Buckhorn Lake Loop via Sulphur Springs Trail(edit)

This was a workout and rain gear test. I averaged 3.7 mph ( 3.9mph with typical 4% mileage adder for Gaia results ) on the 5.71 mile long hike . I parked at Brissy Ridge Parking and did two loops of “Brissy Ridge to Kanuga to Crossover to Firetower to Sulphuric Springs” which led back to parking. It was 54F during hike. Rain was moderate to heavy on first loop , then light to moderate on second loop. I wore my a Helium II rain jacket. It really did quite well and at the end my Patagonia baselayer did not feel wet but perhaps damp. That is all to be expected as I was hard charging ( it was a workout!) and getting wet from the inside. A few times I was able to feel a cool breeze but never really felt cold and at 54F it was getting pretty close to a “cold rain” description. I did not have my rain pants and that was a mistake. The front of my pants got soaked ( not so much in the back) . On a serious hike you would definitely want to have rain pants. My waterproof Salomon hiking boots did admirable . Wet on outside, dry on inside, and dry socks. The bottom of my pants got wet and dirty with debris. Here I saw that Gaiters would be helpful. When I got back to my car I noted my Osprey Day Pack was soaked inside and out and I am now drying everything . Overall it seems that I would have done acceptably well if I had my rain pants and hiked at a more leisurely , say, 2mph, to not get so hot and wet from the inside.

47 deg. 23 lbs Completely “off-grid” 3 liters water

Counterclockwise. Start to right of kiosk.

2.1 miles at 1.41 min

Heavy fog 18 lbs