The Adventures of Bushwhack Jack: The 18th Annual SSPBDT Mancation Camping Weekend

The 18th Annual SSPBDT

Mancation Camping Weekend

at Camp Buff

and a hike along the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

Rutherford County, NC

Friday, November 2nd through Sunday, November 4th, 2018

Every year since the turn of the century the SSPBDT (Spartanburg Steel Products Beer Drinking Team) has gotten together for the annual SSPBDT Mancation Camping Weekend. Most of the founding SSPBDT members are no longer employed by SSP, but we still make a point to get together every year for a weekend of fun!

Welcome to Camp Buff

For the past few years the event has been held at a place called Camp Buff located near an old abandoned baseball field somewhere in the mountains of Rutherford County, NC.

Here are some random shots from Friday afternoon and evening.

Malibu! The only female in attendance! She definitely had a thing for me!

Hanging out at Camp Buff

TJ and Derek

Daniel

Jeff's home for the weekend

My SSPBDT friends are not much into physical activity, so I traditionally head out on my own for most of the day Saturday to go hiking!

This year I had a 20 mile out and back hike (10 miles each way) planned along the Weed Patch Mountain Trail. Camp Buff is located about 10 minutes from the Buffalo Creek Park Trailhead making for a short an easy drive to start the day.

The hike starts on the Buffalo Creek Loop Trail. Can't decide which way to do the loop? Don't worry, that decision has already been made for you!

The Buffalo Creek Loop Trail

If I ever decide to dust off the old Mountain Bike, this will be one of the first trails I take it to! This trail appears to have been designed with Mountain Biking in mind! It makes for a really nice hiking trail as well!

About 1.5 miles in, the Weed Patch Mountain Trail heads off to the west. This is a very well built trail as well!

The Weed Patch Mountain Trail crossing Trout Creek

At about 5 miles from the trailhead is Grey Rock, the first wide open view along the trail.

Approaching Grey Rock on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

view from Grey Rock on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

view from Grey Rock along the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

About 8 miles into the hike I saw my first other hikers of the day! It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise to run across Mark and Renee!

Mark and Renee on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

And then the rest of the Surprise Party: Brenda, Wendy, and Ashley!

Wendy, Ashley, and Brenda along the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

They had started from the upper trailhead and were heading down to Grey Rock. I would catch them again on my hike back down!

After a quick chat, I continued on my way to Eagle Rock!

Eagle Rock

Being color-blind, I have a hard time determining if the fall color is any good, so I will let you be the judge!

View of Rumbling Bald from Eagle Rock

View from Eagle Rock

On the hike back down I also checked out the Tunnel Trail which leads to some interesting rock features near the base of Eagle Rock.

The Tunnel Trail

From there, I pretty much continued on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail back the way I came!

A Long Way back to the Trailhead!

View of Grey Rock from the Weed Patch Mountain Trail

I saw a few other hikers at Eagle Rock, and a few Mountain Bikers throughout the day. Other than that, these were the only five other hikers I saw on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail!