East Clear Creek from FR 95 North to Kinder Crossing
Sept 27, 2016; BobF, Don & Suzanne; 5 mile through hike
1 Location for this hike
2 Details of this hike: Our GPS track along East Clear Creek is shown in green. It's a curvy creek.
3 We've already placed the Xterror at the top of the trail out of the canyon at Kinder Crossing, our exit for the canyon. and driven Bob's car to the starting point. Bob's picture
4 We've gotten our hiking gear out of Bob's Honda and are ready to start
5 This is the continuation of FR 95 south of the bridge over East Clear Creek. Bob's picture
6 This is FR 95 comming down the hill from the north. Bob's picture
7 Suzanne looks over the creek. Bob's picture
8 OK, it's time to get our feet wet.
9 Bob's picture
10 A sand bar along the creek
11 The creek has some deep holes, most of which you can walk around. But you have to cross the creek often. Bob's picture
12 Bob's picture
13 Bob's picture
14 Don & Suzanne. Bob's picture
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16 Looks like it may be a beaver home, but is probably just forest trash piled up by high water
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20 We pass a lone camper. The creek is obscured by the high bushes.
21 Suzanne and Bob
22 Bob's picture
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24 Some of the wild flowers. Bob's picture
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28 Don crossing a wadable part of the creek. Bob's picture
29 Bob's picture
30 What do we have here? Bob's picture
31 A Tarantula
32 Bob's picture
33 Most photographed tarantula in the world?
34 Bob's picture
35 Bob's picture
36 This has to be the one place where you either have to swim (too deep for wading) or climb the cliffs to find a way around. We choose to climb and choose the west side since the slope is less. We try just a short climb.
37 Bob (in the lead) volunteers to check out one possible place. Suzanne and Don look for a route a little higher in case we need it.
38 A tree anchored in the rock face. Life is hard!
39 Bob scouts ahead. Suzanne's picture
40 Bob? Bob? This route doesn't pan out and Bob almost gets stuck, but makes it back. We try higher. Suzanne's picture
41 Getting higher and downstream more. Bob's picture
42 This elk must have gotten stuck in here. Will that happen to us? Suzanne's picture
43 Most of the pool is behind us. Bob's picture
44 Ok, we've found a way around and down to a grassy area along the pool. Bob's picture
45 We find the rest of the hike much easier, but we still have to cross in shallow spots quite often. Bob's picture
46 Bob's picture
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50 Suzanne's picture
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54 Bob's picture
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64 Reflections. Bob's picture
65 Bob's picture
66 Indian Paint Brush wild flowers. We found lots of these. Bob's picture
67 Bob's picture
68 We're going from a higher sand bar to a lower one, following game trails and (maybe) some fishermen's trails. Bob's picture
69 Simply beautiful scenery. The dark, overcast skies have given way to light, fluffy clouds in a blue sky. What an array of weather we've seen, but never any rain.
70 The spot where we had to cross just upstream from here was about mid-thigh deep as you can tell from Bob's pants. Water was cool but not cold. Nice temp.
71 Bob's picture
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74 Suzanne's picture
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77 We get to where the Kinder Crossing trail ends at the creek and start up the trail to where to Xterror is parked. This 3/4 mile trail gave us quite a cardio workout. Bob's picture
