The Hike. . .

The condensed version of the big hike started right here on this pretty bridge just outside of Silver Creek Plunge Campground. We drove a steep and winding road 16-ish miles from the cabin to this lovely destination:

This is the beginning of the trail. . .

Rob and Zach have been planning this trip for awhile and mapped the entire thing out on Google Earth. I didn't actually go on the hike for several reasons (mostly because I'm a big fan of toilets that flush) so I will have to give my version of what the boys told me. (Actually I take that back. This is where I left off a few weeks ago and Rob wanted me to have the correct information!! We just finished the commentary- better late than never right????)

Gloria was invited to go along but she ultimately decided to spend the day with me and Jake at the cabin. Wise girl.

The original plan was to hike up to a ridge above Silver Creek and plant a Geo Cache on a high peak that they had located on Google Earth in the weeks leading up to the hike. They ended up condensing the hike due to time restrictions but the starting place was the same. . .

They were both in good spirits as they waved good-bye and headed out on their grand adventure. . .

Gloria and I headed back down the steep, winding road to the cabin and spent the day on the river. And did a little napping. And watched deer stare through the picture window of the cabin. . .

In the meantime, Zach took plenty of pictures with his camera as they hiked the wilderness. . .

They were only on a beaten track for a mile or so before they started to go cross country. It was beautiful!

This is the view from about a quarter of the way up the ridge to Rattlesnake Point (half-way to the geo cache location):

The center of this picture is zoomed in on the parking lot where the hike began:

This is a good example of the steepness of the terrain that they traveled:

The view across the canyon:

They didn't see any wild animals but they saw plenty of evidence that they were nearby . . .

The next three shots are a panoramic view from about half way up the ridge:

The happy hikers:

A view of the ridge that overlooks Deadwood Reservoir (across the canyon):

Lunch time. Zach was concerned that mountain lions would be attracted to the smell of the tuna fish they had for lunch. . .

This was taken about 3/4 of the way up the ridge. They had to find a way to go around these obstacles on the way up:

The revised Geo-cache location. . .

A panoramic view from Rattlesnake Point:

It's funny that I don't have cell phone coverage in Kohls but Rob could call me from his cell almost the entire hike. It was nice to hear regular updates that they hadn't been eaten by wild animals. . .

This is where they had originally planned to put the Geo-cache but the time limitations prevented them from going another 4 miles over the same kind of terrain. Besides the fact that if they had made it to the base of that rock, they would have had to climb another 400 feet to the top:

An even closer zoomed-in view:

Back to the revised (and actual) Geo-cache location. . .

Zach and Rob climbed about 30 feet up these rocks in order for Zach to place the treasure right here:

The view from the top of the Geo-cache location:

In this picture, Rob's backpack is sitting on a rock about half-way to the bottom. He left it there so it wouldn't hinder his climb to the top. . .

Standing near the top. . .

Once the two guys reached the top of the rock bluff, they realized it was an obvious home to a few kitties. Not the friendly kind of kitties either. It appeared to be a mountain lion den!!!!

They were on the bluff without any of the protection against wild animals that they had wisely packed due to the fact that Rob left his pack in order to climb the rock face! They made a very quick descent while looking behind to see if they were being followed!!

They refilled their water supply at this pretty little mountain spring. They had a chance to use the newly purchased pump and filter. . .

The descent went steeply into a ravine. . .

By the time they reached the bottom, cell coverage was sparse but I could tell they were trying to call me. Gloria and I left the cozy cabin in the middle of the first quarter of the BSU game and headed for our planned meeting spot at a bridge just before Silver Creek. Half-way up the road I began recieving texts from several people telling me to meet them at Silver Creek. They looked a little worse for wear and I wish I would have taken an "after" picture but they had a really good time and started making plans for their next adventure!!