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Into the Mountains

Sherry Simpson / 17.11.2004

After the Big South Fork River Paddle section which consisted of class I through class III whitewater the teams began a 15 mile challenging trek. The trails are in here are in disarray due to the Southern Pine Beetle infestation that wreaked havoc all over the place in the area. Some parts of the trek look like you took a box of toothpicks and dumped it out.

CP4/ACP2 was located in the Blue Heron Mining Community. Racers geared up for the 200 foot rappel and hiked the cliff line using the Crack in the Rock and/or the Blue Heron Loop Trail to reach the rappel site run by the Dirty Dozen Climb Crew.

After the rappel, teams began a 45 mile hike which included traveling west to Blue Heron, crossing the river and continuing on the Kentucky Trail through Dick Gap and Big Spring Falls to reach CP6, the Ledbetter Home Place Trailhead. Here they continue southwest on foot along Troublesome Creek to reach CP7.

CP7 is located at the intersection of Kentucky Trail and Laurel Hill Trail. From here they continue of foot NNW to Peters Mountain Trailhead then continue SSW to CP8 at the John Muir Trail and Divide Road.

From Cp 8 they’ll continue on foot east to CP 9 the Station Camp Crossing trailhead and the john Muir Trail near BM 850. From here they will continue west on Station Camp Creek Trail. They leave the trail at UTM 705000/404589 and bushwack NNW to CP10.

Cp10 is the ascending site where racers will complete a 200 foot rope ascent. There will be a 2 hour penalty per team member electing not to do the ascent.

The next CP on the route is CP11/ACP3 at the Bandy Creek Campground where they will pick up the next passport directions.

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