#HOPELESS WANDERER FULL#
The trail was overgrown, covered in downed trees and full of spider webs, just the kind of hike I enjoy. As we neared the end of the hike, we peeled off onto the Eagle’s Nest loop, an unmarked and unmaintained route in the Clifty Wilderness. It was a good hike Lindsey was proving to be a great partner and we were crushing it with our pace. It was a 2 mile mud slide up 500’, a great way to start the day, luckily, the heat was still holding off. We changed into dryish socks and shoes and began the long slog up out of the valley onto the ridge. We ran into some trail runners, who sounded like they were having a great time as they passed by, they were the last people we’d see for several hours. The day started with a creek crossing and then a decent sized river crossing, one after the other. We got up and moving early, about an hour before we planned (the nice thing about a small group). When I woke up, the morning was already warm, our valley was shaded but I could tell how hot a day it was going to be by the stickiness in the air. I listened to the trickle of water in the creek and let it lull me back to sleep. I woke up around 3AM to a bright full moon, the temperature had dropped, and I was freezing my ass off (smart moving camping by the water.). We quickly setup camp and gathered some soggy sticks for a small fire as the darkness and a light fog settled in for the night. Unfortunately, another backpacker had already setup his hammock and nabbed the spot I wanted by the river, so we settled for another spot hidden in a valley back along a tributary. Eventually, after about an hour and a half of trudging through the afternoon heat, we arrived where we wanted to camp for the evening. We didn’t run into many other backpackers as we headed out towards Lost Branch, a few groups looking for a home for the night, but for the most part the only noises were the birds, the river below and our occasional chatting. Starting down Bison Way, it was a muddy, hot mess but we were both optimistic about the journey ahead. After about two and a half hours we were at the trailhead, ready to go. It was an uneventful drive, with a little traffic and a stop for some fried chicken (much needed). On Friday, without much fuss, we met up in Cincinnati and made the short drive south. The night before we went down it poured in The Red and I knew the trails were going to be a mud bath, but luckily this also meant the river was at a perfect 4.5’ which would be excellent for paddling. In all reality I wanted some good company and didn’t really want to try something new alone.Īfter a few days of asking around I found my friend Lindsey who was super willing and able for this journey, so we were off. I also needed a partner cause paddling alone isn’t safe (never done that before.). I knew the upper Red in the Clifty Wilderness could be pretty dicy in lower water (technical Class II) and in high water it was a Class III-IV run, so I didn’t want to mess with that too much. I had a few challenges, the first of which was, I’ve never paddled the Red River in my life. So, the idea was in my head and I was off. I had taken the boats out on day paddles but nothing real solid since Alaska. After a morning splash and a swim at Jump Rock, I knew what I wanted to do the following weekend, I was going to packraft the Red River.
I had been down to RRG the week before to trail run and the river looked particularly inviting. It’s my first time going on a packrafting trip since Alaska. I don’t typically write about my weekend trips, especially not to Red River Gorge, but this one has a special place in my heart.
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