Hidden Passage Trail,
(Click to enlarge pictures)
The
And they’re not kidding, either. The
southern pine beetle has done some pretty extensive damage to the forests here
and at Big South Fork, and these warning signs are no joke…
…and
this bit of deadfall is adequate evidence. You tread lightly and listen
carefully when you hike here. If a tree falls in this forest and you’re around
to see it, the noise that’s made will be of you being squarshed!
Loaded up and ready to go. It will be a
long day on the trail!
A couple of the trail
markers. There are, I think, three different trails utilizing this path:
Hidden Passage, from Pickett; the John Muir Trail (a
If the green blazes are for JMT, here’s a
unique derivative…and my bark shot
for this trip!
A couple of views of Column Arch, only one
of several that one can find in the Pickett/Big South Fork vicinity.
A sweet highlight of the first part of the
Hidden Passage Trail,
Just some of the massive
rock walls and soaring trees on the Hidden Passage Trail.
Yes, there is a Hidden Passage, and this is it, an interesting little
contortion among and beneath fallen rocks. It’s a lot easier than it looks, and
it beats the alternative path, which is probably down into the Thompson Creek
valley and then back up again!
If you’re really into sandstone, you’re in
luck. There is a distinct surplus of it, and some of it is absolutely
gorgeously banded, as in the examples above.
Look closely and you’ll see what I did.
Wish I could identify this enormous bird, but I didn’t have my eye-extenders on
this trip, alas.
Flowers clinging tenaciously to the rock
face.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign…no, they’re
not kidding. Though actually the trail goes beneath
the powerline, of course…and that note that highway
154 is 5.1 miles away is a little disheartening…
But the miles do roll on, and with the
scenery as wonderful as it is, it’s hard to complain much. That is, unless you’re
as bumblefooted as am I, and you toddle off to see
Eventually you arrive at the Thompson
Overlook, just shy of the halfway point. It is not a particularly inspiring
view during the verdant months, but you do at least get a sense of the vastness
of the area, and it is a comfortable place to take a rest in the sun before
resuming the hike. I bet it’s pretty here in the fall
though.
After having traveled roughly northeast
the entire route you take a turn west from Thompson Overlook heading in the
direction of Rock Creek, which is itself a spectacular trail. You can combine
the two, in fact, and do a super point-to-point from Pickett to Big South Fork
if you’re so inclined. This picture is taken off a walkway not far from the
Tunnel Trail connector.
From there, the terrain changes, and you
get away from the spectacular bluffs in favor of a stroll through a forest. There’s remains of what appears to be a stove (seen here)
along the way, and another crossing of the powerline
cut, but it’s fairly humdrum till you get to a group camp where the trail takes
a swing south.
At this point the trail crosses what may
be the smallest arch in the
I returned to our chalet with sore feet in
time for a tremendous supper of grilled steak, onions, and peppers, and later,
I somehow managed enough energy to make popcorn with P. J.!
Later, Shell and Peej colored while I read
and we listened to Prairie Home Companion warmed by a cheery fire in the chalet’s
wood stove. Apart from the bed being somewhat on the small side, it was a
wonderful night and we hope we get to go back sometime!
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