When a Steep Hike Turns Into a Climb Over Rocks near Poe Mountain
August 2020
Turning Back at Mile Six
We started our day to reach the summit of Poe Mountain, but ended up turning back a few miles early to respect both the terrain and my limits. Setting off from Pheasant Creek Road, we climbed through the trees, steadily working our way up toward our turning point around mile six.
That was where the clear dirt path ended and the “trail” ceased to be a hiking trail. What had been steady, strenuous hiking shifted into hand-over-foot scrambling over exposed rock. A family who passed us heading down warned us that the route ahead wouldn’t get any easier, so we made the call to turn back.
Back at the starting point, I did not regret deciding to avoid pushing into unknown, potentially dangerous terrain. Leaving without reaching the top wasn’t easy, but logging twelve impressive miles was still a victory in itself.
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