We drove up t
o the Wilson Creek area to hike along the Harper Creek trail to a remote campsite recommended by Ed Speer, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Blue Fireflies (also known as Ghost fireflies.) They only come out the first 2 weeks for June, but we hoped we would be able to catch a few slack laggers since it was the 3rd week of June. We took our time and arrived at the trail head around 2pm. We unloaded the dogs and our packs in some unbearable heat. Thank goodness, for the dogs' sake, we would be hiking mostly along a creek. The trail started immediately straight up. I think our elevation was at 1700 and we climbed up to 2000 in just a 1/2 mile. It was pretty steep in some places, but had some switchbacks to help out. Once we got to the top we could hear the water rushing. aahhhh, what a great sound. :)
o the Wilson Creek area to hike along the Harper Creek trail to a remote campsite recommended by Ed Speer, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Blue Fireflies (also known as Ghost fireflies.) They only come out the first 2 weeks for June, but we hoped we would be able to catch a few slack laggers since it was the 3rd week of June. We took our time and arrived at the trail head around 2pm. We unloaded the dogs and our packs in some unbearable heat. Thank goodness, for the dogs' sake, we would be hiking mostly along a creek. The trail started immediately straight up. I think our elevation was at 1700 and we climbed up to 2000 in just a 1/2 mile. It was pretty steep in some places, but had some switchbacks to help out. Once we got to the top we could hear the water rushing. aahhhh, what a great sound. :) The trail(s) we took to do 6.5 miles was straight out of a skittles packet. We started on the orange trail, which was nice and descended down along Harpers Creek. Then we hooked into the white trail (whi
ch was the Mountains to Sea Trail) which had some ups and downs along the creek with some stream crossings. Then we hopped on the blue trail that had several stream crossings all the way to the campsite. We pulled into camp just in time to set up the tarp before it started sprinkling on us. While Boo filtered some water, the dogs jumped into the creek to cool off, and I slipped into my camp shoes and set up my hammock. After a few minutes I joined them in the creek and, wow, did my feet love the cool water. I sat on a rock as Boo tossed a stick for Thing 1 to retrieve. We finally decide have dinner. I fed the dogs then pulled out the $5 footlong sub I lugged up mountain and Boo and I feasted on fresh veggies and soggy bread. :) But I think the best part was chasing it down with chocolate chip cookies and a liter of COLD mountain water. While Boo set up his hammock, I finished up camp chores. I hung the food bag and filtered water for all of our bottles. We then scouted around for some twigs and branches to make a nice fire, but that didn't work out so well. Everything was wet and water log
ged, so no fire for us. We decided to call it a night around 9:30pm and crawled under the mosquito nets and into our hammocks. I think Boo was the first to spot the Blue fireflies. I was half asleep when he startled me with, "Do you see that! what is that!" I jumped up and all I saw was this glowing blue light, that looked like an LED light, floating down a pitch black trail. I freaked out for a second thinking someone was coming into our camp, then I remembered it was the blue fireflies. They don't blink on and off like regular yellow fireflies, they stay illuminated for several seconds. After a few minutes we saw more and more of them coming out to light the path for the female blue fireflies, which don't fly, but crawl on the ground. What a cool sight, at times they were so close to us the dogs jumped up ready to attack. hahaha! I finally went to sleep b/c the next thing I remember it was 8am and a cool 60 degrees out. I slept with just the DIY poncho liner underquilt and no sleeping bag and had a very warm sleep. Glad the poncho liner worked. Made me ever more curious to see just how cold it could get down to.
ch was the Mountains to Sea Trail) which had some ups and downs along the creek with some stream crossings. Then we hopped on the blue trail that had several stream crossings all the way to the campsite. We pulled into camp just in time to set up the tarp before it started sprinkling on us. While Boo filtered some water, the dogs jumped into the creek to cool off, and I slipped into my camp shoes and set up my hammock. After a few minutes I joined them in the creek and, wow, did my feet love the cool water. I sat on a rock as Boo tossed a stick for Thing 1 to retrieve. We finally decide have dinner. I fed the dogs then pulled out the $5 footlong sub I lugged up mountain and Boo and I feasted on fresh veggies and soggy bread. :) But I think the best part was chasing it down with chocolate chip cookies and a liter of COLD mountain water. While Boo set up his hammock, I finished up camp chores. I hung the food bag and filtered water for all of our bottles. We then scouted around for some twigs and branches to make a nice fire, but that didn't work out so well. Everything was wet and water log
ged, so no fire for us. We decided to call it a night around 9:30pm and crawled under the mosquito nets and into our hammocks. I think Boo was the first to spot the Blue fireflies. I was half asleep when he startled me with, "Do you see that! what is that!" I jumped up and all I saw was this glowing blue light, that looked like an LED light, floating down a pitch black trail. I freaked out for a second thinking someone was coming into our camp, then I remembered it was the blue fireflies. They don't blink on and off like regular yellow fireflies, they stay illuminated for several seconds. After a few minutes we saw more and more of them coming out to light the path for the female blue fireflies, which don't fly, but crawl on the ground. What a cool sight, at times they were so close to us the dogs jumped up ready to attack. hahaha! I finally went to sleep b/c the next thing I remember it was 8am and a cool 60 degrees out. I slept with just the DIY poncho liner underquilt and no sleeping bag and had a very warm sleep. Glad the poncho liner worked. Made me ever more curious to see just how cold it could get down to.So the next morning we got up around 8am, packed up our campsite, gnawed on an apple for breakfast and headed out onto the trail again by 9am. We knew we would be ridge walking the rest of the way, so we let the dogs get their fill at all the stream crossings and th
ing one took total advantage of this. After hopping back on the blue trail, we veered off onto the yellow trail which started our immediate uphill climb for about a mile. Once on top, we met up with the red ridge trail which was nice and flat on top of the mountain, until it started descending back down to 1800 feet and to the base of Yellow Buck Mountain (which I later dubbed WTF mountain). We had to climb up to 2477 in one mile and there were no switchbacks in sight. This trail went straight UP the mountain. The sun was starting to beat down on us, the dogs were panting like crazy, Boo and I were pouring out sweat, we knew we had to stop to let the dogs have a water break so we agreed to stop at the top of WTF mountain. I swear it was the longest mile I have ever hiked. It never seemed to end. We hit so many false tops it wasn't funny. FINALLY we reach the top and take a much needed water/gorp break. The rest was all down hill. Brutal, straight down with no switchbacks. What an ankle workout. I think I slipped like twice and twisted my ankles at least 1/2 dozen times down the loose rocks. After a while, I spot a sign that says "Wildlife Bear Sanctuary." HA! We were in such remote wilderness I am surprised we didn't see a bear. We barely saw anyone else on the trail all day long. We finally get back to the orange trail and hike back down to our car. The dogs slept the entire way home and Boo and I basked in the AC of the car. All in all it was a great weekend to be in the woods. Til next time, GET OUTDOORS!!!
ing one took total advantage of this. After hopping back on the blue trail, we veered off onto the yellow trail which started our immediate uphill climb for about a mile. Once on top, we met up with the red ridge trail which was nice and flat on top of the mountain, until it started descending back down to 1800 feet and to the base of Yellow Buck Mountain (which I later dubbed WTF mountain). We had to climb up to 2477 in one mile and there were no switchbacks in sight. This trail went straight UP the mountain. The sun was starting to beat down on us, the dogs were panting like crazy, Boo and I were pouring out sweat, we knew we had to stop to let the dogs have a water break so we agreed to stop at the top of WTF mountain. I swear it was the longest mile I have ever hiked. It never seemed to end. We hit so many false tops it wasn't funny. FINALLY we reach the top and take a much needed water/gorp break. The rest was all down hill. Brutal, straight down with no switchbacks. What an ankle workout. I think I slipped like twice and twisted my ankles at least 1/2 dozen times down the loose rocks. After a while, I spot a sign that says "Wildlife Bear Sanctuary." HA! We were in such remote wilderness I am surprised we didn't see a bear. We barely saw anyone else on the trail all day long. We finally get back to the orange trail and hike back down to our car. The dogs slept the entire way home and Boo and I basked in the AC of the car. All in all it was a great weekend to be in the woods. Til next time, GET OUTDOORS!!!
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