Mapping the Sheltowee

[jonaharalia]

May 24, 2008
Dry Branch Road
Miles: 15.3
Epic day. Left Jake's Back Porch bright and early considering the quick step out of camp (no tent folding, no major packing up, just roll the bag and hit it). Found our way back to Trace andcontinued along under powerlines (first break, wonderful sun and view) then FS 977 dominates the day. Hot and dry, we had to filter from a puddle, alkaline rainwater, and guarded it against passing horse trailer (they just didn't understand). Good thing we got water at Jakes, the forest service road is high and dry until crossing of 64 for third and last time. Came upon family of quail, we did, and I do assert that a wildcat lynx maybe crossed the path near end of FS road. Entered notorious ice storm section and immediately lost the trail and found gasline clearing right of way to follow. Damn, I didn't take note of those topographic lines, very close together at the place where gasline closes in on Big Tom Brown Branch. What a descent, black diamond style. Reached the swinging bridge over Holly Fork, a dilapidated one plank bridge, much like a tightrope in its challenging of one's balance and center of gravity. Gave the Trace another chance to Dry Branch Road, where it was overgrown to the britches with my favorite old plant from souther terminus area, Poison I, plus blackberries, bittersweet, and more. Then we ended up losing the Trace at another gasline crossing and had a downhill bushwhack from purgatory, crossing into private land, dogs barking at the commotion. Reaching the road, yes, our patience wick was worn thin and we decided to road walk the 377 to homeland of northern terminus. Sanity was at stake. As was our final day aftertaste, would it be consumed with bushwhacking and poison I or a smooth Sunday morning country lane walk to freedom. We chose the latter.