Prologue

It was late on Saturday and with everyone away, I started thinking about getting out to make some images.  I wanted to take the Jeep and thought it might be nice to invite someone along.  Also I didn't want to end up in the middle of nowhere and have a mechanical failure or other problem and have no one to share this fun with...  I sent Sam an email message and then looked up his phone number and called him.  Given the lateness of the hour (it was about 1:30pm) I figured he would be out or have other plans.  To my surprise and pleasure, he was at home fixing a door knob.  But other than that, he had the afternoon and evening open. 

We discussed destinations and agreed that a trip down to Pike Knob was a little too much.  Even though we could be on the summit for sunset, we'd still have the four hours each way to swallow.  Instead we decided to do something in the Cheat Canyon near my house.  He invited Ross and soon we had a plan.

I loaded up my camera and a couple lenses, programmed the GPS, grabbed my iPod, put some drinks in a cooler, aired-down and disconnected my sway bar.  Then I headed out.

Muster

We met at the BFS gas station in Cheat Lake.  Sam topped up his tank, aired down and disconnected.  Then we drove down the road and picked up Ross.  In an attempt to make the trip run a little longer I chose to follow Sandy Spring road almost to Bruceton Mills, backtrack on pavement to Pisgah ("Pisgy") then drop down to Beaver Hole, the primary destination.  My last visit to Beaver Hole was in January 2008

Soon we were on Sandy Spring Road.

Trail

Sam had consulted me a few weeks back about a Jeep purchase.  It sounded like he had a good vehicle.  He decided to buy it and after a few touch ups (tires, front hubs and universal joints), it looks like he got a great machine.

We drove all the way to Ryan Hollow near Chestnut Ridge and then hung the left to follow CR 2.  I have traveled this road once or twice...  The last time I went through, trees had fallen and we did some bushwhacking.  There was also a well loved mud pit in the middle of one section that we usually skirt.  When we reached the mud we took a quick break.

We worked our way past the mud pit and enjoyed the rest of the drive.  The trees that had fallen were cut out of the way, so we didn't have to take the narrow ATV go-around.  I made another attempt at recording the knoll with twin trees and picnic table, undoubtedly someone's favorite spot...

We backtracked to Pisgah Road and soon reached Beaver Hollow Road.  We drove down the trail and gradually the road got rougher and rougher, the ruts deeper and deeper, the path more and more narrow.  Pretty soon we were on a shelf road with an attention-getting view from the driver's side of the steep canyon wall dropping away to the river.  The usual wisdom of shelf roads comes back to mind - nothing is more important than staying on the road...

The storm had taken it's toll.  The road was no worse for wear but there were some fallen trees.  This one had been "clearanced" by someone with a chainsaw, taking a corner out of the underside to allow passage of a vehicle.  This proved useful...

A little further and we reached Christopher Run.  There was no water so our crossing would be challenged only by our ability to pick a path through the dry bed of the stream, strew with rocks of all sizes, some stable, some squirrelly...

Along the way we came upon a man and a woman, each holding a small infant, walking down the trail.  They were heading back to their campsite at the bottom, ahead of friends who were exploring.  They wanted to get back before it got dark.  Even though it was only about 6:45pm, as can be seen from the pictures, the tree canopy and the light of the day meant it was already getting darker on the trail.

We reached the bottom and found that indeed, the people we encountered had taken over the open area at the river, with a few tents, two pick-up trucks, coolers, the works.  We parked to one side and walked the short distance to the river.  Here are a few of the images I made.  Take 20, get one good one...

Then up to the Jeeps...

 

And back up the hill with the waning light...

The drive back to pavement was uneventful.  We made it across Christopher Run, under the fallen trees and through all the uneven terrain and mud. 

Epilogue

We took Quarry Run road.  I took the opportunity to run the spur the climbs up through the woods, probably the old road until it got so gnarly...  We popped out on Route 857 where Ross treated us to an air compressor.  We connected our sway bars and called it good.  There's nothing like a good day in the woods with friends.  Thanks to Sam and Ross for adding to this a great day!