TRIP REPORT – ROCK RIVER HIKE AND SWIM – Saturday, July 21, 2012

The weather was beautiful; a cool (relative to past week) 76 degrees, a clear blue sky – the sun having burned off early morning clouds and mist, and a nice steady cool breeze as nine of us crossed from the parking area on VT Route 30 to the Rock River trail around 11am. 

 

The trail, approximately .8 miles runs along the Rock River, a crystal clear mountain stream alternately ambling over a rocky bed and rushing through narrow channels of solid ledge. Mature pine, birch and maple shade the trail for most of its length, their roots holding tenuously the dirt trail along the base of the steep 100 foot bank. 

 

Though idyllic and peaceful, we noted abundant evidence of last summer’s violent Hurricane Irene: steeply eroded banks 20 to 30 feet beyond the original river bed leaving tall piles of 40-foot tall trees ripped out by their roots and a new layer of sand deposited along and in the once rocky banks and deep swimming holes. 

 

One of the most popular jumping spots – a 20-foot rock cliff called “Indian Love Call” - now has an ominous, hand painted sign saying “don’t jump”. Snags of branches, roots, and sheet metal 15 feet above in the still standing tree branches indicate the level of the river at it’s destructive height and several stretches of the trail, now completely washed out, have become challenging climbs over sharp rock ledge. 

 

The trip to the clothing-optional, traditionally all-male swimming area took about 35 minutes, and the early afternoon was spent talking, exploring the shore and swimming holes, photographing, and relaxing in the sun. Paul, a Gay Outdoors veteran mentioned that it was nice to be on an outing where there was a chance to get to know some guys and not just “hike our balls off!” Two additional Go hikers who had arrived late and found their own way in, joined us for the trip back and short drive up to Frog Meadow for their annual BBQ Fundraiser for the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont (see separate trip recap).

 

In all, a great day and a fun time for all!