cadillac rainbows

I've started running a little again and with today being a rainy and dreary day I decided to make the best of it so I loaded up the dog and headed to Pisgah for a fun little six mile out and back. When we got to the trail it was still raining hard so we sat in the truck and listened to Pink Floyd's Sheep and once the song was over the rain had passed and the sun peaked out for the first time of the day.



Our trail of choice was an overlooked little gem in the Cradle of Forestry:



I have only been on Barnett Branch one other time and had forgotten about all the unmarked turns. Outside of the wilderness areas Pisgah is very well marked and tricky turns are very few but Barnett has a few. This big arrow pointing the way is reminiscent of the very big arrow on Little East Fork:



The whole way to the top there wasn't a drop of rain in the sky and the sun was playing games behind the clouds making for a perfect late fall mountain run.



Up at the intersection with Black Mtn. trail on Soapstone Ridge was a spectacular experience. A single moment after that picture was taken the wind blew in a deep and heavy fog:



That immediately gave way to a steady freezing rain and we turned and started our run back down in winter conditions. The descent was good and fun with the rain making me feel like a kid splashing my way through mud puddles.

At the bridge just past the intersection with the Pink Beds the rain let up and once again the weather turned on a dime and the sun peaked out. That could only mean one thing and I looked up to see a rainbow over the Pink Beds: