Tuesday, 6 June
| Destination: Stonecoal Run Campsite | Today’s Miles: 7.6 |
| Start Location: Red Creek Campsite | Trip Miles: 8.9 |
Today’s seven and a half mile day took Bob and I on the Bear Rocks Trail, Raven Ridge Trail, Rocky Ridge Trail, Blackbird Knob Trail and finally Big Stonecoal Trail before getting to our campsite on Stonecoal Run. The challenge is that none of the trails are marked. Most, but not all, junctions have signs. We are navigating with maps and a hiking app on our phones. We only made two short backtracks today.
As much as we tried to sleep in Bob and I were up at six to a chilly 42 degrees. The overnight low was 38. Since we were in no hurry, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and watched a deer come near camp. Hiking started at nine. Views in the distance were hazy but the scenery changed often. There are flowers that look similar to azaleas but smell like honeysuckles in red, pink and orange versions. We passed many large ant hills.
Bob’s no cook menu has looked good. He shared garlic stuffed olives and had fresh cherry tomatoes and spinach at lunch.
We settled into camp along the stream at 2:30. A few hikers went past. A little reading before dinner and then after hanging our food it was an early night. We are camped in pines with little firewood so no fire tonight.
Photos from yesterday have been uploaded. Bob’s photos are included.
