After crossing the creek here, the sign directs you to go right. No, not anymore. Follow the trail to your left. This crossing is nice and shallow.

When I last hiked this trail in December, I discovered that the first Big Paddy Creek crossing had been washed out and was deep. Crossing it this time, I took the route I noted back then, and although it was a bit of a scramble to get across the brush, I only got my feet wet, not the contents of my pockets!

The trail between the first Big Paddy Creek crossing, and the second Big Paddy Creek Crossing (picture above), and the point where the trail heads south-ish up onto the ridge, which you can see in the distance in above, is quite sandy.

I took time to get the sand off my feet because I could feel sand in my right heel strap rubbing, and it was getting a tad painful.

After crossing Big Paddy Creek at this point it’s only a few minutes to where the trail goes up the ridge, where there is easy access to Little Paddy Creek. I stopped for some trail snacks and loaded up with enough water for the night (three and a half liters). It was very windy, and a brief period of cell phone signal at the overlook had informed me there was a burn ban in place until eight o’clock, which prompted me not to have a hot lunch.

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