Apr 26 Meigs Creek in Rain

Second day of Pilgrimage, I'm on an all day 9 miler beginning at Metcalf Bottoms, up Curry Mountain Trail, then Meigs Mountain Trail and down Meigs Creek Trail to the Sinks. Having hiked Meigs Creek before, I am well aware of the 16 creek crossings. Today they will be high but I am prepared with appropriate footwear. Of course, it is raining too so we're going to get wet no matter what.

It is a full to capacity outing, so no one has been deterred by the inclement weather. I don't think any of the other pilgrims were aware of the creek crossings. Leader Ed Lickey makes sure everyone knows that we'll be knee deep in water.  

My Kavu hat

Pilgrimage hikes are slow. We stop and talk about all sorts of things we are seeing. The wonderfully knowledgeable botanists who accompany each hike have a mind blowing amount of plant knowledge. Add to that fungi, birds, insects, lichen, liverworts, invertebrates, exoskeletals, bryophytes and occasionally someone gives a lecture on the Arcto Tertiary Geoflora which has been around since the K/T event 65 million years ago. I've heard it twice. 

Ok, we head up Curry Mountain and stop alot. Ed finds some Pigs ear fungus and another polypore which looked to me like Diamond polypore but Ed called it Dryad's Saddle. John collected sedges along the way. And we saw a multitude of wildflowers.

Lunch was at the junction with Meigs Mountain Trail. Lush vegetation became the theme from here. There were immense grape vines, lots of large black locust and Fraser magnolias. 

Once we made the turn to follow Meigs Creek, the excitement started. The first few creek crossings were ankle deep but about the third one was close to knee deep. It was relatively treacherous but everyone made it. About this time, all hope of staying in dry boots was gone. Three of the gals decided to just walk barefoot from here, four of us had sandals and the others just walked in waterlogged boots.

The Professor show us how to do it.

The fearless sedgemaster leads the way

Barefoot and brave

On the final mile or so, we spot Pink ladyslippers trailside. 

Everyone made it but there was some grumbling about the high water. The sinks were roaring. A couple kayakers were assessing the route and decided to wait for another day. Some logs had lodged in the cascade right where they wanted to go.

Again, it is late and I still have a night hike to do.