I was invited on a partially on trail/off trail hike into the backcountry of Big South Fork. I jumped at the opportunity to hike with Nichole Newport and Mervin Wood on a search for more of the rare and very beautiful Kentucky Lady Slippers. We hiked out Maude’s Crack Trail where we took an off trail shortcut and linked up with the John Muir Trail as it turned downhill towards the river. There were many gorgeous wildflowers along the trail to enjoy.
The payoff would come later when we stepped off trail and into the largest patch of Kentucky Lady Slippers I have ever seen! There were literally dozens in bloom and more than that were just short of being fully bloomed. It was an amazing sight indeed.
We rejoined the river trail and headed for Parch Corn Creek and the historic homesite of Armpstead Blevins. Only the partially collapsed chimney remains of the log cabin but an amazing retaining wall and the original spring are still there.
I had located an old, abandoned road during map studies leading up the mountain and joining Terry Cemetery Road near the trailhead where we were parked. After filling my water bottles with the cool, clear water from the homesite’s spring we took the old road out of the beautiful valley.
We arrived at our vehicles after a fairly tough climb and a battle with rhododendron and laurel.
What a day it was! Even with the off trail shortcuts we logged over 9 miles. It was worth each and every step of the way!