Swift Camp Creek

Last weekend Shay and I took the first hike of the year as well as Shay's first backpacking overnighter. We met at our friend Micheal's house at 9am and got everything packed up and left for Red River Gorge. Once at the trail head we started out around 1pm. We where so excited about this hike had all our gear and the first 200 yards of the hike was amazing until the trail turned for the worst. Shay and I where both aware that previous hikers had posted to our group that this trail was very difficult due to down trees (this because of the windstorm weeks ago). We figured how hard could it be hoping over a few trees and walking off the beaten path to dodge a few limbs... we were wrong! The Trail was a mess Trees and limbs everywhere as well as the trail was already on difficult terrain lots of up and down hill as well as mud pits and creeks to cross. On a normal hike at a leisurely pace you can expect to get about 2 miles per hour. With the difficulty of this trail we got right at 2 hours per mile! This led us to our camping destination around 6 that night. Now the destination was beautiful We where right beside a creak almost like camping around Paterson's creek if anyone knows that area in VA. Once at the camp we set up our tent and got ready for dinner. Now our new Camping friends let us borrow pots, stoves and water purifiers so all we had to do was bring the food. We decided on a broccoli cheddar soup with some rice in it. This concoction put into a glad ware cup or bowl and then add 2 cups of boiling water/then close the lid for 8-10 minutes made an awesome meal. After dinner we cleaned up to sit around the campfire and get to know everyone better as well as enjoy the outdoors. Around 11 Shay and I were getting cold and tired so we headed off to the warm mummy bags that awaited us in our tent. Now the down side to our camping spot is we were in a valley right beside a creek so with those to factors your temperature drops quickly. We woke up Sunday morning at a whopping 30 degrees out. Now myself being a warm sleeper with my bag I didn't have a problem all night I actually woke up sweating and once I took off my fleece to keep from sweating and gave it to Shay, she was warm for the rest of the night.We woke up the next morning and had our breakfast, a meal of champions in which I had 3 packets of banana nut oatmeal and Shay had a oatmeal to go bar. After hanging out at camp till about 11 we had a group meeting. Due to the terrain some of us were sore and not sure if we could make the rest of the trail which per the topo map and other hikers was the worst part of the trail. A group of us decided to hike back and take an easier trail to the main road. All in all our group had to hike more miles but it was a ridge top which was mostly flat and there was 0 down trees!So Shay and I as well as 2 other friends didn't get to finish the entire trail due to the difficulty but we got to see another part of the Red River Gorge and have a less miserable time hiking a difficult trail for our first trip of the season.Now with the trail difficulty being a pain there still was many highlights of the beautiful views, sounds of nature and a perfect days of roughly 64 degrees to be hiking. But needless to say that alone for me made up for the difficulty of the hike. We had a blast and cannot wait until our next trip with the group which might be the 2nd week of April, sooner than we thought! I have posted some pictures of us and the Trial from this weekend on shutterfly hope y'all enjoy!

Nick