Michael and Sara planned a backpack for Big South Fork for Laurel Creek/Salt Pine/ Sawmill Loop. I decided not to take my stove, was going to stop at Subway for lunch/supper. Due to Covid 19, Subway in Crossville didn't open until 9 which was the meetup time. Next town, same, headed into Jamestown, same. Plan B, Hardees, closed for remodeling. Plan C get something from Mickey D's besides sweet tea. Only breakfast was being served...Plan D, chicken biscuits, one for lunch, one for supper. Oh well.
We met up at the Sawmill Trailhead and walked up the road to start on the Salt Pine Ridge Trail. Multi use trail, then connects to the Laurel Creek Trail where we started the crossings. We switched to water shoes and kept them on for all of the 7? crossings. Had lunch by the pretty creek with the perfect logs to sit on. Got on Black House Branch which is a horse trail, muddy, messy but that's the horse trails. And we had a few creek crossings. Along the way Granddaddy Rattler alerted us that we were in HIS territory. He said Sssssure rattle rattle are a lot of bootssssss rattle rattle on my trail. Y'all ssssshould move along, rattle rattle. No problem Granddaddy, we'll move on.... We crossed the suspension bridge to find a big family camping on the Island we planned to camp on. Plan B, we set up on the side of the creek where me and John hung our hammocks back in January. I hung from the same trees this time. We had plenty of space for everyone's tents. Walked to see Charit Lodge, gates closed, get your water from the creek. Covid closures. Back at camp, Carson was experimenting with a wood burning stove, she was trying different sized pieces of wood , matches versus lighter, lint/paper/. Gave up to eat supper. We had a great campfire, thanks Wayne 😉. Michael hung most of our food bags on his bear proof rope, and Wayne entertained us taking it down the next morning.
During the night I got up to, well you know, and saw green specks of light on the creek bank. I was trying to focus, thinking at first I was seeing synchronous fireflies. Only they were not blinking. Then I realized it was the glow worms like we had seen at Pickett State Park at Hazard Cave a few years ago. I wanted to wake everyone up to see it. Didn't. The birds singing at 6:30 am did that.
Sunday morning we walked to the Lodge, the caretaker was there and came to the gate to say hello. They are in Phase 1 reopening with a limit of 6 guests. Hoping to fully reopen soon. We then hiked to the Twin Arches where Wayne and Joe did some exploring, following the loop trail to come back to us. Stopped at Jake's Place for a break then out Sawmill to the Needle Arch. We separated at the Slave Falls .2 trail, said goodbye to everyone else then Carson and I visited Slave Falls. This was her first trip here and we wanted to make sure she got to see as much as she could.
Great trip with great backpacker friends.
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