Unexplored areas are very attractive so next weekend we went hiking along the railway again. Since we already had walked a lot in the Cochran area, we decided to choose Belding – Beaver Slide Road leads to it. I don’t know why it’s called Belding. Maybe once upon a time there was a small village, but there are no signs left nowadays. Beaver Slide Road on the other bank of the Salmonberry is named Belding Road, so maybe, somewhere deep in the woods there are some village remains. Or a local mountain has that name.
Belding Road begins on the other side
We drove to the tunnel around lunch time, so better to eat something. While the food was cooking, me and Ira ran through the tunnel to look at the path on the other side – if it is in a good condition or not. The path is wide, well-trodden, so people go here a lot. Next time (and there certainly will be one!) we will go to the bridge over Wolf Creek, but today we are planning to go along the river current.
Our lunch
After lunch we we were ready to hike. Last summer we saw the first several hundred yards, but today we would like to go farther. 
Soon we saw something interesting ahead of us. First there were huge trunks lying in a big mess. But we saw that the path we were following led through it. Yeah, this is not the end of our journey yet! So we slowly and carefully made our way forward between the thick logs.
There is something interesting in front of us
Landslide
This area is very wet. Every now and then we had to get around the mud and huge puddles. If the rails were seen, the space between them was filled with water. Very often rails were hidden under the carpet of fallen leaves and moss or thick layer of mud.
Moss covered sleepers
That tree is fighting for survival
Salmonberry river
Finally we got to the bridge over the Belding Creek. At first we were astonished by thick trunks lying on the bridge. But right after that heap we were looking at the tracks hanging in the air. Sleepers are long gone. Here was the moment when I thought that we will turn around. However, after a short examination of the log pile, we decide that it is possible to use them to cross the creek.
Logs on the bridge
Belding Creek
Dad is moving to the other side
Our turn is next
We continued to go on, but soon saw a place, which would require a lot of effort to pass. And the probability to soak our feet in a mountain stream is high. I wouldn’t want to do that in April, so we decided to have a break and went back.
That is a very suspicious looking place. Seems that we will not be able to go farther
The railroad tracks lead to the river
Dancing dad
We need to go where colored cables are sticking out
That same place, but closer
Where did you lead me, parents….
After the break we went back.
Ira is preparing to shoot our attempts of crossing the creek
This is how we get to the other bank of the creek 🙂
Give me your hand! Oh, I’m too afraid!
806.34 mark near our car
Dragon head
It was only a mile in one direction, but it was a very difficult one!
Snack after a hike
Our route