Team Heron – September 30 – October 1, 2023

By Stephen D. Bowling

Cooler temperatures and heavy September fog greeted the fifteen hikers who completed Hike 10 on September 30-October 1 as part of Team Heron. The team met at the Frenchburg IGA and shuttled out Highway 77 and down to Natural Bridge State Park to start their adventure.

The hike started with a climb up Whittleton Branch to Highway 15. The Trace crossed the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway and paralleled Tunnel Ridge Road. Then back into the woods and out Pinch “Em Tight Ridge and down to Chimney Top Creek. After crossing Chimney Top Creek several times, it was the challenge of fording the Red River under the destroyed swinging bridge.

Hikers went up the hill and across Highway 715 and on the way to Salt Fork. Along the way, we passed Sheltowee Twin Windows, Indian Arch, Indian Staircase, Greasy Branch, Klaber Branch, Hale Branch Cave, Garrett Branch, and eventually made it to Salt Fork. It was a long and often steep climb out of Salt Fork to the camp at Corner Ridge.

Sunday was all road walking from Cornet Ridge to the Red Barn, where the STA van waited to take us to our vehicle at the Franchburg IGA.

Here are a few images from that hike:

Hike 10 is completed and in the record books. Our time on the Trace is quickly drawing to an end. The days are getting cooler, and the nights are already cold. The leaves are changing, and we have completed about 85% of the trail. The Big South Fork will reward us with great views and wonderful colors.

Enjoy the rest of October. Be ready for another October hike in a few weeks. I look forward to seeing you out there on the trail.

© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling