Monday October 12. We got up to a beautiful clear sunny morning. Steve had a long drive back to PA and left ahead of us. We took our time packing up, no one was in any hurry to hit the dreadful wet trail, but yet we kinda curious to find out how the trail is like hiking in the daylight, and to see the places where we had wandered off in the rainy night.

I was a tad sad to leave the beautiful Duck Hole, but the thought of hot shower and pizza sure win over the romatic sentiment of lingering in the nature. I'm getting outta here! The trail was a lot easier to follow in the day time and it was much drier without the rain. we made it out to the parking lot under 4 hours, at around 2:45 PM. At the parking lot Kim and I gave Jason his belated birthday present, a galon of Tabasco source :). I think that will last him about... 1 month.

On our way out, we also stoped to check out the old furnace remain along the road.

It was a much colder morning. Jason starting a fire to get us warm and dry our hiking shoes.
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Steve left ahead of us while we took our sweet time packing. Jason, Gillian and Kim at our lean-to beofre heading out.
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Bye bye lean-to.
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Bye bye Duck Hole.
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Heading out.
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There is a yellow tag nailed over the sign that read 6.9 miles to Upper Works, underneath the tag is 5.3, which is what Jason thaought it is. The extra 1.7 miles is very unwelcome in a rainy night.
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Arrived at the T junction.
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Steve left us some notes in the snow dusting on the bridge.
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This is the trail!
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One of the very many tricky crossing.
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Good balancing is required.
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Kim on the foliage covered trail.
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The upper Duck Hole?
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Another puddle to cross.
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One of the tree that beared the trail marker was fell to the ground.
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Quite a beautiful trail in the day light.
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Here is another crossing, seems like there used to have a bridge there but now only left the 2 log sticking out the puddle.
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Yup, that's the trail.
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We hiked pass an old logging camp. Jason checking out the rusty tool.
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A clearing along the trail.
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Nice cliff wall along the trail.
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I remembered seeing this sign hiking in in the rain on Friday night, it was very discouraging to see there is still 3.1 miles to go when you're already tire and cold.
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Another section of the trail that was submerged in water.
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Nice pool.
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Really, this isn't a bad trail in the daylight, and even better during the drier season.
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Arrived at Henderson Lake Lean-To, nice views from the lean-to.
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This is built around 2007, very spacious.
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Plenty of flat ground around the lean-to for camping.
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The lean-to.
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It isn't as rustic looking as the old fashion log lean-to, but sure is a nice home away form home for few days.
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The watery trail.
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Very nice bridge.
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Muds under the fallen leaves, kinda hard to negotiate the way, but at this point my shoes were all wet again, I just walked right in it. It's not like they can get any wetter.
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Woohooo!!
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Steps away from the parking lot!
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Signs at the trailhead.
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Signing OUT!
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Jason birthday was last month, knowing that he is a big hot source fan, Kim and I bought him a galon of Tabasco source, that should last him... about a month :).
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Gillian conspired with us to find out which kind of Tabasco he like most. I'd hate to give him a big jar of something he doesn't like.
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This is the old furnace at Upper Works, I had driven by several times never stopped to check it out, finally today we decided to check it out.
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A beautiful end to a great weekend backpacking with friends.
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