Hiking Trip to Charit Creek Lodge in Big South Fork
Just returned from one of 5 “Hike In” lodges in the US – Charit Creek Lodge in the Big South Fork Natl, Forest. There is no electricity at the lodge & no cell service. Perfect. The “lodge” is a combination hostel & group cabins with the Honeymoon “Corn Crib” Cabin with the only single unit for those special get away trips for couples.
Larry McMillan and the crew serve up a great meat n three that hits the spot if you have been out hiking the trails. We had green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, pork loins steaks, fresh baked bread, & cherry cobbler in the oil lantern lit dinning hall. The next morning we had the classic country breakfast of eggs, sausage, & freshly baked rolls. Check out their website http://www.charitcreeklodge.com/.
The cabins have wood burning stoves, double bunk beds, & gas lantern lighting. Linens are provided but if you are there during the winter months a sleeping bag is nice to have. Charit has horseback riding available there at the lodge for those who want to ride the many trails in the Big South Fork.
We took at quick trip to the Twin Arches on Saturday afternoon after we hiked in the short .8 mile trail in to the lodge. The Arches are a really beautiful setting and are only a 2.2 mile round trip from the Lodge.
On Saturday we tool a long 11.3 mile hike on the Hatfield Ridge Loop that included the Overlook point & our second encounter with a nice sized black bear. Picture on the left.
Don’t miss out on this gem of a lodge only 2.5 hours from Franklin.
4 Wheelin, Devils Bridge & More!
Sunday 7/10 was a bit of a rest day. We had camped the previous 2 nights at Pine Flats in Oak Creek Canyon just above Sedona. We secured the last camp site on Friday 7/8. Everything in Oak Creek Canyon was full. Busy weekend. Sunday morning we had a great breakfast at Junipine Resort. Eggs, sausage, fruit, & buttermilk waffles hit the spot.
After breakfast we broke camp at Pine Flats & checked in to our last stop of our trip – The Canyon Wren Bed & Breakfast. What a great place. Mike & Milena are the best hosts! Brownies in the afternoon for us. Quiet, beautiful with hummingbirds everywhere. No phones, no internet, & no TV. We showered, napped & read the afternoon away.
http://www.canyonwrencabins.com/
If you are ever in Sedona, AZ this is the place to stay.
We headed out in the early evening for a 4 Wheelin excursion in our Jeep up the Schnelby Hill Road. The 5 miles to the vista overlooking Sedona took us 45 minutes of rough riding but the drive was worth it.
After a rough return drive back and a great dinner of chicken fajitas, & refreshing beverages @ Javalina Cantina in Sedona
http://www.javelinacantina.com/Sedona/
we headed back for a great nights sleep at the Canyon Wren.
Early this morning, Mon. 7/11 we headed to the A. B. Young trail for a strenuous hike up the canyon wall. Clouds were rolling in on this cool summer morning in Oak Creek Canyon. Slide Rock Park & its orchards were visible in the distance once at the top of the canyon. Back to the Canyon Wren by 9:30 am for a great breakfast prepared by Mike & Milena. Muffins, frittata, & fresh fruit followed by lively conversation. It was a great start to the day!
Next we headed out to west Sedona for more 4 wheelin out to Devils Bridge. The 1.5 mile hike was hot with a bit of climbing but the views and the bridge was well worth it.
With only one more day here its going to be hard to leave the beauty of the West! We are blessed with an incredible trip. More to come!
Hiking The Grand Canyon – At Night! (And More)
Yes, that’s right we hiked in the Grand Canyon at night but more about that later. Haven’t been able to post since 7/1 & our hike up the Narrows in Zion Canyon.
On 7/2 we hiked the Upper & Lower Emerald Pools as well as the Groto trail at Zion National Park. It was HOT & very crowded. The park was packed with tourists (including us) but we enjoyed the Zion Lodge & an enormous Cottonwood tree & its shade for a cool afternoon snooze.
On 7/3 we packed up camp and headed to the Grand Canyon to spend the first night at the Yaipavi Lodge and pick up our Backcountry Permit from the Park Ranger to camp at the Bright Angel Campground and Indian Garden.
In order to beat the heat of the trip to the Inner Gorge via the South Kaibab Trail we had to wake-up at 3:00 am on July 4th to catch the backpacker express shuttle to the South Kaibab trail head for a 4:30 am start. Words really do the Canyon no justice. Only pictures tell the real story.
W
e were able to make the hike down to the Bright Angel Campground & Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon next to the Colorado River by 10:30 am. It’s a 7 mile hike and a drop in elevation of 4,300 ft plus. We were very blessed to have cloud cover for almost the entire trip down. Only the last hour were we in the sun.
Once at the camp ground we set up camp & headed to the cold clear waters of the Bright Angel creek to cool our heals…knees, ankles, everything! The thermometer later in the day read 120 degrees. A storm came through later in the afternoon that continued the cooling trend. We had a great dinner at the Phantom Ranch canteen & hit the sack early for a 3:30 am wake-up call to hike up the Bright Angel Trail to the oasis of Indian Garden Campground.
Along the way on the Bright Angel Trail we came across a rare viewing of a California Condor. Only recently these enormous throwback birds were almost extinct. The one we saw had an imprinted #60 on its wing. We left Bright Angel at 4:50 am and made the 5 miles to Indian Garden by 8:30 on 7/5. Indian Garden is a true oasis in the middle of the Canyon. Large Cottonwood trees, green vegetation, and a beautiful creek bring relief to the inner gorge oppressive heat.
We rested & napped throughout the day on 7/5. A hearty lunch & a soaking in the creek refreshed & renewed some very tired legs & feet.
After the rest, food, & creek soaking we decided to finish off the last 4.5 mile hike up Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim in a late evening ascent. The promise of a nice bed & shower along with the cool evening, rain enhanced weather seemed very appealing however it would mean hiking the steepest section of the trail in total darkness. We packed up in the middle of an oncoming storm and headed up the trail at 6:30 pm. We estimated the hike would take 3,5-4.0 hours. The good news was that there are 2 rest huts with water at the 3 mile point & the 1.5 mile point along the trail.
It was a beautiful trek with a light sprinkle & cool breeze the entire hike up. Once we came out of Indian Garden the trail is all switchbacks up the Canyon to the South Rim. Making this hike in the heat of the day would have been very tough with the gear we were carrying. From 8:00 pm on we hiked by the light of our head lamps. We made the rim by 10:30 & rented the last room on the South Rim. That shower never felt so good.
This morning we had breakfast at the Bright Angel Lodge and with some last pictures in the daylight of some of the trail we had hiked last night we said our goodbyes to this amazing place. We’re headed to Sedona!
Slight Change of Plans
We had to make a change in our itinerary because the Park camp grounds were filling up and we were not going to get a spot if the backpacked out the West Rim trail and stayed in a backcountry site on Thursday night.
So, we got one of the last spots in the South Campground Thursday morning and then hiked the East Rim trail during the day Thursday. It was a LONG 5 mile hike into the backcountry with numerous switchbacks that climbed up over 1500 ft. After an 1.5 hrs of hiking we saw no one. It took us 6 hours over some of the most breathtaking terrain. (Pics below)
Today we hiked the famous Zion Narrows. It’s a hike that is almost all upstream of the Virgin River into the narrow towering Canyon. The walls rose over 1000 feet above in spots. We rented special water shoes & socks along with a water tight bag to carry our gear & shoulder length poles to support us going through the rapidly moving freezing Virgin waters. At spots we almost had to swim the water was neck-deep in spots. We made it to Orderville Canyon and had to return. Round trip about 4 miles but most of it is wading in waist deep water up-stream for half the hike and it took us 6 hours. We saw several people fall in the rapids and get bounced around pretty good. Had to pull one lady out of the rapids after she fell and could not get back up. Lots of bumps and bruises but she was ok. (Pics below.)
On To Zion!
Our mode of transportation.
Too much fun driving out of Sedona. Very tough to keep eyes on the road.
First view of Zion.
From West Rim/Angels Landing Trail.
We just hiked up those switchbacks – West Rim/Angels Landing Trail.
From the top of Angels Landing.
Angels Landing
Coming back down Angels Landing. It rained on the way up.
Scout Lookout – Angels Landing.
Words really do it no justice!
Preparations Done – UT/AZ
We are packed. Gear checked & re-checked. We have been training for this trip for the last 6 months and now it’s here. Hard to believe. Hiking, cycling, backpacking, reading, studying, ibuprofen, blisters, arthritis, sweat, rain-soaked, bears…Lisa & I have had our share of it all…and she’s going with me anyway. My bride. What a woman!
Backpacking in AZ & UT Here We Come!
Our itinerary is set. Follow our backpacking trip and other musings.
AZ – UT Trip Itinerary:
June 28 Fly BNA – Phx pick up Jeep @ Fox –Rent-a Car
Drive to Montezuma Castle – tour area.
Stay in Cabin @ Oak Creek Terrace Resort, Sedona, AZ
June 29 Drive to Zion National, Springdale Utah
Day Hike – Angels Landing – Zion National Park – 5 Miles
Directions: Take the shuttle bus from the Visitor Center to The Grotto picnic area. The trailhead is located directly across the road.
June 30 Backpack & Camp – West Rim Trail to camp site #3 – 7.5 miles.
Directions: Take the shuttle bus from the Visitor Center to The Grotto picnic area. The trailhead is located directly across the road. Angels Landing & West Rim run together
July 1 Return Hike from West Rim – 7.5 miles
July 2 Day Hike The Zion Narrows – 12 miles
Directions – From the bottom, follow the paved walk way from the Zion Canyon road end to it’s end (approximately a 1 mile walk). From there, walk in the water upstream. Return the way you came.
July 3 Drive to Grand Canyon – Stay @ Yavapai Lodge
Tour the area – locate shuttle bus & trail head for 4:00 am departure on 7/4.
July 4 Hike Grand Canyon South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Campground -6.4 miles
Tent Camp @ Bright Angel Campground
July 5 Hike Grand Canyon River Trail to Indian Garden Campground – 4.3 miles
Tent Camp @ Indian Garden
July 6 Hike Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail to South Rim – 4.5 miles
Drive to Sedona & stay @ Enchantment Resort – Rest
July 7 Hike Long Canyon Trail #63 9.5 miles – Tent Camp – Beaver Creek Camp Ground
July 8 Drive to Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness – Tent Camp
Directions – Access: Wet Beaver Creek Canyon is most accessible from FR 618 off Interstate 17 45 miles south of Flagstaff. Upstream access is possible south of the Apache Maid Lookout Tower from FR 213 and FR 229 off I-17 at the Stoneman Lake Exit.
July 9 Hike – West Fork of Oak Creek – Tent Camp
Directions: Lower: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Sedona (exit for 179). Turn left on 179 and follow it through the town of Oak Creek to Sedona. At the ‘T’ intersection turn right onto Highway 89A and follow it up Oak Creek Canyon just past mile marker 385 to the Oak Creek Trailhead which is on the left (west). Parking is currently $7 per car, be aware that a Red Rock pass is not valid towards this fee. Also note that the gate to the parking area is locked at 8pm.
July 10 Stay at Canyon Wren in Sedona
Hike Bear & Doe Mountains
July 11 Stay at Canyon Wren in Sedona – Hike Sedona
July 12 Drive to Phx Airport Dept 7:00 pm for BNA
West Rim Trail
West Fork of Oak Creek
About
Headmaster, Franklin Christian Academy. 1978 Baylor Univ. BBA, 08 M.Ed TSU
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- A hike in the Grand Tetons is well… Grand! Cascade Canyon was spectacular.
- 9 Mile Hike to Fairy Falls and a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was HOT!
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