RRG Bushwhack TR

“The Ghost of CrashBang, Thunderstorms, Devil Worshiping Hippies, Dragnolias, Bees, and a Bikini Clad Hottie!!!


Yep, this is gonna take some 'splainin.

The plan was to hike south about a mile and a half along Swift Camp Creek Trail to a sloping ravine that would lead us North-East to a ridge top that we would follow to Red Byrd Arch, and then hike back out, all in one day.
I drove from Indy on Saturday night and was almost to Slade at about 12:30 at night when I absolutely get my doors blown off by a little red Pontiac Sunfire. Well of course the first thought was "hey that was CrashBang!" then I think "WTH is Crash doing here" then the car is gone, like some modern day version of the Headless Horseman the ghost of Crash rides the Mountain Parkway scaring the crap out of sleepy hikers headed into the gorge but he can never make it across the bridge at Slade.
Upon arrival in Koomer Ridge campgrounds I start to set up my tent only to come to a few harsh realities; one: that my tent is not free standing, two: I have only ALUMINUM stakes, and three: all the campsites here are made of packed, crushed stone. A sleepy Coyote tells me there is a hammer on the table and I go about gingerly tapping away and trying not to wake anyone else. With the tent finally up I read for a bit and hit the sack.
We broke camp at Koomer Ridge on Sunday morning just as a good thunderstorm opened up. Since I didn't get to camp till about 1:00 A.M. I needed to go into Slade and get a parking pass before we could go set up the shuttle. Since I had a signal I thought I would check my cell for messages one last time before we went into the back country, and sure enough there is a text message from Ductape sent at 3:55 A.M. saying his wife was sick and he still hadn't been to bed so he wasn't going to make the trip. (this was actually a blessing in disguise for him - this was going to be no day trip)
So now that I was legal we took my car to the southern end of the Swift Camp Creek trail, and headed back up to drop off Windigrrl's car at the northern end. We hike down hill and pretty soon I start seeing side trails and we take off exploring. We visit a beautiful little water fall that I fall in the mud getting to, and also a really cool hidden rock shelter. The difficulties of sliding on my butt 10 feet down hill in the mud are only compounded by my "tent fly turned hiker-kilt". Shortly after hitting the trail again the rain starts back up, and this time it's coming down nice and steady. I have absolutely NO rain gear, and am mentally freaking that my camera is going to get wet, but there is nothing I can do besides put it in the middle of the pack and hope for the best. In no time we run into a few hikers carying stuff out in their arms, and looking poorly equiped, but they all seemed in very good spirits and were quite polite. They made room for us and said there were more behind them. Um, ya... lots more. Now all these folks looked pretty "earthy" like they may have been communing with the trees, or what ever but I gotta give 'em props, most of them had some pretty cool tattoos, and the women were hot. So far we are all pretty cool with things till this chick with big frizzy hair turns up with some kind of ceremonial staff and what Coyote swears was a blow gun sticking out the top of her backpack. Then some guy behind her is carrying what looks like a 6' native american rain stick (the kind that sound like falling rain when you turn then end for end) and some dude behind him with a drum! One of the girls was bearfoot, which had me worried for the awesome ink on her foot and ankle. All in all I think there were about 15 or 20 of them. The last of which we met as they were cleaning up their camp under a Huge rock shelter right along the trail. this was all somewhat disturbing but we decided that they were headed out so who cares.
Further down we finally come to Swift Camp Creek, and there is a pretty cool campsite just across the creek that I believe is known as "the pines". We go check it out and consult the maps and decide to cut across a ridge and eliminate a little loop out of the trail and start up our ravine.
We are off trail and the further up the ridge we get the more thick the undergrowth is getting. Slowly I begin to realize that it is starting to effect our bearing but we are still headed in the right general direction so we push on... slowly.
Eventually the rain slacks off and we decide to take a break at a large rock that is much like a table. Windi has her GPS out and I am pouring over my maps, and cussing one that has almost completely melted (weather proof my a$$). About this time Coyote points out that there is a massive cliff rising up behind us about 50 yards away. The undergrowth was so incredibly dense that I had completely missed a 200' rock wall! We checked it out and surprisingly there are campsites established at it's base but no trails. I assume it is climbers, as it looks very climbable with technical equipment. I eventually decide I know where we are and need to head north-east. So off we go into the valley, and the absolute thickest undergrowth of magnolias I have ever seen in my life. I thought the raspberries in Indiana could get impassable, but this stuff had them beat hands down. I decide that they should be renamed "dragnolias" because they are making our bushwhacking adventure such a drag (especially wearing nothing but a kilt made from my tents rain fly). We were walking up a stream bed and headed in the exact right direction but there was no possible way we were getting through with out a chainsaw or at the very least a machette.
It was about 3:00 P.M. now and we had been hiking for 5 hours and decided we could go no further. Defeated, we turned around and followed the little stream back to Swift Camp Creek.
Now crossing the creek was no big deal, but getting up the 60 degree incline to the trail was. We needed to be headed up stream to get to my car. So we consulted the maps again and decided there was a place where the trail came down to the water at a little feeder stream crossing about a mile up. What the heck, it's hot, and a little water never hurt so we all put on our sandals, and decide to walk up-stream to the feeder.
The water was cold, realy cold. How does water get that freakin cold when it's 95 degrees out?! Oh well away we go criss crossing the creek and trying to stay in the shallow parts of the stream. This didn't always proove to be an easy task as Coyote's son Jake soon found out while he was scrambling up a bank and mumbled "ooh, that is a little past my comfort zone" when the water reached his hips. Naturally that got a good laugh out of all of us, and helped raise our spirits as the rain had become intermittent since we hit the water. This particular hole was deep enough that Windigrrl actually got the bottom of her pack wet before Coyote, who was on the bank, grabbed her hands, and I started pushing from the rear and poor Windigrrl with her short legs burst from the water like a mad bass that has just been hooked! The deep water probably did us some good though because just before that we went around the back side of a large rock to stay in some shallow water and ended up in some very stagnant, gassy water. I swear that smell wasn't me!
We had been plodding along in the water for about 2 hours when we came to a nice creekside campsite, so we all climb out and throw down, to take a break and consult maps etc. Seconds after I drop my pack something stings my forearm. I look down to see the ground erupting with bees and swarming my pack and poles! Jake and Windi are on either side of me and I shout for them to run away while I'm backing up and despairing because I can't get at my gear because of those freaking bees.We give them a wide birth and in a few minutes they settle down enough that I find a branch to hook my pack with and drag it away from the hive. While we are waiting for the last few to leave my gear alone I decide to run up the hill and have a look about. There is another nice campsite about 20 feet above where we were, and some other trails that wander off higher to the marked trail. Eventually I get my pack back and we go up to see about making camp because there is thunder in the distance and we are all getting hungry.
We get two tarps hung up just before the heavens opened up. The four of us set about cooking dinner and talking about where we had been and what went wrong etc. Evenyually the rain let up and Coyote heads up hill and finds another cool rock shelter with some dry firewood in it. SCORE! We carry it down and manage to get a small comfy fire going and try to dry some of our clothes. Darn near everything I have is wet.
The rain mostly holds off the rest of the night and we turn in pretty early. Now I have always been told that fleece is warm even if it is wet, but have never really been dumb enough to try to find out. Well, now I can vouch for that because between the moisture in my pack and the condensation from the 2000% humidity in the river valley, I spent the night in a wet sleeping bag. Ah, my friend of misery...
The next day was much different. We broke camp about 9:00 and hit, what turned out to be a very challenging trail. Infact by the time we reached the intersection of Swift Camp and Wildcat trails Windi decided she needed to take Wildcat and then road walk back to her car. There was some discussion about weather young Jake was going with her or pushing on with his Dad and me. Finally he decided to come with us, and the guys pushed on. Swift Camp Creek would have been pretty from above if we could have seen it through the wall of undergrowth (did I mention it was a little thick?). This made navigation difficult but we knew we were on the trail and making progres. Finally after what seemed like an endless slog we find the next junction and Jake takes a break while Coyote and I throw down and go check out Rock Bridge Arch, and Creation Falls. Through all these challenges Jake has been a real trooper. Seriously, he did not complain once through all the rain and vegetation and water and mud and chalenging inclines, not once did he grumble or gripe about being there. What a tank!
With Jake rested and Coyote and I loaded back up we set out up the last long hill to the picknick area. Just as the ground levels out we see the best carrot ever. This pretty young thing bopping down the trail in nothing but her tiny two piece bathing suite. Oh ya there was a mohawked boyfriend with her that I couldn't help but quietly scoff at how soft he looked. Well with the sight of that fresh in our minds it didn't take us long to finish up the last quarter mile and get back to the car!
We met Windigrrl back at the showers in Koomer ridge, where we washed off a bit and headed home. We were all pretty foul smelling. My socks stunk so bad I had it put them and my shoes in my trunk so I didn't gag! I hit the parkway at 3:45 P.M. all gassed up and ready to run. See I was sure it was meet the teacher night at my daughters elementary school, and I was determined to make it before they closed the doors at 8:00. So with the cruise set at 80 and no stops I covered the 300 miles with 5 minutes to spare only to find that I not only had 5 minutes but an entire week to spare!
Back at home with the kids tucked in bed and after a good long hot shower I regretfully begin the task of unpacking and thinking to myself that as difficult as it was I wish it could have lasted another week. Just more proof that a bad day on the trail is still better than a good day in the office.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends...”

“This will go down as a trip to remember!”

“apparently no one is interested. Must be because we actually backpacked...”

“it doesn't look too hard to find

HAHA famous last words”

crash bang
3:36:09 PM
8/06/07”

“aaron, you whiny ass, there may be only 4 posts (5 now), but there are almost 40 views, ya big baby”

“next year, you me and jimmy san go find this sucker (red bird)

make it a 2 nighter. spend a day climbing, and another day looking for red bird
last edited: 8/09/07 7:11:59 AM”

“ya, I know. I have never been in undergrowth like this dude. It was incredible! The only way we were getting up that ravine was with a serious brush saw.”

“That would Rock Crash!

Hey, no comment on your spirit riding the mountain parkway guiding weary hikers home?”

“are you sure it wasnt really me?”

“Nice trip report!

The Swift Camp Creek Trail is definitely challenging. YOu're right about the view of the creek too. When it's not all overgrown and you can actually see down there, it's totally awesome.

I know Clifty Wilderness is right next to the Gorge, or you could even say part of the Gorge, but it has a totally different feel doesn't it? It definitely gets a lot less people, and is generally more rugged and remote feeling.”

“At the trail head there is a registry board with nothing to write on or with, but there is a sign that reads "This is a wilderness area. You must be prepaired with propper equipment and skills ..." then at the end like some morbid disclaimer it reads "We do not guarantee your enjoyment or return." That was the most common phrase of the whole trip. LOL! Every time things got shltty, someone would pop that one off.


BTW I really do think Crash's spirit may be making nightly runs along the Mountain Parkway from Winchester to Slade...”

“Oh ya, a few pics will follow this afternoon.”

“I read it, Meangreen. Nice report...memorable trip!”

“Pics??????”

“You wouldn't believe it dude! I ran down the street to drop the film off and their machine is broken indefinately! ARGH!!!
I'll drop them somewhere else tonight and post them in the morning.

Do you know if they have turned the up load feature back on yet?”

““next year, you me and jimmy san go find this sucker (red bird)

make it a 2 nighter. spend a day climbing, and another day looking for red bird
last edited: 8/09/07 7:11:59 AM”
crash bang
7:10:59 AM
8/09/07

HEY, can I come too?”

“absotively posilutely!

I will get something posted about this soon. When would be better, November, or March? I don't want to have to deal with ice, snow, or monsterous vegetation. Other than that I think doing this in the cooler months would be ideal, at least untill we knew where the dang thing was.”

““apparently no one is interested. Must be because we actually backpacked...”
meangreen
9:04:26 AM
8/09/07

lol...I try to read almost all the trip reports....and so where are your pics?????
....waiting.......”

“You wouldn't believe it dude! I ran down the street to drop the film off and their machine is broken indefinately! ARGH!!!
I'll drop them somewhere else tonight and post them in the morning.

Do you know if they have turned the up load feature back on yet?”
meangreen
2:25:07 PM
8/09/07


Glad to know you read it though.”

“november would be good. right before i go back to start another contract”

“November of 2008?! Good lawd that's a long time! Will you be back in March 08?”

“Damn, sounds like fun! Kinda wish I had gone just to see the concoction of a kilt you thought up. ;)”

“And when exactly were you going to get around to posting pictures???”

“I'll send you a pic tomorrow morning. LOL! I'm sure it's pretty goofy. The trailgarita was good though. Too bad you missed it. Sunday night I ended up sitting by the fire having a staring contest with an owl about 15' away and sipping booze all by my lonesome.”

“i will be back june 08”

“damn Crash.Maybe me an Jimmysan and Woundedknee will have to go find the ideal route then you and I can go back in the summer. I think you can get part way there by canoe, and I hear Coyote has 3 of them. Now we just need to talk him into hauling them down for a double-shock trip. canoeing, and backpacking!”

“triple threat! climb, canoe, backpack!”

“WOOHOO!!!
Oh hell ya!”

“I hope your pictures turn out better than mine did. There was too much haze for mine to look good.
There is a dirt road that you can take that would put you close to the stream we were looking for. I think it might be a possible way to go when most of the leaves are off the trees and brush.
All and all it was a crazy, fun trip. I'm almost ready to go again, lol.”

“I wish I were still out there Windi. Heat, stink, water and all. It's still better than sitting in this freakin office. (or should I say orifice?)”

“lol, yeah, I know what ya mean! After a good rest on Tuesday, I'm already getting ready for the next trip! It's hard to explain to people who don't backpack, how such a crazy weekend, with all the scratches and bruses, was fun. they just don't get it. I'm like a caged animal just waiting to get out.
last edited: 8/09/07 5:42:31 PM”

“I have a canoe. Canoeing in sounds pretty dern cool. Is the river even floatable through there? What time of year is it floatable?”

“I thought The Red River was flotable year round, But Coyote said it looked pretty low when we were there last. Again this may be best in the spring.


I got my pics back this morning only to find that my work computer doesn't support the software. I can only view them in a slideshow format. CRAP! Maybe I can fool with it tonight. Some turned out pretty good, and some you can see the humidity.”

“In My pictures all you can see is the humidty, so I can't wait to see yours. Coyote said his were the same way. He got a kick out of the trail report.”

“I didn't take very many due to the rain. There are only about 11 I think. but the humidity only made 2 or 3 hazzy.”

“Hey Windi, I think I can e-mail the pics to you now but we still can't download them here.”

“MG hey me and Jake had a great time.Thanks for all the help for Jake on the Trail I know he appreciated it.Look forward to going down again and again. I will look for some trips I can do and see you all again”

“Not a problem at all Coyote. I had a blast. That's a good kid you've got there, and I'd hike with him again anytime.
The Gorge is awesome. We need to get back down there and do auxier ridge for sure, and I think there is quite a bit of interest in finding that arch if you want to make another trip. There was even some mention of a canoe trip/backpack/climbing trip out there next summer. But we need to find the place this winter or spring first. I need to get some maps of Clifty Wilderness, instead of using ones for the gorge. I think that would help.”

“Where's the pictures?
As crazy as it might be, I might consider giving it another try.”

“YGM Windi.”

“I know, its crazy. I got the picures, thanks. The one of us sitting under the tarp says it all. That and the one of all the brush we were walking through.
last edited: 8/11/07 3:34:09 PM”

“Glad they came through. I played hell with that pic software.

We'll go again. Don't you worry.”