(Continued from page 2)

When I finally got closer to the ridge the narrow trail was more smooth and less steep for the next quarter to third of a mile:

More uphill, but less steep the next quarter mile

Looking back

The panoramic views of all the canyons and far ridges from the high point were my reward for making it up that tough  mountainside:

The canyon I came through

New views of a different canyon to the northwest

Right after crossing the park's highest point I met a father and two teenagers (next photo) who were hiking from the South Prong camping area to Fern Cave and back.

They told me the descent to the cave was fairly steep but not nearly as treacherous as going back down the trail I'd just climbed up. That made me less anxious about the second place on the map marked "extremely steep and rugged."

I followed the mostly-smooth, relatively flat single track trail for another quarter mile to the intersection with the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail.

I was tempted to hike part way out on it but decided I'd better continue around the loop as planned. I didn't know what the ridge trail was like or how long it would take me to complete, and I didn't want to be so late that Jim worried about me. The phone connection is poor to non-existent in this park; I knew I probably couldn't reach him to let him know if I'd be late.

UPPER CANYON TRAIL (C):

I continued northbound on the Upper Canyon Trail, now designated Trail C:

Here's the map section of this loop again so you can see where I am -- hiking north toward the upper left corner and the next red "extremely steep and rugged" section:

As I wound around on the high ridge going clockwise past the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail intersection I got different views of the canyons in the northwest corner of the park and beyond the park boundaries:

This is the canyon through which I'd be descending:

The hikers were right -- the descent to Fern Cave was steep but it wasn't anywhere near as difficult as the trail on the other side of the ridge. And beyond Fern Cave it was pretty gradual the rest of the way.

The descent started off innocently enough, then became steeper for several hundred yards:

Looking ahead

Looking back

As the grade becomes more steep I'm in that second red-dash zone on the map above:

Like walking on ball bearings (looking back up the trail)

I had to be very careful not to slide on the loose rocks in several short, steep sections. There were also large rocks to navigate on the way down to Fern Cave:

 

  
Looking back up the trail at two steep sections

This type of trail continued for about one-third of a mile.

Fortunately, the scenery was nice. This was my last "big view" of the canyon through which I'd be hiking in a few minutes:

You can see the opening to Fern Cave in the next picture:

I went down some more steep sections like these (the one on the right is looking back up)

    

and finally came to the sign for Fern Cave:

Fern Cave is cool -- literally and figuratively. It's about 100 feet down another steep, rocky path off the main trail.

Cody could hear water running, so he ran on down ahead of me and jumped into the chilly little pool of water in the center of some huge rocks:

 

The cave, which is more of a cove, is open at the top but still very shady:

Water drips from the walls surrounding it. Lush ferns grow in little pockets of dirt in the rock walls:

It's a real treat on a hot day. Next time I'll have to encourage Jim to do this loop so he can see this.

Remainder of loop continued on next page . . .

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the Ultra Lab

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© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil