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Well staked out

Well staked out. Day 8 – Road Trip October, 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. It’s been very windy, so I used all the tie out points on Ginger’s Zpacks Duplex tent. I also used the freestanding kit so I didn’t have to collapse the tent to use my hiking poles for hiking. Though, had I thought of it, I think Ginger has some carbon fiber tent poles I could have brought along.
I do like this tent, though I’ve never used it for backpacking. It would certainly be lighter than my hammock set up. But sleeping on the ground, even with Ginger’s four-inch thick sleeping pad, is not as comfortable as sleeping in my hammock. As to having to get down on my hands and knees to get in and out… I think it’s the hammock life for me.
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Entrance to the Cascade Campground
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Back to the start and some trailside pumpkins
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Nearly down
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Trailside deer
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A brief respite
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Looking up the trail
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The views continue to impress me

The views continue to impress me. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I didn’t take a compass bearing, so if my interpretation of the map is correct we are looking at (nearest to furthest), first, an unnamed peak with the Mt. Princeton Chalet and Lucky Mine out of view on the top, then Tigger Peak (I misread that name earlier and called it Tiger Peak), and finally Mt. Princeton.
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Descending

Descending — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. The long trudge down the ridge has begun. The trail is steep and sandy at the top, making for a very loose footing. I’m always surprised to find sand in high places. Of course, it makes perfect sense when you consider the entire area was buried under an alluvial plain at one point.

It’s a tad steep in places — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Yes, it really is that steep. This descent is not for sissies, or the wrong footwear! I was fine with my Bedrock Sandals and hiking poles.
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A last look to the southeast
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The endless play of light

The endless play of light — I stayed here for several minutes watching the ever-changing light move across Chalk Creek Canyon. Day 8 – Road Trip, October, 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved 
Long way down — about 900 ft. and I’m parked in the bottom of the valley. This viewpoint shows how massive piles of scree have spread out across the canyon’s floor. Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Chalk Creek Canyon
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Getting near to the top

Getting near to the top — Day 8 – Road Trip October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Looking southwest. A glimpse of the trail is visible at the bottom of the frame. It’s looking quite rugged, and it was. It was somewhere around here I met the woman on her mountain bike again. It looked a tad easier going down, but only slightly easier.
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Time to head back up the ridge
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Heading back
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Turnaround Point, and stopped for lunch

Turnaround Point, and stopped for lunch — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. According to my calculations, I was about three-and-a-half miles into my hike, and this log offered a great view and spot to eat lunch. The weather for this entire trip has been fantastic, it’s just as well I brought some shorts along. It’s not been the cold and snowy trip the original forecast was promising when we left Missouri.
My calves are looking the part, even if I say so myself, and a shoutout for my Bedrock sandals too.
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Descending
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I could almost be in Hercules Glades
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Looking over the other side of the ridge
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Under an hour later and I’m on the top of the ridge

Under an hour later and I’m on the top of the ridge — Day 8 – Road Trip, October 2025. Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. And what a view! The fall colors and mountains are spectacular. That was a lot easier than I expected, but it was very steep in places. It was worth it for the views.












