Daniel Boone National Forest, KY - Auxier Trails

ABOUT THE PARK:
Daniel Boone National Forest - USDA
Auxier Area Trails - USDA

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.820081, -83.68079

The drive in on Tunnel Road is very pretty.  Parking at at the very end of Tunnel Road.

Parking at the Auxier Ridge Trailhead - already packed at 9AM, probably mostly overnight camper with other hikers arriving later in the day.

TRAIL MAP:
Auxier Area Trails - USDA

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HIKE DISTANCE:  6.85 miles

THE HIKE:

We started on the Double Arch Trail to the left and returned on the Auxier Ridge Trail on the right.

The trail starts out as a footpath that connects to ...

... a gravel path.  All trails are blazed with white diamonds and they are often few and far between but paths are well-defined so they are easy to follow.

A little lingering fog up ahead.

The Double Arch Trail turns right here but we went left ...

... over the log to the left ...

... on a short side path to some views.

This was just a preview of what was to come.

Back to the fork to the Double Arch Trail....

... down a long flight of steps.

At the intersection with the Auxier Branch Trail, left on the Double Arch Trail.

Pileated Woodpecker

As we arrived at the Double Arches ...

... I was only able to get these shots when ...

... people with FIVE off leash dogs came charging up behind us and Brodie freaked.  I asked them to leash their dogs and they just stood and stared at me like I was requesting something that was over the top unreasonable.  I dragged Brodie away and left.  So much for enjoying a view.

We retraced back to the intersection and turned left on the Auxier Branch Trail.

An easy rock hop over Auxier Branch.

At the intersection, left towards Courthouse Rock.  This is now the Auxier Ridge Trail but the sign does not say that.

A little bit of scrambling ...

... and Courthouse Rock is to the left.

Courthouse Rock

Heading to the right are steps up to the ridge.  I was worried about the grates but Brodie went right up, no problem.

These steps keep going ...

... and going.

A better view of Courthouse Rock from the steps.

Now on the ridge.  I had heard that this would not be good for those with a fear of heights (such as me) but I had asked two women coming down and they said it was not bad at all.  They were right, I was fine with it.  There was enough vegetation along the sides and open areas were wide enough for my knees not to start knocking.  Had I not been able to do it, I would have retraced to the Auxier Branch Trail and gone that way.

The weather was alternating between sprinkles and sunshine, sometimes both at the same time.

At the intersection, the Courthouse Rock Trail comes in from the right, keep left on the Auxier Ridge Trail.

Back at the parking lot.

Another 5 hours of driving in 45 mph wind gusts (thank goodness we made it off the ridge before that started) to St. Louis, Missouri to visit my mom.

George Washington National Forest, VA - Kepler Overlook

ABOUT THE PARK:
George Washington National Forest - USDA

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 38.970117, -78.565305

Driving in, pass one gate (if closed park there and walk in) then turn left just before the second gate and park at the camp site.  That second gate is where the hike starts.

TRAIL MAP:
Map F: Great North Mountain-North Half (VA/WV) - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

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HIKE DISTANCE:  6 miles (3 miles each way)

THE HIKE:
Followed the hike as described by Hiking Upward.

From parking at the camp site, walk back out to the road that you drove in on ...

... and turn left through the gate (that apparently was permanently closed at some point) ...

... on the yellow-blazed Cedar Crest Trail.

We had just driven through 5 hours of heavy rain but fortunately it stopped right when we started hiking.

Where the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail crosses over, turn left.

Just beyond an old "road closed" gate ...

... a rock hop over Cedar Creek.  I was concerned the water might be too deep after so much rain but it was passable.

Cedar Creek

Crossing a little creek where a bridge would not have been necessary at all.

Yay, some blue sky peeking through.

Up to this point the trail had been mostly woods road but becomes a more rugged footpath after this turn.

It's always gradual uphill, never steep.

Blue-headed Vireo

A short side trail to an overlook on Tea Mountain.

The trail to the left led to a rock scramble so Brodie had to be tethered at the bottom while I climbed up.  He was not pleased about this.

A little bit of a view from the top.

Went around the rocks to the next left ...

... to an overlook Brodie could get to.

Unfortunately, still lots of low clouds from the remnants of Hurricane Willa passing through.

Continuing on the Tuscarora Trail.

Once on the ridge of Little North Mountain, it's a short distance to a clearing on the right with camping sites and ...

... Kepler Overlook where I think you should be able to see the Shenandoah Mountains but not with these low clouds.

It was still a pretty view.

Heading back the way we came.

A right on the yellow Cedar Creek Trail ...

... then a right back to the parking area.

Five more hours of driving ...

... to the motel in Charleston, WV.