RedRiverGorge Trip Report

“Much delayed President's Day RedRiverGorge Trip Report.

We had a total of 7 trip attendees plus 1 dog. We all arrived at various times on Friday and camped along the Rough Trail about 1/4 mile from the Gray's Arch Parking. My group arrived last and set up camp around 1 am.

We woke on Saturday morning and after a quick trip to the shell for a parking pass for the weekend we packed up, put our things backs in the cars and headed out for a 4 mile day-hike. We hiked the Gray's Arch Trail to Rough Trail to Bush Trail back to Gray's Arch Lot. After a surprise 2 inches of snow on Friday night the trails were beautiful. We got some great pics which I have yet to collect (will post later) and enjoyed the day-hike.

After lunch we drove up to the Auxier Parking lot and headed out for the day's second hike, this time with packs for the night. We hiked along the Auxier Ridge to Courthouse Rock and then descend the stairs and continued along Courthouse Trail to Double Arch Trail. We set up camp near the water source for the evening and hunkered down for a very cold night. The temperature reportedly got to 9 degrees (after a projected 24 degrees earlier in the week). We had a stubborn fire that lasted 4-5 hours though and some great time with the TT's over dinner and then settled in for the cold night.

We awoke Sunday morning to frozen shoes and ice on the inside of at least my tent from the moisture of our breathing (my tent had 2 plus dog).

Brenna was up first and had the fire going nicely for the rest of us. Hot coffee and tea got us all going and we headed out on the day's hike.

Crash, Attila and Randall had to get going so we seperated at the Double Arch trail junction, with those guys heading back to the cars and Jonah, Miaka, Brenna and I heading up to Double Arch with my pooch Marshall. Double Arch is great (make sure to climb on top too). Without a cloud in the sky the views were great and we yelled back and forth to some hikers along the Auxier Ridge. After a bit at Double Arch we hiked out the Double Arch Trail and down along the old forest road to the Auxier Lot.

With dreams of Miguel's Pizza spinning around in our heads we headed out to lunch. Just as Crash and the crew had discovered earlier that day, Miguel's is closed until mid March. With Monday off for President's Weekend we went the route of finding a good home meal and didn't worry about getting on the road right away. We found a family restaurant in Stanton called Bruin's (along a side street north of the DQ).

Good food and we were off, back to South Bend with a great trip under our frozen belts.

BFB”

“After a bit at Double Arch we hiked out the Double Arch Trail and down along the old forest road to the Auxier Lot.


When I first went to RRG in 69 that road was the trailhead parking for all the places you guys went to. The sign at the end is a mid 70's addition when there was a leap:-p in people falling off cliffs. The last time I went to the gorge I walked down this road and I swear I saw ghosts. It was truly a stroll down memory lane.”

“I never leave the gorge without a trip to Mrs. Bruins. Gotta love the good home cookin'...and the stares you get from the local geriatrics.”