RRG ECT II Trip Report

“Just got back from the RRG ECT II, after a 14 hour drive. Started at the Martin Fork trail-haid at 2:10 pm EDT and drove to Lexington to Bowling Green to Nashville to Birmingham to Meridian to Hattiesburg to home at 3:35 am CDT.

Oh ... you want to know about the hike??? Will write on that later after some shut eye. In the meantime maybe Jerbear, Brier Rabbit, or Sklukaz will fill ya in.”

“Dat's a long @ss drive.”

“Nah, Steve, we don't want to know about the hike. You've pretty well covered the major items of interest.

Looking forward to your report on your next trip...”

“For various reasons, I started hiking from the Martin Fork parking area Saturday morning instead of Friday evening. I had spoken to Jerbear on the phone Friday morning and he knew that if it worked out that way I would try to meet them on the trail. I have to admit that I was more focused on the scenery than on covering ground. The leaves were in full color and with the morning sunlight on them and along the rock walls they were breathtaking. Well, at 11 a.m. I finally reached the area he said they would most likely spend Friday night. By the time I stopped for lunch, I still hadn't caught up with them. I ate lunch with three boys from Indianapolis who had chosen what was turning out to be the best weekend to come to the Gorge. The weather was perfect if maybe a bit warm. Well at that point I despaired of ever catching up to Jerbear, et al and had decided I was solo hiking after all this weekend. I do enjoy solo hiking but that wasn't the plan for this weekend and I was starting to feel the disappointment. Just a short mile after that though, as I was walking up a hill, I noticed some folks stopped at the top and standing there talking. One of them looked remarkably like Steve Hiker. I had finally caught up with them. They informed me that they had been discussing whether or not my TT signature was some breed of dog and they had just 2 minutes before decided that I was a no show. I thought that was a very creative way to say "B!tch stood us up!" LOL! Well, introductions were made all around and Steve Hiker, JerBear, Briar Rabbit, and I headed down the trail.

We hiked on past the junction with the Sheltowee through the laurel and umbrella tree canopy and continued down toward Chimney Top Creek. Coming back up out of the creekbed is a steep and fairly long climb. Right at the top is a campsite next to the trail with a beautiful view. We were contemplating where to stop for the night and that was one of the possibilities. When we got to the top, there were two dayhikers there waiting for someone. It seems they had friends who were hiking the RRG to stay in shape for hiking other, more famous trails. They were waiting for them with two ice cold beers. Now that's my idea of a support team. I still think that if Jerbear could have distracted him, Briar Rabbit and I could have had those beers away from him. Ah well, opportunities lost. Anyway, he told us that Koomer Ridge Campground was full and so were most of the campsites on the trails surrounding it. That was the final factor in our decision to cut that side trip off the hike. Instead, we headed off down the Buck Trail and camped at the confluence of the Right Fork of Chimney Top Creek and a smaller, seasonal creek.

This was a beautiful campsite with plenty of water and we didn't see any other hikers until the next morning. We cooked, set up camp and started a fire. Then, while we traded stories, my dog was thoughtful enough to go around warming sleeping bags for everyone. Jerbear got a little excited when we told him there was a b!tch in his tent. He chased her right out.

The next morning we had a small fire to warm us up while eating breakfast, and then broke camp. We made very good time and Steve Hiker decided to remain with us while we ate lunch at Grays Arch picnic area, although he had a long drive ahead of him. After lunch we started down the Daniel Boone Hut trail even though it was marked closed due to construction. We never did see any construction. It is a very beautiful trail that runs along rock houses and cuts on its way down to the bottom. Jerbear remarked that a section of the trail along the bottom reminded him of Zaleski. We made it back to the cars about two o'clock and Steve Hiker headed out. The rest of us hung around and chatted while we changed shoes and socks. Then Briar Rabbit went off in search of a Big Mac, Jerbear headed out to maybe Cumberland Gap on his way to Shining Rocks, and I went straight for a Pepsi.

How was my weekend? I spent it with three funny, good looking guys. How was yours?”

“sounds like a fun trip!”

“If only weekends were longer......”

“good trip report, sklukaz!”

“Wish i could have been there, it sounds like a good time.”

“What a wonderful weekend it was. I arrived just a tad behind schedule because I had forgotten my purifier and needed to locate some iodine tablets before hitting the trail. Found them at the last possible place in Slade, KY., what a relief. HMMMMM iodine and tang, its been awhile since I 've had that combo. ZESTY!!!

I found jerbear and stevehiker waiting at the trailhead. I scarft my hot apple pies and slammed my coke while I finished packing things, realizing later I did not use. Is not that always the case? After some hand shakes and brief intros we hit the trail.

Although the trailhead parking lot was almost full our trail itself was pretty much ours till we closed in on Gray's arch were the day hikers were a little more prevalent.

Did I mention what great weather we had!!!!! Evenings in the 40's and days in the 70's but then again you already know that. After taking in the view from atop Gray's we scrambled to the bottom to look for a site to crash for the night. Showing them a place I have sleep in the past, a suitable area large enough for a some tents and small fire, we all KINDA agreed that it was just alittle to damp at this time. SO we pressed on futher down the trail till we hit the bottom. It was here that we would sleep for the night.

We found a nice flat camp site perched about 20 yards up from the creek and off the beaten trail that had a secluded view of the trail/creek conjunction

Thoughtful Jerbear left a sign below on the trail for Sklukas, just in case she was to hike in that night. Didn't happen.
We wondered if she would show up at all. I must admit I had my doubts and that also went for all the others that showed interest this hike. PP'ers.

All I can remember was that Jerbear was FAST to put on his house slippers and ninja outfit, so Stevehiker and myself were left to gather some wood for the evening fire. Nothing like burning good wood amongst new and old friends. The fire side chat was informative as first impression go. No debates just gossip about TTer's, those that didn't show. Chewy stuff!!! Not knowing Stevehiker to well I thought this might be the time to observe so I watch Stevehiker play firemaster that night. You can tell alittle about a person as they build/maintain the fire.

Sadly, all great days must come to a end, so Jerbear retired in his condo and myself and Stevehiker took full advantage of the wonderful weather and slept under the stars, err.... pine branches..... oh well.

Morning broke softly with a little crisp in the air. A couple had come in later that evening before last call and had set up shop across the way. They two were on the rise.

We were in no rush, so after chowing the morning grub(nasty powder eggs) and extingishing the morning fire, we decided to move on down the Rough trail as planned. Easy hike up thru one of my favorite little ridge ascents. Now back up on the ridge, we took a deadend side trail that takes you out onto a high rocky out crop that has one of the most spectacular views of the valley floor and points of interest. Although this would be a great place to camp for some R&R because of the view and exposure, water was not that convenient. You would also need to get there early before others take the one spot closes to the view. There were about 3 camps scattered back down this ridge.

After taking in some sun and the views, we returned back to the junction and were eating some snacks and rappin when along came some dayhikers and not far behind them came a single woman being towed by a dog, I wondered, this has to be her, sklukas and her dog. It was and with handshakes and hello's followed by descriptions from the evening prior we continued to press on.......

A scary note was the amount of pitbull toting hikers I saw on this trip. 3, I believe. What give's!!!!! This one guy, a dayhiker, could barely hold on to his dog. I would hate to a be lone rabbit in them woods.”

“Great reports, Briar and Sklukaz, Thanks”

“Sorry I couldn't make this one guys.Nice trip report!Maybe RRG III ?”

“Got to the Martin Fork parking lot around noon Friday and nobody else was there yet, so I headed up the trail right in front of the lot. It went straight up but the reward was very nice views very soon.

Sat up there for awhile just soaking it in and heard a yell that sounded like ?yo,? but didn?t pay it any more attention than the birds or the kids hollering in the distance now and then. When I got to the bottom Jerbear was there, source of the Yo. We waited a little while for Briar Rabbit then headed to the trail-haid. Just as we were walking there he drove by and honked, right in time.

We saw a natural bridge and camped that night with no raccoons. Said I hoped Sklukaz would find us or see Jer?s note but when she didn?t show by 9:00 the next morning we thought she?d taken the wrong trail or stayed home.

So we hiked and went out to an overlook that rivaled Savage Gulf. Awesome views, but Savage has more of an isolated and wild feel. The views are just as sweeping but at RRG you can see a road and parking area down below and hear traffic along the perimeter and people in the parking area.

Hiked some more and while we were taking a break this girl walks up from another trail with a dawg and Briar (I think) said ?Sklukaz?? and it was! Now we were really happy and walked some more and stopped and ate and slept till next morning when the sun shined again.

That morning Sklukaz?s dawg Scoobie Doo, who is very well behaved most of the time did something bad. She went romping off to see these hikers and their dawg and was all happy and saying hi and sniff sniff and who?s territory is this to the other dawg but the humans thought she was a bad dawg but just held their bigger dawg on its leash till Sklukaz finally caught hold of her and let the nice people and their dawg go on which is probably good for Scoobie cause she wouldn?t really of wanted to tangle with that other bigger dawg.

All in all RRG is a super place. Love the trails and the views. Only drawback is too many people but maybe it?s better in the winter and on weekdays. Will definitely go back there, and recommend a RRG ECT III sometime.”

“LMAO! I forgot about that steve hiker. The problem with Scooby is that it never occurs to her that anyone could possibly not like her or be mean. The whole time the other dog was growling and snapping and trying to tear a chunk out of her, she thought it was some cool new kind of game. And she was definitely looking for someone to play with!”

“Good trip reports.And such a pleasure to meet and hike again.Yo beaR”

“Yo bear how's your GoLite pack holding up? I started a thread on this pack (the "19 ounce, 5400 ci pack" thread) and nobody has any direct experience with the GoLites yet. At least not the Gust. Just got mine Friday so can't say. How's yours been holding up?”

“Mine is great, You will enjoy it I am sure”