I've been traveling so much this month I fear my wife may forget what I look like. First I completed the Camino de Santiago in Portugal and Spain and just yesterday got back from a backpacking trip on the AT. This morning, I had to fly to Reno, NV for work for the week. That said though, it doesn't mean I can't get some trail miles in. One of my best friends picked me up at the airport when I landed at 7:30 pm. After a quick stop by my hotel downtown, we headed to the Hunter Creek Waterfall trail head. I'm hoping we can get to the waterfall and back before dark, but that's probably impossible at this point. I'm a very fast hiker, but short of running all the way up and back, I can't imagine we'll complete the six-ish mile trail before dark.
After parking, we quickly started making our way up the trail. Spending the last two days in the dense Appalachian forest, it's quite a change to now be hiking among the yellow-ish brown grasses of the Nevada high desert mountains. I do miss this area though. After about half-a-mile, we stop and my friend starts descending towards the creek. Several years ago, his favorite dog was washed away by the rampaging creek in this spot and after looking for him for weeks, he finally gave up, but placed a memorial stone near the creek. He wants to see if it's still there. Unfortunately, the underbrush right at the creek has grown up a great deal since his last trip here and while we finally make it through to the water, it's not exactly easy. He's unable to find the stone though. Either it's been washed away or we just can't get to it through the dense growth.
Returning to the trail, we again start moving at a break-neck pace toward the waterfall. I've hiked this trail numerous times in the past when I lived here and much of this looks familiar, but it has been a few years. I do remember the water crossing and warn my friend that we'll be coming up on it towards the end. Unlike my last time here though, someone has tied a rope between two trees, one on either side of the flowing water. Several small sun-dried logs lay across the water and by using both the rope and the logs in tandem, we're able to cross without much difficulty.
Just a short distance further and we begin hearing the raging waterfall. For as far back as I can remember, a large log has lain vertical against the waterfall, almost it's entire height. Every time I visit I think to myself if this will be the time it's finally rotted away, but that's not the case today. We take a few pictures, but don't linger as darkness is starting to settle in.
Turning our headlamps, we begin making a mad rush for the cars. I don't mind being out here at dark, but my larger concern is the sign that said the gate to the lot where we parked gets locked at 9 pm. The bright moon rises above the mountains to our east and in the light of our headlamps, we catch view of a couple of scorpions and a green spotted frog that has apparently hopped up the mountain from the creek far below.
When we get back to the car, we find that the gate is not locked - thankfully. We hop in and begin our trip back to town, which isn't far at all. We hiked 6.1 miles this evening and after going through a drive thru to get me some dinner, my buddy drops me off at my hotel. It was a very quick hike, but I loved every minute of it.
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