Hiking New Paths

New trails, for me, was what this hike provided (28.8 mls). It started at the Rich Mtn. parking accessed from Dry Valley, atop Rich Mountain. With the normal to slightly above normal precipitation over last few months, water was available throughout the hike described in this entry.
I followed Ace Gap trail 5.6 mls, to the junction w/ Beard Cane trail at Blair Gap and Hurricane Mtn. The difficulty of this section of the hike was easy to moderate w/ several drops and gains along the way. The campsites #4, and #7, which sits in Ace Gap (1680'), I passed along this trail are now closed due to lack of consistent water and property disputes w/ a developer. A few new, large, vacant, houses border the park between these closed sites.
Ace Gap trail ended w/ what appeared as a "man way" continuing straight on to Hurricane Mtn., though I was going down to the left following the Beard Cane trail. This began with, and continued a descent for .9 mls, and brought me to campsite #3. After crossing Hesse Creek, which could be difficult had there been recent rains as it is wide and slippery. Hesse Creek merges w/ Beard Cane Creek nearby.
This campsite was "way cool"! Plenty of room and lots of wood found on the ground for firewood. More to see here next time I travel this route.
Monday morning I woke late, and was in no rush to move on. After enjoying the "quiet noise" of the streams and the wind in the Hemlocks. I finished packing up and moved down Beard Cane trail past campsite #11, and to the intersection w/ Hatcher Mtn. trail at 1900'. The 3.5 mls+- on the Beard Cane trail from #3 had a seemingly slight incline; though towards the end this was more apparent, also crossing a creek of the same name 12+ times, which it pretty much paralleled the distance. This would make for tough going w/ melting snow or on rainy days because of the mud and almost bog like appearance it had. This section of trail also looked like a great area for a hike in the spring to see blooming wildflowers and a variety of wildlife I'd bet.
I continued from this intersection w/ Hatcher Mtn. and Cooper Road trails, along Hatcher Mtn. trail until it ran into the Little Bottoms trail (2.6 mls), at which point I went to the right. In less than a mile I reached the #17 campsite. (Abram's Falls was like 1.9 mls to the left) This site, #17, is a large campsite sitting above Abrams Creek in the location of a former homestead. The area is frequented by fly fisherman w/ relatively easy access from the Abram's Creek Ranger Station and a developed campground. There was plenty of room for relative privacy and firewood to be found on the ground here as well.

A note I need to make here. At #3, and here, #17, where I spent the nights out, I located, by accident, plastic bags of garbage left partially hidden by the inconsiderate, ungrateful, _______, ________ _________, person(s) who felt their sh__ is someone else's responsibility. Probably some of the same F____s that are afraid to change old ways despite the known negative results. If only...huh? oh, OK, I'm done.

I enjoyed a wonderful fire, a really special dinner; chicken and rice mixed w/ tuna wrapped in a tortilla, and later some decaf strawberry tea! So, minus the chef's surprise it was a good night.
Tuesday morning I got up to great temperatures and had the sun warming me earlier than the previous day by about an hour because it didn't have to climb as high over a mtn. before "shining down on me". (Though all three days of hiking were done in a poly shirt and shorts the nights were probably in the upper 30's low 40's.)
The original plan here was to hike back to #3, via a partial loop, which included finishing Little Bottoms Trail thru campsite #1, going up Cooper Road trail, a dual use trail often rough and rocky, passing through a portion of Lynn Hollow, past Cane Creek trail at Cane Gap, and on to the intersection w/ Beard Cane and Hatcher Mountain trail. Taking a left turn here and reversing a portion of the route I'd hiked the day before, back to #3, and camping out.
That was the plan.
But when I reached #3, I was pumped and feeling strong (I was also thinking about 2 large porkchops I had leftover from grilling out Saturday), so I decided to go for it! I did, and I got it (tired that is). The last mile of the Beard Cane trail from this direction was back up the mountain and throughout the remaining distance, 5.6 mls., of Ace Gap trail, it is a steady rise and fall in short burst keeping you honest in your physical efforts.
Throughout these three days I saw only one person. A nice fella' who was coming off the Cane Creek Trail after camping the night at #2.
This route is a definite do over! Offering numerous possibilities for continuing paths and stopping points! Peace.