Map 9, mostly. Access point 1 to AP7, just under 14 miles.
Met Shannon at the end of Hopkins Rd about a mile away from where I stayed a few weeks ago. I dropped off a couple water jugs at road crossings anticipating dry conditions as before. We drove to AP1 on Slader Creek Rd. After a little back&forth on the road and reading the trail description we eventually found the trailhead. Heading south on private land across Slader Creek (almost completely dry), we made our way to Slader Creek State Forest. The trail was kind of slick with loose silty mud covered rocks. A lot of roots, not easy walking. At times the trail would become a joy through piney forests, but most of it was a chore. We stopped often for breaks and to consult the map. One stop was at a campsite near a pond. The site was nice, the pond was not easy water access. Nor would I use it if I could help it. A longer break here for a late lunch. A short bit on the dirt forest road. Passed by a car we figured was another hiker, but it was a hundred or more yards from the trailhead. Later we would pass by a couple who were out hiking and exploring. Possibly their car.
By mid afternoon we were walking the road towards the first water cache. The roar of off road vehicles and accompanying dust trail was ahead. Appeared to be a trail ride on the dirt rd through the forest. We stopped as each new bubble of vehicles came by us, riders slowed and waved. We filled up our water bottles sbd I clipped the empty jug to my pack so I could go straight home instead of drving to the cache spots to retrieve empty jugs. We have about a half mile to our campsite, the Bully Hill lean-to. It sits about halfway up the 500 foot climb ahead of us. The trail was a gentle slope up to the lean-to nestled near the confluence of two streams. There was a little water in the streams but we were glad to have carried in our own.
Set up camp and made a smudge fire as the mosquitos were active. Later Shannon made dinner, I had the second half of my lunch sandwich. Early bedtime, not long after hiker midnite. 7.4 miles for the day.
Rain came over night. Quite heavy at times. I was up at my usual time, Shannon slept in longer. Cool morning, would make for easier hiking compared to the almost 80degrees and sun of yesterday. We packed up and were back on trail a little after 9. We started with the rest of the climb to the next forest access road crossing where I stashed the second gallon of water. We refilled our bottles and I stowed the empty jug in my pack. Today would have a big drop in elevation followed by the same climb then finally dropping again to our awaiting car. The trail now was on boardwalks through a wet section. Slow walking so not to slip off. A small climb out and into some nice piney woods. Crossed some old lanes and more forest roads. A really nice section paralleling both the forest road and the creek on a long slow descent.
Passed a decent campsite which would allow for easy access from the forest rd. At the next rd crossing, the roads did not appear in the map, but the trail markers showed the way, then the trail followed the dirt road for a bit. A big climb ahead. A few patters of rain so we put the rain covers on our packs in preparation. Slow climbing but not arduous. Rain never materialized. A trail runner passed us by going the other way at the next road crossing. The last one before we begin our final descent. The trail up on this higher section was beautiful. Not long until the edge of the state forest and the private land, criss-crossed with old lanes. Still very pretty woods. As we emerged from the woods a nice view of the valley was ahead. We would now head down a grassy lane lined with old apple trees and filling in with tall weeds and wildflowers for a little more than half a mile. Then another half on the road to our car. 6.4 miles from where we began this morning.
