By Stephen D. Bowling

The June Hike was a little cooler but still in the warm range. More than 40 hikers set out on Saturday morning, June 11, after the hour ride to S-Tree Road. The hikers set off into the woods and headed to the mouth of White Oak Creek.

Despite a prolonged period of dry weather and low water level in the creeks, the trail was a muddy slog in the sections of multi-use trail for most of the trip after leaving the gravel. It was great to see horsemen, ATVs, motorcycles, and other users along the trail.

Overgrowth and stolen markers sent many hikers to the downstream ford on Horse Lick Creek. The stream was low, and the crossing was cool and pleasant. The trail was well marked otherwise and hikers started to arrive at the shuttle pickup point shortly after noon. Steve Barbour arrived exactly on time and shuttled hikers to the Livingston Schoolhouse, where Saturday night’s camp was established in the air-conditioned gym.

Sunday’s hike started with a road walk that ended at the current Half-Way Point. Crossing Parker Branch, the hike continued through the woods by several nice rock shelters and onto Winding Blade Road. The short distance over the way to Wildcat Road and on to the Camp Wildcat Battlefield to await the shuttle back to our cars.

The June Hike was very enjoyable as we travel further south and onto more forest trails and less road walking. I had the opportunity to hike this section with several different hikers. See you in July. Warmer days and the most difficult sections of the trail await us, but the Big South Fork in the fall will be worth the effort.

Here are some images from the Team Boone weekend.

© 2022 Stephen D. Bowling