In my quest to ride as many of the trails in the Seneca Spruce Knob backcountry and get miles in to reach my annual goal, I headed out last week to knock out another 13+ miles. This ride added portions of two trails I hadn't ridden yet and one other trail I have never been on. We went Swallow Rock → Allegheny Mtn → North Prong (whole trail) → Big Run (half of it) → Allegheny (including a stretch we hadn't ridden yet) → Swallow Rock.
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| I finally got the idea to take a timer shot of the horse and I before heading out on rides. Hopefully will remember to make it a habit. |
Griffin and the dogs and I tacked up quickly and headed up Swallow Rock with no fanfare. I was delighted when Griffin made quick work of that section, reaching the ridge top and junction with Allegheny in just 45 minutes. Upon reaching Allegheny, we picked up a powerful trot and made fast work of that trail to North Prong.
Grif appeared to recognize North Prong. He was even a little hesitant to travel up it the direction we were going. I assured him that yes, we were doing it the opposite direction today and all would be fine. He picked up his trot again and we made very quick work of the trail down to it's junction with Leading Ridge where we'd traveled in weeks prior with Sonya. Griffin definitely recognized this junction and asked to head up Leading Ridge a few times before acquiescing to my requests to please continue down North Prong.
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| No more leaves |
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| But these ferns stay green, which lends a nice contrast |
Following the ride I'd done with Sonya when we rode half of North Prong, I was [naively] optimistic that North Prong would be amazing for its entirety - wide open and easy footing with views of open meadows.
Wrong.
The other half of this trail follows a creek for it's entirety. It's much narrower and a bit rocky/rooty, but nothing dangerous or wild. Just very much not what I had hoped for! The most frustrating part though was that there weren't many trail markings. The other half doesn't have many either, but it follows an old road grade so it isn't as big an issue. The trail is super obvious. This section, while it followed the stream, left more to question as to the best path of travel and more markers would have been helpful.
We walked the whole second half of North Prong, picking our way carefully along trails covered with fallen leaves. Grif expressed a few random opinions about the many stream crossings, but was mostly a good boy.
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| The last little bit of North Prong from our ride last time; the junction with Leading Ridge is at the far line of sight |
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| The first of many stream crossings on North Prong |
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| Looks more wide open than it is |
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| Narrow little watershed for this creek |
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| About here I was wondering what this stream would be like in the spring when flows are greater |
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| Somewhere after this was the transition onto Big Run |
The transition from North Prong onto Big Run trail was not clear at all. In fact, if I hadn't studied the map so well or been watching my GPS so closely, I'd never have known I was on a different trail. All other trail junctions I've encountered in this area have signs, so not finding one here was a little surprising. There very well may be one that I missed!
I knew that Big Run was going to turn to the southeast and travel upstream along Big Run, eventually spitting me out at the southern terminus of Allegheny Mtn trail. The only indication (beyond mileage) that indicated I was on a new trail was that I'd left one drainage and was now traveling upstream along another; I went from a narrow wooded creek to a waterway with a much more wide open valley.
The trail was mostly "obvious" through this section. It wound through a lot of tall vegetation and forest edges. But honestly, if it hadn't been from the ribbons hanging along the way that were a remnant of an ultra running race that occurred two weeks prior, I'd probably have gotten off trail. As it was, I had a quiet party of celebration each time I saw a ribbon or blue trail marker throughout this section!
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| Probably gorgeous with blooms in August |
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| Narrow little path through the high veg |
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| Big Run down to the right; it had a number of beaver dams and at least one lodge |
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| Grateful for whoever cut this tree way back. We had to bushwack around another prior to this; it was much larger and a dual trunk that made jumping challenging. |
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| This bit of Big Run had extensive work done on it at some point. All that work has since been washed out. |
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| I asked the USFS about this trail after I rode here, but the current cadre of employees is too new to remember when or why this work was completed. The person I spoke to hadn't even been on this trail! It will remain a mystery... |
I must state for the record though, I was never nervous of being "lost" in the wilderness. While irritated with the lack of trail markings, I was confident enough with navigating my surroundings that I could have backtracked my traveled path at any point. And worst case scenario, every waterway I'd encounter today would eventually spit out along a road. Backtracking and following streams wasn't ideal, but I certainly wouldn't end up lost.
Fortunately, Big Run trail eventually reentered the forest and became more obvious for it's final half mile stretch. With one final climb, we emerged at the southern terminus of Allegheny Mtn trail, which lies along a main FS road. I've always driven by this point and wanted to take a peek at the trailhead but never had, so it was neat to finally see!
Grif made fast work of the 5k distance down Allegheny back to Swallow Rock. He waivered between a powerful trot and some cantering. It was absolutely lovely!
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| Ahhh, Allegheny Mtn trail. A super highway after North Prong and Big Run! |
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| Back down Swallow Rock. |
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| We're in a severe drought for the second summer in a row. |
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| Almost back to the trailer. I'm still not used to this road being paved! It was gravel until last year. |
In no time at all, we were back at the top of Swallow Rock. Grif mad very fast work of the descent and before I knew it we were back at the trailer. The whole ride, even with the unanticipated slow sections on North Prong and Big Run, was 13.6 miles and took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes. The mileage was SPOT ON for what I expected and had mapped out using the USFS' new map of that area. I love a map with accurate mileages!
I'm not sure if this ride will end up being my final bigger outing of the year or if I'll be able to squeak in one more. Grif's shoes will need to come off in 2 weeks or less, so we will see what I'm able to fit in!
