Sat, Jan 17 2015 - Foothills Chattooga River Trail Loop (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Aaron, Jennifer S Participants: Aaron, Jennifer S, Dave P, Olexii

Aaron and I were joined by two experienced newcomers who were no strangers to the wilderness.

To avoid the chill in the afternoon air, the prior Portlander and experienced AT hiker quickly agreed to extend our first day by hiking a vigorous 13 miles. We traveled further across Fork Mountain to a creek-side campsite set in a ridge just over the NC-SC border. It wasn’t long after hiker’s midnight that we settled in for a peaceful, star-filled night. Awakened by the dawning sun, we packed up camp and climbed the remaining elevation out from Bad Creek and later joined up with the Chattooga River. Spectacular sights greeted us as the morning sun dazzled the river while the warm wind picked up, further awakening our senses.

All four of us were thrilled to have had perfect weather, though you would have thought we’d been in a downpour given our sweat-soaked layers!  The Ellicott Wilderness treated us well this weekend.