Still scratchin' my head over why I decided to hike a logging road in the rain to no place in particular. I guess it started with me wanting to check out the gorge at Youngs Creek, what with all the rain. Didn't disappoint there. Then I figured "Well, since I'm here..." And into the Marckworth Maze I went...
Took the bootpath that goes straight at the DNR/1029 TH. When it hit the road again, I took all lefts. Past the quarry, with the trucks waiting for Monday; past the sign on a stump that said "CAUTION! GATE AHEAD" even though there wasn't one; past the big "4" on a tree ( I guess I'm four miles from somewhere?); past the dead snake on a rock; and all the way to the "T" with a giant cliff straight ahead.
Deciding to mix it up, I took a right. It heads up the hill and skirts a little lake, then ends a bit later at a cliff with a smattering of a view up the Sky Valley. So back down the hill and up the other way, on road to the left. Pretty much the same thing - without the lake...
Well, that's about it - there was nothing left to do but head back down. In the rain, the whole hike. Wasn't that bad, I guess. Had the place to myself. No wonder.
P.S. - Sorry, gotta say it... found another balloon. Yep, they're everywhere. This one was a shiny, deep purple one. Very pretty. (No, not that Deep Purple... Whoa! Flashbacks of the 70's!) Still had air, so I had to pop it to put it in my pocket. DON'T LET THEM GO!
Comments
hikingwithlittledogs on Marckworth Forest
How easy/hard is it to find that cool gorge?
Posted by:
hikingwithlittledogs on Nov 03, 2018 07:57 PM
Directions
I enter from either Cherry Creek Falls or Stossel. Where did you enter please?
Posted by:
RitaWinters on Nov 03, 2018 09:09 PM
mato on Marckworth Forest
At the end of Cedar Ponds Rd., it turns to gravel. In about a quarter mile, bear right at the "Y". Past a clearcut, then a bridge. Just before the second bridge (Youngs Ck.) is a pull-out on the right, and a short trail down to the gorge. If you miss it, there is an even larger pull-out on the other side of the bridge. (and DNR/1020, a great road to walk the dog. Discover Pass.)
Lots of potholes; but be aware that there are private residences at the end of the road. This is their driveway, and it sees frequent use. They are nice to share it with us. Be careful...
Posted by:
mato on Nov 03, 2018 10:11 PM
Ups n Downs on Marckworth Forest
Thanks for the more in-depth description. I have a few hikes I've been saving for Winter in this area. I found a reference one time saying that Ira Spring dubbed the mountains the 'Tomtits'. Did you ever make it to Drunken Charlie Lake? Oh yeah, my first rock album was Deep Purple 'Machine Head'. Ha! Dang Mylar balloons!
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Nov 04, 2018 08:14 AM
mato on Marckworth Forest
The whole area is full of mini mountains, and roads that go everywhere - some used, some not. That's why I call it the Marckworth Maze. There's a Tomtit Lake also.
Haven't made it to Drunken Charlie yet. It looks like it will be a long road walk, or a nasty bushwhack shortcut. Just to bag a lake with a funny name. Back burner for now...
- And my first album was "Who Do We Think We Are?"
Posted by:
mato on Nov 04, 2018 11:07 AM