What time did you get there? We arrived at around 10:30am. You must have been close behind because we heard from the ranger that one of the local ranchers, possibly the one who gave us a hard time on the road, locked the gate so nobody could get in.

We arrived at Dowdy at about 12:30 or so. The entrance gate was closed as we were pulling up and Cameron must have been unlocking it. I assumed it was just pulled shut. We hung way back to stay out of his dust and as we got near dowdy saw him talking to a rancher on a horse with a dog. Probably the one that gave you a hard time. Sounds like no one let the locals know that the gate should be open on weekends.

Very nice! The creek and Mack's Corral is very a seldom visited area (maybe because of the zombie skunk!)

Very nice! The creek and Mack's Corral is very a seldom visited area (maybe because of the zombie skunk!)

Ugh! How do I delete duplicate comments?

This is a pounding hike of almost constant single track trails none of which had any flatness to them. The unrelenting downhill brutalized my knees until the right one gave out completely and caused excruciating burning pain. I barely limped down to the creek using two hiking poles and walking backward down 45°slopes. I gobbled up 600mg of Ibuprofen and tightly wrapped my knee in hopes I could continue. What I did not realize was that the concentrated efforts to hobble down these treacherous tracks drained all my energy. The trail following the dry creek bed was navigable but the ascension, back to the ranch was impossible. Suffering from complete exhaustion and near terminal heat stroke, I stumbled after Antony in white light delirium. At times I literally walked in circles thinking I was moving upward. Rest stops were mandatory each three steps. With some previous unknown will power and constant attention from Antony, I persevered upward with needle like grass spears jabbing through my socks and nearly piercing bone. At one point, I found a suitable rock to sit on and nearly fainted from exhaustion and heat. As the hillside went blurry and reality went fuzzy, I was coaxed to my feet to go just a few feet further. Then a few feet more. I worked into a steady cadence of stopping every few steps. Eventually I surfaced in the parking lot and, well, I lived through another hike and to the chance for Antony to try to do me in again!

Very nice! The creek and Mack's Corral is very a seldom visited area (maybe because of the zombie skunk!)

Very nice! The creek and Mack's Corral is very a seldom visited area (maybe because of the zombie skunk!)

Ugh! How do I delete duplicate comments?

This is a pounding hike of almost constant single track trails none of which had any flatness to them. The unrelenting downhill brutalized my knees until the right one gave out completely and caused excruciating burning pain. I barely limped down to the creek using two hiking poles and walking backward down 45°slopes. I gobbled up 600mg of Ibuprofen and tightly wrapped my knee in hopes I could continue. What I did not realize was that the concentrated efforts to hobble down these treacherous tracks drained all my energy. The trail following the dry creek bed was navigable but the ascension, back to the ranch was impossible. Suffering from complete exhaustion and near terminal heat stroke, I stumbled after Antony in white light delirium. At times I literally walked in circles thinking I was moving upward. Rest stops were mandatory each three steps. With some previous unknown will power and constant attention from Antony, I persevered upward with needle like grass spears jabbing through my socks and nearly piercing bone. At one point, I found a suitable rock to sit on and nearly fainted from exhaustion and heat. As the hillside went blurry and reality went fuzzy, I was coaxed to my feet to go just a few feet further. Then a few feet more. I worked into a steady cadence of stopping every few steps. Eventually I surfaced in the parking lot and, well, I lived through another hike and to the chance for Antony to try to do me in again!

Very Nice! Jomebrew, it sounds like you had a great time. You inspire me to go back for another hike. Antony, do you have an elevation profile? or is it just steep up all the time?

Anne -- hit pause in slideshow mode and you'll see a squiggly line button for statistics. That has the elevation profile. Ant

Wow! I'm glad we just did the shorter loop on Saturday. We must have just missed you guys. Might consider your hike in the reverse direction when it is a little cooler.