Trailblazing… and a stuck moment

Welp… for starters, really pretty trail with mossy ferned pine needled trails aplenty- the smell was intoxicating after the rains. Gorgeous rock outcroppings and ledges .

What I didn’t pay any mind to when I set out this morning was the slippery conditions one should assume on any rock scramble woodland trails after heavy rains. The rock formations are beautiful along this trail and it is reviewed as moderate and good for hiking with dogs. Meh… In general I take those kind trails and that’s worked till today. This trail on wet days with the steep scrambles in areas are so slippery and steep they’re treacherous, especially for older or very young people and with dogs in tow.

Kai and I squeaked through a few hairy spots until One spot in particular I could not convince Kai to jump Up with my assistance, and he was panicking instead of letting me lift him. At this point we were pretty high up the rock formation with a steep long fall if we slid at all and tumbled. And IHATE HEIGHTS – I tried going back the way we came- but the rock descent we went down on our butts on the way out was too steep and slippery to go back up. So… Trudging down into the woods to foster pond, the bottom of that ledge met us at the waterline and the choice was to swim across and hope I didn’t meet snakes or snapping turtles or lose my dog in the process. So back up the rocks to that trouble spot . Called my son as he understands these trails too, and I said- WTF- should we swim?

Mike jr didn’t know he was going to have to leave the job sight today for search and rescue- but search and rescue he did

Nope I did not get pictures of the high scrambles, I was too busy having a panic attack. If you’re local and adventurous and fairly fit, this is a really pretty hike I might do again without the dog and in dry conditions.