the tie-breaking event that either hands success to the park or to the hikers. It could go either way ... who will win?
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