Backpack on and above Rock Creek with bluff action
4/7/22
Breakfast in Waldron at the Rock Cafe was good. Up the dirt road then. The road in was bad. It's as if the Forest Service provides no maintenance to this road. I entered the shrubbery at 7:40 with 40° and fair skies...and a lot of wind. The drainage of Rock creek was followed down. This creek is full of rocks...a lot of rocks...too many damned rocks. I progressed and eventually the creek smoothed out as is took a turn to the east. Bedrock there provided some interesting falls to observe. My path then turned up the slope to the north. Many piles of bear dooky we noticed, but no bears arrived to be wrestled. A bluff line was hit and climbed past. On top I pulled out my lunch and ate it. It was then that the pursuit of a campsite was undertaken. "Please...don't misundertake me" said the dead dude. A bluff was found with an excellent view.
Camp was erected and assorted activities enjoyed. The wind remained a nuisance. Wind is sometimes a nuisance, but not always. There are times when I can appreciate a goodly wind...but not on this occasion. The temp was around 60° and clouds were taking over above me. The valley was filled with many visual amenities. A nearby creek that fell over the bluff provided me with all the refreshing water needed. Dinner was prepared and placed in my gullet. The sun set and I went to tent. It was cozy but my sleep was not optimal. I rose before 4:00 and headed out under cover of darkness. I was out at by 6:00 with 35° and wind that rivaled the day before. I then drove back on the road built in 1916 and has not been worked on since. The total round trip trip involved 7.5 miles of difficult, yet rewarding terrain.
