The first half of our 1.5 mile ascent back up Big Frog Mountain was straight up as we knew it would be, stopping every few hundred feet to catch our breath. We’d gone less than a quarter mile before the rain started to pour again and the trail slowly became more muddy and slippery…
The rain ended overnight. But it was so dark on this slope under the trees we woke up late. Still, we made time for coffee, love and breakfast before we packed up and started back the way we came…
Once, when the trail dipped down below the ridge, we spooked a bear that was on the ridge only a few feet above us. We didn’t see it through the brush but it sounded big…
As the path turned upwards again to climb Big Frog Mountain there was no rest from the ascent. Our hearts started pounding and we started to sweat pretty good..