Trip Report: Pigeon Roost Loop

Shortly after the ice storm tore everything up last year, there was a call out for helpers to clear some of the trails in Hobbs State Park. We were due a hike anyway, me 'n my buddy Kat, around that time so we spent a day humping limbs instead of a pack. They assigned us on a crew clearing up a section of the Pigeon Roost Loop - so we had to add it to our list of trails to hit. Only problem is that it is short. When we head out, we can't hardly justify an overnight out of anything shorter than 15 miles.

Then our boys turned five. They were chewing up two and three-mile day hikes when they were three and four. Last weekend, we decided the weather was perfect to take the boys on their first overnight backpacking trip. Calls were made, weather reports checked, mommas were consoled, and Saturday morning had all of us pulling into the parking lot of the Hobbs State Park visitor center at 10:00 on the dot. The whole crew pulled in for this one. Kat and his boy L., me and my boy D., Grunt and his boy The General, and the Patriarch. Three dads, three boys, and one grandpa.

Plan was to take four miles in about four hours. Occupy a site, then spend the rest of the evening swimming around in Van Hollow Branch. Swim most of Sunday morning, then tromp off the trail in time for an afternoon nap.

(The General watching while D. and L. read signs for us.)


Boys after their daddys' hearts. They were raring to go. . . excited to test out their new gear. 'course, L. only kept his pack on for about a mile. D. shed his snack pack after about two. But we expected that. The General led the way, of course, and the little ones kept step.

It was a beautiful day. Four or five raindrops made way for blue skies and a breeze just barely insufficient to keep the gnats away. Wild blueberries were abundant and ripe. After a short lesson on how to spot 'em, and stern warnings not to eat anything unless a grown-up says it is okay, the boys grazed along for a while.



Seems we underestimated the little guys, because we managed about 5 miles in only 3 or so hours. Made camp at site #3, figuring it to be closest to the lake. Boys barely gave us time to put on sunscreen (the mommas being more afraid of sunburn than snakebite forced it on us) Next few hours were spent swimming off the bank. A couple of ski boats had kicked up mud a good twenty yards out into the lake, but nobody seemed to mind. Had to peel them away to make them eat something, and then they were chasing us back up the trail to the lake almost before we could clean up dinner.



Around seven or so, we bribed them out of the water with promises of swimming tomorrow. D. had a new hammock to try out - acorns and trees and such. Have to say I took a little bit of satisfaction seeing five hammocks strung up and just one tent. The Patriarch read the boys a story while the Dads cleaned up camp, made sure the hammocks were all hanging level.



By the time dark hit, all four of the older folk were snoring like it was a contest and the boys were too sacked out to complain about it. Morning brought tales of someone heard a whippoorwill, someone else woke to a coon sniffing out an overlooked graham cracker, and everyone heard the early woodpecker. The boys were too excited about swimming to eat much breakfast. The rest of the day was about as beautiful as a Sunday can be. Water, laughing kids. Counting snails and mushrooms, blue-fingered berry stains. The folks at Hobbs have done an amazing job cleaning up after the ice storm. The last mile or so, L. (the youngest) talked his daddy into carrying him. Grunt and The General were far ahead, Kat and the Patriarch picked up speed even with L. riding on his shoulders.

As the trail widened near the end of the loop, D. started to slow down and walk beside me. I imagine he was starting to really feel that last mile, so I slowed down with him and let the rest of the crew forge on ahead - fueled by thoughts of celebratory cheeseburgers.

D. wasn't saying much. He's not normally a quietly introspective kid (we're considering Bear Repellent as a trail name for him). After a short rest, he asks, Is it much longer?

No, I told him, less than a mile.

I figured he was going to complain about his feet, but I should give him more credit. He just reached out and grabbed hold of my hand - a gesture these days reserved only for street-crossing, and even then under protest because he's all big now. We walked for a while in silence.

You having fun, kid?

Yeah. Can we do another one?

Was the shortest, but best mile on the whole trail.

Sounds like a great trip, and now that I know that Hobbs has a nice loop, I will plan on taking my boys over there. It isn't far from me at all.

It is okay for a quick trek. I prefer trails with a lot more to offer in the way of water and rock, but there were some cool features (like the huge sinkholes). . . and I've never seen so many wild blueberries in one spot. I'm glad we gave it a chance. Hobbs has a lot to offer, we'll definitely be going back.

Since the boys did so good on this hike, I think next we'll take them from Hwy 74 down to Rock Hole Camp on the Butterfield. I think they'll like taking a dip in Blackburn creek more than Beaver Lake.

We hike down to Rock Hole all the time, and my boys love Blackburn creek. I have thought about taking my oldest son to Junction Camp so that he can have fun in Lee Creek too. Parking at Hwy 74, following the Butterfield, and taking Holt Road back makes a nice little loop for young children thats not to rough.

Sounds like an awesome trip Outrider. Congratulations to you and your friends for making wise investments in those youths.

Cliff