I hiked down to Holsten Creek on Sept 18 from the field road that runs approximately parallel to it, on the north side (Holsten Creek Rd). When I got down to the creek, there were no good places to cross, so I located a place where there was a tree on either side of the stream bed, such that I could tie a line across the creek and use it to slide my backpack across.
So first I had to wade across the stream with a length of rope and tie the rope to the tree on the other side. I hoped the rope would reach across twice, so I could avoid one more stream crossing on my return trip, but it wasn’t quite long enough, so I just stretched the rope tightly across the deep part of the stream and went back to fetch my pack … and my shirt.
The flooded stream was deep and the current was swift. If it had been any deeper, I would have had to swim, which is why I wanted something to support my backpack, should I step in a hole, trip over a log, or lose my balance and go for a swim.
I left the line there for my return trip and continued exploring up the small stream that feeds into Holsten from the south side. I didn’t need to avoid water crossings because I was already soaked, with the exception of my shirt and hat.
The water level had dropped significantly from my trip the day before. The small stream was within it’s banks in most places. Unlike Holsten Creek, which was well outside of it’s banks, as you can see in my crossing photos. Holsten was at least 2 feet above it’s banks.
Of course, no trip would be complete if I didn’t stop and set up my hammock chair and kick back to enjoy the sun and sounds of the forest … and feed the mosquitoes.
I also crossed back over the highway and visited the Weetock trail, south of Hillside Rd. I just wanted to check out the streams there. Sadly, in the short distance I hiked, I found two new trees down over the trail. I cleared some of the branches to make it easier to get past them. I’ll probably have to return to them with a saw.
I hope you like the photos. It was a pretty day, with lots of sunshine.
