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Thomas CreekHike down the valley of Thomas Creek, tributary of the East Fork of the Little Buffalo
10/25/18
Just over the ridge from the Upper Buffalo lies Thomas Creek. This would be to the east, man. Named after John Thomas of 1843, this creek proudly embodies his passion for beauty. Yes, he liked the young chicks. They were his downfall in the end, for the father of Susie Poon shot him dead at the very falls that bear her name...Lesser Poon Falls. Greater Poon Falls is located higher up the drainage, and will not be covered in this story. My journey started high up the ridge...thousands of feet above the creek. At 5:15 a.m. with 51° and darkness of pure scariness...I entered the deadly maw of the hellish landscape. Within minutes, the steep banks of the dry creek were before me. How was this descent made with such swiftness? Well...you know. It was the breakfast provided by Denny's, totally free of charge to me. I must mention them in all my accounts for this service.
After some time walking along the high bank, a break in the wall allowed passage for me and my high end pack and other expensive gear. My way was made to the rocky surface that lines the floor of the forested glen. Here, the water had risen to the surface. More entered the stream from holes along the edge as I struggle with the slick surfaces of boulders and bedrock. The dawn soon provided me with much needed light for this difficult passage. This stream has a steep gradient. Combining this with all the other features here creates a fine combination of combined ingredients. I followed this natural pathway until I chose not to. By then, the water had returned to its subterranean channel, leaving me with only dryness. I made my way back to the ridge top, which was, by the way, quite a challenge. By 2:50 with 64° the woods were exited with around 5.6 miles covered. For an earlier visit to upper Thomas Creek, go here dammit.
