Little Missouri Trail and Albert Pike Trip Report

Albert Pike to Winding Stairs.


On
Thursday 8/13/09 I arrived at the Albert Pike Campground. Tracy was running
late because of a flat tire and Lea and Mark were not arriving until the next
morning. I quickly set up camp and was tiring to get a cell phone signal to try
to get a hold of everyone to tell them where we were camped. Tracy showed up
though after a very stressful day. I quickly went through her pack and
discarded about half of what she had brought. Later she would thank me. This
was her first time in a tent and first time backpacking and first time camping
on a trail. We pretty much made it through the night with no incidents other
than Tracy could not sleep, and had not slept the night before. We awoke early
the next morning and packed everything very quickly and were just about to go
meet Lea and Mark, and then they showed up and found us. Soon we were staging vehicles
around to give Tracy a way out if she needed it and soon found ourselves up at
the Little Missouri Falls Day Use area where we would be leaving from. Around
8:30 we found ourselves on the trail and quickly found that Tracy was having
trouble with her pack. Mark helped make some adjustments to it and we kept on
trucking. Trail was all but almost disserted. We made our way down to Crooked
Creek and this was our first real water crossing as you actually have 2
crossings. Both Tracy and I fell and we decided to take a break and air out
some socks. Lea and myself decided to explore some of Crooked Creek and Mark
made a swim in a very nice pool there. Tracy tried drying her shoes and socks.
But she was a trooper and soon we were underway. It wasn’t too long before we
passed a Boy Scout troop headed back up to the falls area. They had set up a
group camp a ways down the trail. We did not see anyone else until we were
across the first road and down to where there are several creeks merging into
the Little Missouri. Meet a family that was out on a day hike. They were
staying in the campground. We took a rest here and I decided that as Tracy was
having trouble with her pack (which was a loner) there was no way for her to
make it to the winding stairs like this. We would stay at Albert Pike and Day
Hike down to the Winding Stairs the next day. Once we were in camp we found a
campsite and went and got all the vehicles that we had staged. Made camp and
decided to make a run up to Langley Store for some food (wanted to save our
trail food). Turned out that we made really good friends with the owners. We
came back to camp and had a nice fire and set up talking for a while.


6.3 miles for the day.


We rose early on Saturday the 15^th and after
breakfast we made our way down to the winding stairs trail head and there was
only 1 other car there. We quickly covered the distance and Tracy was doing
great now with no heavy pack on her back. The walk in was only about an hour
and soon we were at this magical place. Tracy was taken aback by the beauty of
the Winding Stairs. Quickly we found some large deep holes and went for a swim.
We mongered around this area until about 1:30, exploring the creeks and the
little caves and shelters. Everyone tired we made our way back and came out in
about the same amount of time as we went in, about an hour. Made it back to
camp and soon Tracy decided she wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed. She
had been great. A real trooper and I hope to get more like her in the woods.
Never complaining and always ready to go. After she left and we had dinner Lea,
Mark and I decided to do the little trail above the bath house there in Albert
Pike. I have done this one several times and it’s really a nice trail. Only
about a mile or so one way but it is straight up. The rewards are a couple of
really nice vistas and overlooks and a few park benches. We made our way back
down just at dusk and soon were in the bed. It was a tiring day.


6.1 miles for the day total.


Sunday we woke and were going to do the bluff trial
overlooking the Albert Pike campground but everyone was tired an needing to get
back. We broke camp and I went back up to the store at Langley. I talked to the
owners for some time and we came up with some agreements. They are a new sponsor
for the groups. So if you’re ever in the area stop in and tell Toy and Doug
that you’re a member of the Memphis Hikers or Campers and watch the reactions
you will get. They both are great.


12.4 miles total.

Sounds like a fun time TM. I am wanting to get out so badly, but I need to wait for my truck to get out of the shop . I know that Tracy is thanking you for helping her pack, it is alway greater to get a lighter load!!!!!

yeah but I could only get it down to about 38lbs but it was up around 50 or so. Main thing is I think I converted 2 more people to swingers now. Lea and Tenn_Trekker. We shall see... Tenn_Trekker was talking about taking his son this coming weekend down back to the stairs.. I may go with him. Hopefully he will be swinging then...

I guess you know we evolved to get out out of the trees and onto terra firma!!!

ar.hiker

Yeah but some things are better left alone... hahahaha besides... the terra firma is to firma for meia.. guess its nothing like sleeping on a rock huh lol.

I am going to pick up the net for my EOS hammock tonight and will be at the Stairs Friday evening with my son. Two more nights of experimenting with hanging in a tree and then we will see if I am converted. Hope you can make it Eddie!

Mark.. right now I can... I plan to leave memphis around 3:30 or 4:30 and drive right in. Your going to pack in Fri night right? I may stay fri night in the campground then up at dusk and pack in to the stairs. Depend on how I feel. I also am planning on bring a buddy of mine so don't know about him yet but I am trying to get him to come on out. You will need a pad Sat night though.. Temps will be down below 60 I believe.

I wish that I had time to come, and then I would really show you guys how to hang . Have fun!!!

Yeah but you kind of hang to one side Preacha hahahaha

its not how you hang, its just the fact you do . Now I am going to get messages asking what you mean by that hahahahahaha.

Just so everyone knows, its an inside joke, and you have to hike with me to know about it . or read enough posts!!!

HAHAHAHA.