| June 14, 2005 |
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Wildwood Campground to Punchbowl Shelter. |
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Arrived at trailhead parking lot where we come of the foot bridge at
12:20pm. Not an early start for a 10 miles hike; however that’s the
best I could do for a re-supply stop in town. |
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The
trail was along a beautiful creek with many boulders, deep pools,
waterfalls and bridges. A large wooden bridge was constructed in
memory of “Pancake Mike” for his work on the AT. Incidentally mane
of the AT shelters are also built in memory of someone who has
worked on the AT for many years. |
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There
were several creek crossings and easy hiking on an old log road
providing plenty of time to enjoy the creek. Weather report for the
day was 95 degrees, a hot humid day. |
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We
started climbing Little Rocky Row Mountain with long steep switch
backs from an elevation of 1000’ to 2,472’, with heavy backpacks.
The heat and humidity was terrible! Mt clothes were soaked in a
mater of minutes. I looked like an old lady who forgotten to put on
her depend. My shorts wet in front, soaking wet in back and water
dripping down my legs! My shirt was sopping wet, sweat rolled off
my forehead into my eyes and my elbows looked like water faucets.
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An hour and a half later, exhausted, we
made it to the ridge top. I had to carry Simon’s pack and water
about 15 – 20 minutes going up the mountain because he was extremely
hot. We took rest breaks in shady areas for him to rest and cool
down. |
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We did have some great views from large
rock out cropping of the Glasgow Valley below. We could see the
mountains in the distance; however, the natural evaporation from the
trees mixed with urban air pollution created the normal hazy view –
nothing clear. |
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The view from Bluff Mountain 3,372’, a
former fire tower site was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was bright,
the sky dark blue with puffy white clouds and bluish-purple
mountains in the distance. Yet it was very sad. It was the final
resting place for 4 year old Ottie Cline Powell.
NOTE: Bluff Mountain - Site
of a monument to four-year-old Ottie Cline Powell. In the fall
of 1890, Ottie went into the woods to gather firewood for his
schoolhouse and never returned. His body was found five months later
on top of this mountain. Some NBATC members erected a
permanent gravestone for his final resting place The
thru-hikers had left toys, stuffed animals, trucks, a watch,
skateboard, a Frisbee and a plastic rosary – on and beside his tomb
stone. |
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Finally reached Punchbowl Shelter about
8:00pm. The shelter was full so we had to tent. I pitched my tarp
next to the bullfrog pond! They were so loud that poor old Simon
couldn’t sleep!! Rough day of hiking. |
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Swing'n Jane and
Simon |
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