Hello Hikers!
Wed Sept 30
Hike cancelled — threat of rain
**********
Sat Oct 3
This report was written by Jim
Logan Hill Nature Preserve, Candor
12 hikers and 3 dogs met in the Candor Middle School/High School parking lot.
After a short walk up a near-by residential street the group climbed a well-maintained seasonal road towards the Logan Hill Nature Preserve.
Fall colors were in full effect, and despite a cool morning the climb warmed everyone quickly.
The group took the full loop on the yellow-blazed trail, bypassing the abbreviated hike offered by the intersecting blue trail.
The hike took the group on a very-well blazed trail through a combination of open fields and wooded areas.
Other than a meeting with a couple of other hikers towards the end of the hike, we had the entire trail to ourselves.
I had missed this hike the first time Leigh Ann led the group on it earlier this year; I think this one was a great addition to our repertoire of hike locations.
More photos:
Jack V
***********************
Sunday Oct 4
This report was written by Jim
Shindagin Hollow SF — rim trail along Shindagin Gorge
16 hikers and 6 dogs met on Shindagin Hollow Rd where the blacktop ends and the seasonal road continues into the valley.
Temperatures at the start of the hike were cool, although layers for many group members were shed as the hike progressed. Rain threatened us at the very beginning of the hike, but never materialized as a serious impediment to the group.
Hikers walked to the Shindagin Rim Trail and walked the length of that trail, to where it comes out at the lower parking area opposite the Jeep trail marked by the yellow metal gate.
Trail conditions were generally dry, although some lower areas later in the hike were soft mud.
Leaves on the majority of trees along the rim trail were still green, although many trees along the way were clearly in a state of transition.
Once the group emerged back onto the seasonal portion of Shindagin Hollow Rd the majority of the group walked a short distance down the road and onto the bike trail that leads down the hill to the streambed. We followed that trail to its road crossing on Gulf Creek Rd.
The majority of the group then roadwalked Shindagin Hollow Rd back to the cars. Some people chose to jump back onto the rim trail, but the majority walked the length of Shindagin Hollow RD back to the parking area. This portion of the hike really became a “hike your own hike” experience, where individuals chose to pick the route that worked the best for them. I walked the road all the way up the hill, this portion of the hike was especially pleasing for me despite being a roadwalk, which I often find somewhat monotonous.
There were some fine views along the road as the group would come around some of the bends in the road; the hillsides in these areas were awash with an impressive variety of colors for a considerable viewing distance. On the S bends while climbing the road the overcast diffused lighting, combined with the darker colors of the shale cliff faces and earth tones of trees, rock, and earth all made for some interesting color combinations.
More photos
Jack V