CRT Short Hike April 2011 - April 16, 2011 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | CRT Short Hike April 2011 |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | South Carolina |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | April 16, 2011 |
| Duration: | 2 days |
| Trail Conditions: | Good |
| Trail Traffic: | Light to Moderate |
| Trip Weather: | Sunny, Partly Sunny, Partly Cloudy |
| Trip Winds: | Light to Moderate |
| Trip Precipitation: | None |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 71-80, Low: 41-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | Was sitting around on a Saturday when all of a sudden we decided to take the kids on their first backpacking trip. An hour later we were throwing the packs in the car and heading out on the 3.5 hr trip to the Chattooga River Trail. We had been planning on going sometime soon so we already had the gear necessary for the little ones. Since it was there first trip I decided to keep it short and somewhat easy so we drove to the Burrells Ford Parking area as a starting point with the plan on hiking in about 1.5 miles to a very nice backwoods camping site that we had seen earlier this year when it was just me and my wife. This time it would be my wife on her second trip ever and my son (9) and littelst girl (5), oh and our dog Alley. It was her first trip ever also! After arriving at the parking area we used the pit toilet there before setting out further down Burrells Ford road looking for the Chattooga River Trail crossing. We found it about .25 miles down the road on the right side. The trail head was marked very well with a sign board and some large boulders. The start of the trip was in a faily level wide open area with the trail easily distinguishable. A short distance into the trail we came to a small tributary as the trail meandered up and down small rises in terrain. This was easy to cross and a great practice for my littlest. Then we came to the outlet from the falls. This was a little more of a challange. There was a couple of rocks above the water level but you had to use to felled trees as a bridge across the deepest section. There must have been a bridge across here at some point as ther is the old foundations still there. After we all made it across. you are at the junction of the .1 mile side trail to Spoonauger Falls. We started out with our packs on but about 2/3 of the way finally figured out it woould be better to leave them behind. This is a up hill climb with some sections pretty challanging for the little ones and a bit dangerous. There were several muddy sections and many switchbacks as you climbed up to the falls but they were very nice and well worth the climb! After pictures we headed back down and started back on the trail. We passed several very nice camp sites but we had our hearts set on a paticular one we saw the last time we hiked this trail. After hiking all the way too it we found it occuppied so we decided to turn around and go back to another sight we had seen on the way to this point. This was a nice site just of the trail a bit and secluded by some bushes. There was already a nice pile of firewood beside a nice fire ring made of river rocks. We set to work getting the tents up and the camp site organized while the kids explored the area. The river was high probably from the recent rain. After finishing the set up my son lite his first fire using a mag, fire starter. We then set about making some dinner. For the kids a box of deluxe macoroni and cheese to share. For me and the wife a nice totillia soup. As the sun went down we broke out the marshmellows and hot cocoa. Then off to bed. The night started ok with a very bright moon litting the area nicely but the tempreature kept getting colder and colder. Sleeping came in little bites but eventually the morning came and the first order of business was a nice fire! Tried making pancakes for the kids but forgot something to keep them sticking to the pan so i ended up making a new meal called "scrambled pancakes" this was surprisingly good considering! After enjoying the morning we broke down the camp and packed up. We set out back the way we came and passed a large group of hikers as they were getting ready to go look at the falls. As we made it back to Burrells Ford road we started the slow climb back up the road that looked strangley steeper now than it did when we came down it. Over all a great first trip for the little ones! |
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