The 18th Annual SSPBDT
Mancation Camping Weekend
at Camp Buff
and a hike along the Weed Patch Mountain Trail
Rutherford County, NC
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
TJ
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
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
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!
Mark
Four Lovely Ladies
Wendy, Renee, Brenda, Ashley
After a nice break and a few hugs! I continued on down while they headed up!
Approaching Grey Rock on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail
View from Grey Rock from the Weed Patch Mountain Trail
My GPS track registered 17.5 Miles, but I do believe the actual mileage is closer to the published distance on 20 miles.
I never did find any Weed on Weed Patch Mountain, but I did get close!
Interesting Sign near the Weed Patch Mountain Trailhead
I returned to my friends at Camp Buff around 6:00pm just in time to start drinking! Here are some photos throughout the evening.
Hanging out at Camp Buff
Playing with Fire
(note: do not attempt this during periods of drought or high winds!)
A Starry Sky
Playing with Fire
Playing with fire at the abandoned baseball field
Hanging out at Camp Buff
Hanging out at Camp Buff
The next morning I was awaken when the only female in attendance was trying to get into my tent!
Malibu! This girl really wanted some of me!
The Morning After
My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157703268542675
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