Hall Point, with a Detour

So a couple of days ago, which was the day after our attempt at Rampart Ridge, we decided to hit up another one.  We just felt we had so much reserved energy from cutting the Rampart Ridge hike short, stopping at Lake Lillian.  Plus it was Brant's birthday the day after.  Obviously we didn't need to convince ourselves, but we had many reasons to pack up the mini-van if we needed them.

By the time we made it to the parking, we were still trying to decide if we should do Zig Zag or Hall Point.  Looking at what we thought was Hall Point, with its exposed rock, we decided upon it.  I took screen shots of others' directions, which were fairly accurate all the way up to the bridges over the creeks, where you run into Deception Crags.  We went totally off at this point, so I will be sure to make it clear for you.

From exit 38 you turn right and approximately half a mile down you will see the first creek (Change Creek) fall under the road, and then the second creek (Hall Creek).  Between the two, to the left, is the official parking that needs a Discovery Pass, though there are plenty of places to park on the left (highway) side of the road, where you won't need a pass.  We ran into a park ranger there who told us that the other side of the road (where you will actually hike) is considered national forest, so even parking on that side might call for one of those national parks permits.

The unofficial trail is alongside the right of Change Creek, literally.  It is not hard to spot.  Another's report I read said that as you approach the bridge there is a spot for light scrambling, but that the dog-friendly path is to the west of the bridge.  I missed that path and we ended up, as a family, scrambling up the rocks.  Uh....  When we got up there we saw the family- and dog- friendly path and where it originated.  Before you hit the scrambling rocks, there are 2 large rocks to your left with exposed tree roots between them.  That is the non-scrambling path.

Making it to the bridge, I knew (from reading others) that we were to cross the bridge and then start looking out for the trail, which I was under the impression was hard to spot.  Walking across the bridge we scoped out the awesomeness of Deception Crags (rock climbing training grounds).  I want to let you know that when you pass that bridge there will be an immediate path.  I thought, "Boy, they weren't kidding about looking out for it as soon as you cross; it's literally as soon as you cross."  It looked like a light climb, and we were thankful some kind soul left a rope there for other people.  So we used it and headed up.  We caught some more rock climbing wall on this side of the creek.  It was just beautiful.

You cannot see it, but they are holding onto a rope to get up.

The widest part of this "path."

As soon as we passed that up we saw quickly that Brant and I were saying, "Man, they aren't kidding when they say it's a boot path."  We were hiking close up to the rock face and its ledge at points up to the creek's waterfall and more and more I was saying, "They weren't kidding," this time, "They weren't kidding about it being an unofficial trail."  About a mile in, we were wondering if we were on the right trail, considering.  I checked the screen shots once again and thought yes they did say there would be loose rock, that it would steep, but sheesh do you have to be a professional to hike this?  We thought, "Hall Point is just not for us, let's turn around and try Zig Zag."

See what I mean -- boot path and steep was not an overstatement...for this (wrong) path.

So we turned around and came out of it, we crossed 2 more bridges.  We figured Zig Zag's trail would be after the 3rd bridge.  However, coming up to it we did see a trail, right at the head of the bridge.  This time I could clearly see a white sign a few feet in saying, "Change Creek Trail," which is the trail to Hall Point.  Haha, we were on the wrong trail before.  I guess that trail is for the rock climbers.  So yes, I would assume that to do that one, you'd be more like a professional than a family of five!  Especially with a baby in a pack.  We Vollendorfs surely like an adventure, don't we!

So yes loose rock is all along the trail and it is rather steep, but a walk in the park compared to what we just did.  It was so much so that we, as a family, hit the point, had lunch, took pictures, I nursed the baby, and we went down all in less than 3 hours.

Since I read that people amethyst mine there, I believe the loose rocks are the chips from the miners.  It is very apparent that the rock walls have been chipped.

There are some narrow areas on the ridge, but they don't last very long.  One part Amira and I were saddling, and it was even then that Brant said, "I understand the nickname 'Starfish.'"  On the way up I told him that on one of my first elevation hikes, my Mom's childhood friend's husband dubbed me, "Starfish," because he never saw anyone cling to a rock so tightly.  I guess that part is still very alive within me.  Hey, the humility-thing, remember?

Starfishing it

Nevertheless, just so you'd know that we aren't crazy (though clearly enjoying a challenge), on the way down we met up with a man hiking up with his baby in the hiking back pack.  "You've done this before?"  "Yep," he replied.  So either that makes two (sets) of us, or that should confirm to you -- a lovely, nice, and short challenge, safe with attentiveness.

In December, Brant officially adopted my older 2 children.  I say this because though Bam had almost immediately grasped calling his new Dad, "Dad," we had yet to hear Amira make the switch. I heard her calling him "Dad" twice before, once upon Rattlesnake, but Brant didn't hear it.  What made this hike all the better was when we were home, Brant was rocking the baby to nap and said he heard her call him "Dad" for the first time, while we were on ridge.