Red River Gorge Dec 10-14 (part 3)
Dec 18, 2019 15:14:03 GMT -8
FamilySherpa and ashepabst like this
Post by driftwoody on Dec 18, 2019 15:14:03 GMT -8
Friday (my last full day) was supposed to rain all day. It was overcast, but sprinkled nary a drop on me. This was to be my most adventurous hike, on the unofficial trail along Copperas Creek. First time hike for me, with a goal of reaching 3 off trail arches on the ridges above the creek. With some minor difficulty I was able to find Hopewell Arch, ostensibly the least of the three:
Some pics along the creek hike:
Somewhere along here at a large campsite I crossed the creek, followed a tributary upstream, and started climbing the ridge on a faint path to the GPS coordinates for Snow & Double Deer arches. After reaching the base of the bluff I followed the suggested route/path to the right, but it became indistinct as the slope got steeper. After searching for every possible approach upwards and finding a difficult (but doable) climb up. But since the climb down would be more dangerous and I couldn't be certain I was on the right track and I was hiking solo far off trail, I gave up the quest and retreated back down to Copperas Creek.
Fortunately, the real gem was at the end; Copperas Falls:
The next day (Saturday) was supposed to drizzle all day, and it did. I had enough time for a short hike before driving home, so I visited Whittleton Arch and Henson's Cave Arch.
Boulder in Whittleton Branch:
Whittleton Arch is a fairly massive formation with a wide span at the base but a small opening in the back against a rising slope. In wet conditions, a small waterfall pours over the top:
Henson's Cave Arch is an unusual little limestone arch which is basically a couple holes in the ground in the middle of the trail:
All in all, not a bad way to spend some vacation time in December!
Some pics along the creek hike:
Somewhere along here at a large campsite I crossed the creek, followed a tributary upstream, and started climbing the ridge on a faint path to the GPS coordinates for Snow & Double Deer arches. After reaching the base of the bluff I followed the suggested route/path to the right, but it became indistinct as the slope got steeper. After searching for every possible approach upwards and finding a difficult (but doable) climb up. But since the climb down would be more dangerous and I couldn't be certain I was on the right track and I was hiking solo far off trail, I gave up the quest and retreated back down to Copperas Creek.
Fortunately, the real gem was at the end; Copperas Falls:
The next day (Saturday) was supposed to drizzle all day, and it did. I had enough time for a short hike before driving home, so I visited Whittleton Arch and Henson's Cave Arch.
Boulder in Whittleton Branch:
Whittleton Arch is a fairly massive formation with a wide span at the base but a small opening in the back against a rising slope. In wet conditions, a small waterfall pours over the top:
Henson's Cave Arch is an unusual little limestone arch which is basically a couple holes in the ground in the middle of the trail:
All in all, not a bad way to spend some vacation time in December!
