Team Heron – June 10 & 11, 2023

By Stephen D. Bowling

The weekend was very nice for a stroll through the woods. Continuing the flip-flop plan of the year, we flipped the northern section and walked south from the Northern Terminus to the Clark Fram for the first day. The weather was cooler in the morning but warmed up quickly as we walked the first 10 miles to Dry Fork. The trail was well-maintained, with some natural overgrowth lining the sides.

Camping at Clark Park was very comfortable, as usual. Judge Clark graciously allows hikers to stop by his family farm and rest in the shade of the picnic shelter. He provides a water spigot for the first chance at a water refill since climbing the ridge out of Henry Short Hollow just after leaving the Northern Terminus. The Cave Run Chapter provided pizza and stir fry for the campers. All went to bed after some cards and a few cornhole matches.

The fear of rain moved many to leave camp early on Sunday morning, and everyone was on the trail by 7:00. Up Big Tom Brown Branch and an ascent on the new reroute made the trip easier. Then across I-64 for everyone’s favorite gravel road. Then came the beloved “bunny hops” into Morehead and our awaiting cars. A light rain fell, which helped cool things down a bit and keep the dust off the trail.

Here are a few images from that hike:

Next month, we head South to make our way to Cumberland Falls. The hiking gets a little more difficult on the southern end, but the views are so much better. See you all in July.

© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling