This wknd

Looking at doing this one mid October with a couple friends!! Cant wait to get out there!!

awesome

How was the trail as far as marking/blazes? Fairly easy to navigate?

This trip can be done much faster, we did it slow and relaxing. I wish I had done the Kimsey Creek trail, but the Lower Ridge Trail had not been GPS yet that I could find. It also gave us a speedy exit to drive back to FL that day. One of the nice thing about the area is you can take some different routes in the area. Make sure you check out some of the other posts of this trip as it is quite popular--an justifiably so!

We had a blast the last time we did this trail. We are heading back this Saturday to make it a one day hike!! I will let you know how it goes!

We survived the one day hike with only minor issues!! About 5 miles from Standing Indian an old Army injury reared its ugly head and slowed me down some. (Bad knees) I told the other hikers not to wait on me while on the trail and I would meet them at the camp site up ahead. Well when I got there no one was around. I waited for about 30 mins thinking maybe they just went site seeing nearby and then noticed fresh trekking pole holes at the beginning of the Lower Ridge Trail so, I set off. This was at about 7pm. Needless to say my friends weren't on that trail, yet anyways, and when I got to the first camp site on the Lower Ridge Trail I stopped to wait. Backing up a bit, before heading down the Lower Ridge Trail I sent them both a text while I had signal asking where they were. When I got to the camp site my phone went off. They had gone to the Standing Indian Shelter. There was some confusion on whether we would be taking the Lower Ridge Trail or Kimsey Creek Trail. I sent a reply that I was on the LRT, again while I had signal, and then waited to see if they showed up. I wasn't even sure they got my text but, I started a fire while at the camp and then waited. This was at 9pm. At 1030 pm I figured they hadn't gotten my message and really didn't know where they were. Now, all my training says stay put and wait for others to find you but, something took over and told me to just get back to the parking area and wait there. So, at 1030, I put out my fire with my remaining water and headed off towards the parking area. When I hit the old road that intersects with the LRT I tried to be smart and hang a right. Looking at the map it appeared I could follow this old road until it hit the main road leading to the camp site and parking area. After about .75-1 mile it became so over grown I had to abandon my plan, turn around, and go back to the LRT and continue on. I continued down the LRT and in the distance and through some trees I finally saw a light. Was it a house? The trail head and parking lot? What? It was a campsite where someone had left a lantern burning. I approached and called out to see if anyone was awake. No answer but, at an adjacent campsite there was a man and wife still awake (1200 am)and I asked them which way back to the parking area. They directed me and all of a sudden out of no where my other friends show up from the LRT just behind me!! We couldn't believe we didn't hear each other. We chuckled and thanked the couple for directing us and off we went. We got to the car around 1215 and set off for home. Very worn out and at the same time pumped from the adventure we had just had!!!
Start time: 0845
End time: 1215
Total time 15.50 hours
We are all looking forward to the next one!!