Pickle Creek Trail 2015

We finally made it back down to Pickle Creek Trail! We'd hiked this trail a few years ago and I've been dying to go back, but it's over an hour away and it never worked out.

I was sure the nice Fall days were behind us, but I'm glad to have been proven wrong. This entire week of perfect weather started on Sunday and we took advantage of it!

Signal is non-existent where we were so we had to wait around a bit while we waited for Tim, Karen, and Don to arrive.

The boys played on the playground while I snapped pictures.

[caption id="attachment_2411" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Love is in the air![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2412" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Winter is coming[/caption]

Finally everyone arrived and we started out.

[caption id="attachment_2416" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Little Explorers[/caption]

Pickle Creek Trail is a difficult, but fun, hike with lots of boulders to climb and a steep elevation.

[caption id="attachment_2426" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Large Rocks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2421" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Father and Son[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2419" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Pickle Creek[/caption]

The actual trail runs along the creek, but there are lots of places where you can go down to the creek and sit and play.

Sometimes you find interesting things in the creek.

[caption id="attachment_2418" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Fungi in the Creek[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2417" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hi Buddy![/caption]

Who am I kidding? We find interesting things everywhere we look!

[caption id="attachment_2422" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Forest Floor[/caption]

 

There are also some amazing bluffs. Those are Gabe's favorite! He would run off and start climbing the bluffs. I don't know where he gets that energy!

[caption id="attachment_2415" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bluffs[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2423" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gabe in the Woods[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2424" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Gabe on the Bluffs[/caption]

One place was SO steep it was just short of a vertical climb. It was exhausting! Gabe was determined, though, and I couldn't bear to tell him no.

[caption id="attachment_2428" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Resting after his climb[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2414" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Ben[/caption]

 

Last time, we got to the end of Pickle Creek and then turned around. This time, we cut across the creek and followed a different trail back. That's where we found the steep bluffs above.

[caption id="attachment_2425" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Karen and Don[/caption]

We lost the trail for a bit, but we could see the parking lot through the trees so we weren't too concerned.

We muddled along until we reconnected with the trail.

[caption id="attachment_2420" align="aligncenter" width="200"] On the Bridge[/caption]

I'm so glad we were able to get back here. I'm determined to return and take on the 10-mile hike!

Maybe next year. :)