Another Trip report

“I didn't have to work Saturday so here's how my weekend went.

Just got back from Virgin Falls / Bridgestone Firestone Wilderness.
Got to the trail head and enjoyed the remains of a rain shower. It was overcast for most of Saturday. Hiked down to Polly Branch and saw several waterfalls. From all the rain we've had they were running good. I got on the Caney Fork River Trail and headed down stream. after about 7 miles I came to Big Spring Ford. I didn't bring my trekking poles so I found two sticks to aid me across. It was about 75 feet across and the water got about waist deep. The current almost took me down a couple of times but I made it. Two miles later I had to cross again at Cedar Sholes Ford. It was easier at first but the water was ripping through pretty hard about 25 feet from the other side. I waded up just a little and found a place where it was deeper and less rapid. This time I got wet up to my belly button. The bottom was slick on both crossings which made it even more "sporting".
A little over a mile later I came to Welch Ford. It was about 200 feet across. The next and last Ford after that was only .7 so I decided I'd done enough fording for the day and bushwacked instead on crossing Welch ford. Virgin Falls River camp was just a little further up.
I hung the Hennessey Hammock and took a stroll up to Virgin Falls. It was SLAMMING! Afterwards I went back to camp and ate supper. Usually on a solo I don't build a fire but I was board so I drug in wood and had a monster of a blaze. The temperature got down to the low 40's so It was very relaxing. I slept good in the hammock till I had to get up and piss. After that I just couldn't get my z-rest pad to lay in there right. By morning my feet came off the pad and were cold.
I slid out the hammock, packed up, chugged dowd some Carnation Instant breakfast and hit the trail. Along the 4 mile walk back I stopped at Virgin Falls, Sheep Cave Falls, Big Laurel Falls, & Big Branch Falls.
Hit Hardees on the way home and pigged out.

NOTE: There will be no pictures cause I was too lazy to take them.

THE END”

“LOL, cool trip report!”

“Thanks man.”

“Sounds like you had a blast dude!I wish you would have taken pictures of the water crossings and the waterfalls!

But thats ok.

8)”

“Mike, You should have been there. I think you'd of had a blast! You gotta come down here and hit a trail with me sometime.”

“Firestone? Fords?

Good to see you made it out alive, <G>. Those fords can be Big Fun after it rains for a few days.
Like...

"Wasn't there a footbridge here before?"

"Oh, There it is... Stuck up that tree over there!"”

“I know I want too real bad I hope you still can come up in Oct with Prowler and TD to do the Knobstone trail.

8)”

“Tilt
Because it's a "Wilderness" area they don't build bridges. I actually think it makes it more interesting because not just any idiot can get out there. It takes more skill to negociate something like that.”

“I agree!!!!!And its more fun that way also!!!!

8)”

“Great trip report Dude, as always it`s fun to read your adventures!

Thanks for sharing!”

“How cold was it--the water I mean.”

“MaryPhyl
The water was pretty chilly. But not as cold as the Colorado River!
Each time I got across I had to pull off my boots and dump the water out and ring out my socks. Gore-Tex keeps water in as well as it does out. My knee high gaitors still didn't help. LOL!


Big Foot,
I still wouldn't call it "Adventure". Just another weekend in the woods.”

“Good trip report dude. Did you see anyone else out. I hiked the Polly Branch Falls trial to the upper falls as a dayhike and never saw anyone else. It seems very few people know about this place.”

“Wrong Dude:) ... adventure is what you make of (it) your time spent alone, that time is in itself an adventure. Maybe not a great adventure always, but none the less an adventure.

You don`t have to have heart pounding moments to come away with the feeling of it, but when you do, it just stays with you longer than the photos. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a photo can`t half describe the sounds, smells and feel of a thing that tugs on your soul:)”

“Ewker
I never saw anyone till I got to Virgin Falls. It is a new area, especially the Caney Fork Trail. I wouldn't expect to see many people out there for a couple more years anyway.

BigFoot
Adventure is "An undertaking that involves Risk or Danger." Walking in the woods on an established trail with a known destination is not "adventure".
Indiana Jones - Now that's Adventure.
A weekend hiking trip - Not adventure.”

“"A weekend hiking trip - Not adventure."

I'll grant you but... you are in a position where an adventure might happen.”

“?”

“you are in a position where an adventure might happen."
MaryPhyl
04:28:04 PM
05/19/02

Your right. Anything can happen anytime. But my drive to work in the morning is much more dangerous though. But nobody calls that "adventure".”

“I don't know how much of an obstacle the lack of a footbridge might be. There are some pretty determined idiots out there!”

“How come you people don't see the side of adventure as seeing new places and all kinds of cool stuff in the world?

So what does Webster say about the word Adventure?

It has lots of meanings.

Adventure is everyday and a 365 day year part of life.

Thats the way I look at it.

8)”

“I would rather save that word for if/when something does happen that's worthy of it.
If it does then I'll post it.”

“That Rocks!

;)”

“Hey Tango you took the words right out of my mouth!

8)”

“I missed you Tango. I had nobody to fight with.
LMAO!!!!!”

“smashing report Dude.”

“That wasn't a fight I massacred you!!!”

“Thanks Yall!”

“HAHAHA @ Tango.”

“Yall stay tuned for more non-adventures from WD!

HAHAHA!!!!!!!!”

“Don't you have some tiling to do WD?”

“I would put money on Tango!!!!!

WD you would not have a chance!

8)”

“Smart man! Crazy Mike”

“Actually I got yard mowing to do. I'm outta here.”

“better watch out or you might become WFD iff'n you keep messing with tango”

“You da man HOI!!!!”

“I try sometimes!

8)”

“Thanks for the report,but it's unfair that you have rain to see,walk in ,and sounds like ,in excess.Been so long since (in the west)we've seen or heard of rain,that just reading the word is exciting.”

“Man thats strange I can't remember the time we had gone without rain for more then 2 weeks!!!!!

Its crazy out West sometimes!

8)”

“How did it come to be named Bridgestone Firestone Wilderness? Or is that a joke? And where is it? Cool time, WD.”

“Mike,I live in the middle of the Mojave desert.Let the kids drive the car today on dirt desert roads and the sky is overcast dark with dust in 25 knots of wind.Where we live We haven't had an inch of rain in two years.”

“I'd die!
I've hiked dry areas before but I'll take wet over dry anytime. Come on to the East and hike with us.”

“Sounds like a good time ... dude.”

“Walkindude...what city is this area near?..

if you were me...where would you go for a 3 day 2 night trip next weekend?
you think the cumberland trail?..i got the map today..thanks abunch!!!!...since that parkinglot is closed..what loop would you suggest....argh..too many decisions for poor opie!”

“Park at Prentice Cooper or at the parking area on Suck Creek Road. I would Park at Suck Creek Road and do the CT and do either loop at Prentice Cooper.”

“Man that is just nutz!

How do you have a lawn?

8)”

“Good report dude, I will have to put this on the list for a trip.”

“Nice report Dude!”

“Crazy Mike
What do you mean, "How do you have a lawn?"

The lawn came with the house. Did you think I lived under a bridge or something?”

“hey walkindude.
canoe trip in may?


i gotta work this weekend im not gonna make it. sound familiar?”