Beard Creek Trail
We saved the longest hike of this trip for last - just over 14 miles. That's stretching the limits of our physical abilities, but we did it. We started at the same Goldmine Road trailhead, hiked to Ace Gap via Beard Creek, and then returned the same way. We climbed over 36 trees (or under or through!) that had fallen over the trail, and crossed the creek 51 times (twice!). There were portions of thorny bushes and mud to go through, but it wasn't the entire trail. Just like for the Cane Creek Trail, the majority of this one followed a creek through the forest, so it was nice and shady. Overall, the experience was better than I anticipated, and I'm glad we accomplished our goal, but I have no desire to do it again! Are you interested?
Despite the numerous creek crossings, we were able to keep our feet mostly dry, until we reached this one near the end.
We made it to the park boundary at Ace Gap. It was nice to recognize the spot from where we turned around on our hike a few years ago. Then we headed back down the trail we had just traversed.
We ate lunch at Campsite #3. It's not terribly obvious, but notice the lines strung so you can hang your food where bears can't get to it. I put the camera away until we got back to the junction with the Hatcher Mountain and Cooper Road Trails. Wayne had taken those two trails already back in 2004, in the rain with Brad and Jeff. That 14-mile loop (with the Abrams Falls trail) was their favorite of that trip.
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