Big South Fork - Laurel Fork Creek via West Entrance

There are many fine summer vacation spots along Laurel Fork Creek, especially this particular campsite (no, I'm not telling where).  One of the tricks is that you have to cross the creek anywhere from 15 to 30 times, depending on your starting point.  Sorry, no rock-hops here.  The trail is mostly flat and smooth, so hiking in sandals is really the best way to go.  However, this particular adventure in paradise, as well as a previous one, became a bit challenging after a summer cloudburst.  The creek is relatively shallow but it rises VERY fast during heavy rains.  This particular day it rained an estimated 1 - 2 inches in the matter of an hour.  We were stranded between creek crossings for a while until the water receded.

Two wild and crazy guys		One of several really fine campites along Laurel Fork Creek.	Nice swimming hole
			Waiting for the water to recede At each of the preceding crossings, the creek level had been higher, higher, higher. We were both very lucky to make the one before this shot without having to fish our gear and ourselves out of the creek. We decided to just cool it in the middle of the trail.	What had been an ankle-deep crossing the day before was now up to our waists and moving fast.