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Hike Around Cub Creek, Tributary of Hurricane Creek, Cub Nugget Cave and Natural Arch
1/16/16
The Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area is a wonderful place. Upstream of there Hurricane Creek continues on for many miles. Cub Creek joins it in a farm valley off CR 7423 in Newton County. A bluff line above here has many interesting rock formations including caves and an impressive arch. After breakfast at Denny's in Russellville I entered the dark forest. It was a cold morning of 28°. Sunrise was to be at 7:17. It was now 5:35. The blackness of a moonless sky encircled me, and yes....I feared for my life. Luckily my 12,000 lumen headlamp cut through the night like a ship's fog light.
Not long after dropping below the bluff barrier a cave was encountered. Many bear sounds emanated from within, but entry was mandatory. The sounds were only in my mind, it turned out...for the interior was found to be vacant, save for a field mouse that fled with urgency. The hall was immense and was ventilated by three doorways. Each door led to the outside, as many doors tend to do. A fire ring was situated with a crack of a chimney above it. The last users were probably dead, for there was the feeling of dread surrounding my torso...which luckily, was encased with the highest quality outdoor clothing form only the finest retailers. This feeling was dismissed, and the sun did rise outside...though hidden by clouds. The soft light illuminated the rock walls nicely as I exited door number three for more exploration.
Moving along the base of the bluff soon revealed a natural arch of majestic beauty. This was surely the the legendary Cub Nugget Natural Arch documented in ancient texts, long forgotten by all but common folk residing in the area. Legend has it that the formation was a result of some natural stuff that occurred a long time ago. This arch was unlike any witnessed before by myself within the boundaries of this national forest. After a time my journey turned towards the valley floor. Cub Creek was crossed and the ridge on the far side of the valley was mounted with much gusto. The bluffs at the top were disappointing but the Hurricane Creek Valley looking west was quite a sight. It was gazed upon with much relish before dropping back down into the valley of Cub Creek. Jim Bob Cub lived in the area in 1839 and the local landmarks bear his name to this day. He was a simple man, but strongly believed in the power of shrubbery. In this case it was the huckleberry bush, or wild blueberry. He was known to prepare jams an jellies beyond compare within the moderate price range controlled by the local mercantile establishment.
Lunch was had along the rocky banks of Cub Creek just downstream from a small fall. The sunlight filtered through the thin clouds and provided just enough cozy light to see my sandwich, which I held in my right hand. The respite provide the much needed energy renewal that would carry me back up and out of the valley, and ultimately...home. The temp reached the upper 30's and the loop hiked had a mileage total of four. By 12:30 dust exited my Subaru Crosstrek from the rearmost trailing aspect as it meandered down the well maintained CR 7050. My body was spent from the thousands of feet of ascent and descent. Hwy 7 carried me southward. By 2:30 my abode was in site. It was good to be home.
