tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705106131374628012024-03-08T02:30:02.798-05:00Playtime is the Best TimePatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-44319422553387224782013-01-30T12:11:00.000-05:002013-01-30T12:11:23.138-05:00Winter Sun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Wet feet are a fact of life. Wet feet are a fact of life." I repeat to myself. My mantra for the weekend. I'm breaking trail through the snow. The sun is out in the pastures I came up through, but now I'm making my way through the woods on the shadowy north side of the mountain. The snow is deeper here and the only foot steps are mine and the white tail and the squirrels. The creeks are up as the snow is melting in the sun on the balds up top. "Wet feet are a fact of life..." </div>
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I make slow progress. I've been down since May as my knee is slowly recovering. It cuts my mileage and my pace. Breaking through the snow isn't helping me go any faster. Once I make it to the AT there are other foot steps to follow. Single track is packed down as I come up on a group of about 15 teenagers and their group leaders. They're base camping and up for a short day hike. I pass them and the nice solid single track turns into me following the single deep steps of someone with much shorter stride than mine. Its less awkward to just break my own steps in the snow.</div>
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I find a spot right below the summit of Little Hump between rocks with a good view of the sunset and sunrise. I chat with the day hikers for a bit before they turn back to camp and fire for the night. I lay out my bivy, my bag and eat dinner and watch the sunset from bed. Its an incredibly clear night and I hope for some star gazing, but thats when the wind picks up. These rocks aren't up for the job as windbreak. The wind rocks me in and out of sleep all night and continues past sunrise. </div>
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Sunrise and breakfast in bed. Still cowering in my bag away from the wind blown snow. Frigid, but absolutely gorgeous. I shiver and shudder as I make my way out of the downy warmth and put on my cold, wet shoes, my body shaking to stay warm as I try to tie my stiff frozen laces. All packed up I hit the trail. Only the nice packed track is gone thanks to the wind. The snow is deeper than ever despite the clear skies. </div>
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Turning back in the direction I came I make my way back off the AT onto the Overmountain Victory Trail. Back into the shadowy side of the mountain where my steps from yesterday remain. Only this time crossed over by deer and coyote since I've been through. The silent side of the mountain. Only the sounds of my feet in the snow, my breath in the air, the wash of the creek over the ice and rocks. The quiet soft sounds of winter broken by the soft rush of owl's wings as it flies over by only a few feet to perch on a branch nearby only to float away further still. Away into the shadows and the white.</div>
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<b>Breaking trail up the OVT</b></div>
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<b>Bed for the night</b></div>
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<b>Following the steps of others</b></div>
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<b>The others head back leaving me to the sunset and solitude.</b></div>
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<b>Morning view from bed.</b></div>
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<b>Breakfast in bed with such great sights. </b></div>
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Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-29861096861116896152012-11-05T16:00:00.000-05:002012-11-05T16:00:30.262-05:00Autumn in Shining Rock Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-25258233711560873322012-11-01T16:50:00.002-04:002012-11-01T16:50:44.063-04:00Morning on the Forest Floor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is something special about night hiking. The focus is only as large and as intense as your headlamp allows. Directly in front of your feet and only about 1-2 sq ft. Cool calm September nights filled only with the sounds of the breeze rattling the early autumn leaves, the night birds and the occasionally close run in with a skunk. When I got tired I found a flat enough spot to throw my sleeping pad and crash out. </div>
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The sun breaking through the mostly green trees wakes me. The trees block out the show in the sky, but sleeping out on the ground gives me the gift of the sunrise at ground level. </div>
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Get on the ground and smell the dirt. See the world contained in a spot smaller than a single foot print. </div>
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All photographs taken less than 24 inches (60 cm) off the ground. </div>
<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-54700210294980034962012-07-07T18:24:00.000-04:002012-07-07T18:24:38.428-04:00Over the River and Through the Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I returned to the same place a few days after my last short trip with friends. This time a little further and a little faster. Alone with the solitude of my self and accompanied by the richness of the mountains, rivers, trails and fields I was moving through.</div>
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-28517587001417344642012-07-03T18:11:00.000-04:002012-07-03T18:11:13.698-04:00Morning in Laurel Fork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I haven't been out in several weeks. Its been killing me, but I've been recovering from some health issues and getting my strength back before I hit the mountains too hard too fast. Luckily <a href="http://patrickofeasttn.blogspot.com/2012/05/roan-highlands-or-how-i-almost-injured.html">John</a> has been getting out quite a bit and making up for my lack of mountain time. He's got a few photos up on his <a href="http://mrgoatsnake.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a>. I'm feeling much stronger so I tested my legs on a morning walk with John and Rebecca. We're having a serious drought here so the river was way down which made for easy crossing and dry feet for much of our trip. Its just a good feeling to get back out to where you feel you belong. Maybe I'll try to push it a bit more soon...</div>
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-26209975678707610502012-05-28T21:40:00.000-04:002012-05-28T21:41:08.627-04:00Silence in the Middle Prong Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I set up camp as the sun is setting. The time is alive with birds calling and fluttering about. I sit alone and </div>
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notice a few minutes later under the moon and in the crepuscular light: silence. Stillness. Sereneness. A lull in the commotion that builds up to the nightfall. Every few minutes this blankness is broken by the BZZZZT of the bugs flying by. Then the silence returns. In the quiet moments more stars appear slowly. As the night comes on it will bring the night birds, insects and all the calls and clamor they come with. But for now: silence.</div>
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I started this last minute trip by hitting the Mountains To Sea trail around 5 in the evening. I followed the trail through the evening sun. I set up a spot to sleep at the junction with the Green Mountain Trail. This was my first experience in the Middle Prong Wilderness. I was hoping for a much less traveled version of the Shining Rock Wilderness that it shares its border with.</div>
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I awoke with the morning birds and decided to stay and rest until 630. I was up and walking by 7. Heading north on the Green Mountain Trail I soon found out that "trail" was a bit of a stretch. I pieced together overgrown sections of hiker trail, game trails and bushwhacking along the Fork Ridge. The slow and challenging ridge walk was making me nervous that the next ridge would be just as bad and I might be night hiking to make it too my car. The trail eventually reappeared and stayed in sight, but much of it was duckwalking under 4-5ft tall rhododendron tunnel. Breaking up the challenge to my knees were only the scent of the azalea and an encounter with a group of feral hogs.The last mile dropped (straight) down about 1000ft to the river. I ran into a couple later that know the area better than anyone I have ever encountered and they mentioned "...oh that trail was put in before switchbacks were invented!"</div>
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After I crossed the road and the refreshingly cold West Fork Pigeon River (the cold water being the best thing to ease my stinging and scraped up legs) into the Shining Rock Wilderness I headed up the Fork Mountain Trail. The previous ridge was higher in elevation, but I still had almost 2000 ft to climb up. I climbed up easy switchbacks through rhododendron, flame azalea and mountain laurel on all sides. The ridge was a bit overgrown, but the trail wasn't too hard to follow. I had spent all morning doing what I despise: walking through spider webs face first, but its a hefty price to pay for solitude. I came upon a napping couple at a gap near the end of the Fork Mtn Trail. They came out of their rest when I approached and I talked to them for probably half an hour. They have been hiking the area for 35 years and gave me lots of great information, history and showed me some good off-trail sights on my map for future trips. Near Tennet Mountain I jumped south on the Art Loeb trail and immedietly ran into large crowds of day-hikers and other weekenders. After giving a nice group of dayhikers directions back to their car I continued on my way knowing I was almost back to where I started. At this point my right knee began to hurt. Not just hurt, but start to fail me. I was less than a mile from my car and was limping along. About 24 hours, several thousand feet of elevation change and a decent amount of miles I was back at my car ready for the drive home and less ready for work the next morning.</div>
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-13570115364134177942012-05-22T21:18:00.002-04:002012-05-22T21:18:54.478-04:00Roan Highlands: or how I almost injured my friend John<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"YOU DA MAN, WIND!" I scream into the clouds as the words whip away into the air before anyone has a chance to hear them. I turn and wait for the sight of John's foggy figure to emerge from the rain cloud we're currently walking through. I'm impressed with his cheery mood as he labors up the Little Hump Mountain and the wind knocks him back and forth out of the rutty trail. The mist we left at camp this morning has turned to a light rain. The high wind has turned that rain against us as it stings the right side of our faces. It puts my mind on the sand blown evening wind biting my face in Arches NP, the rain and wind blowing me off my feet on Franconia Ridge in the Whites, and of course the second time I made the walk across these same balds with sideways hail. This is probably one of the strongest winds I've felt in this part of the country and rivals the strongest I've ever felt.</div>
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John's going strong. We haven't taken too many breaks today, even though we're well behind my usual pace, its nice to hike with a friend after going solo the past few years. We're on the second day of John's first backpacking trip. I tried to pick an easy one, but will later find out how poor my judgment was.</div>
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Yesterday we started at Carver's Gap. We're both very familiar with the place, but we'd be going a bit further than John's been before. He's more knowledgeable than most from Carver's Gap to Grassy Ridge, but beyond that its all new territory. </div>
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Taking an easy pace we get to Overmountain Shelter just before the rain hits. An easy going 5ish miles. We're both feeling pretty good after dinner and in the social spirit of the weekend we chat it up with the other 30 people sharing the area with us for the night. This shelter has a way of making a traffic jam of thru-hikers, but luckily it can support the number. As a former thru-hiker I love being around people going through the journey, but usually I leave the social talk to the trail and camp alone. It was nice to meet new people, have a fire and listen to a few musicians (of varying talent) play through dinner. </div>
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The next morning we stay late and rest up as John didn't sleep so well that night. Shelters always take some getting used to before one learns how to sleep solidly. I think the lack of sleep is one of the many factors that would come to haunt my friend later. John's a strong guy, but as a grad student he spends much of his time sitting in front of a computer. This is something I failed to take into consideration when I planned this weekend out. I figured he'd feel rough, spent and worn out at the end of it, but didn't realize just how much it would take out of him. It all went pretty well up until about 5 or 6 miles in the last day. John had a cheap pack that couldn't handle its load and him straining to stabilize it in the wind had worn him out and he started getting muscle spasms in his sides. We took frequent breaks for him to take his pack off, stretch and rest up. I gave him some electrolytes hoping maybe it was just cramps. The last few miles were slow going at less than a mile an hour. It got to the point were he wasn't just hurting, but at the risk of getting hurt so I offered to switch packs with him. With little food in my pack and me wearing almost all the clothes I brought my pack was probably less than 5 lbs where his was more like 40. It took some convincing, but he finally decided it was a good idea to switch up. (note: I'm a firm believer in carrying your own stuff even if its too heavy. Its a good way to learn what you need and don't need, but when its a safety issue I will do what I can to help) It was tough to watch John the last couple miles, but it was also inspiring. He wasn't letting it get the best of him and he wasn't giving up (well he had no option to give up). Its always impressive to watch someone push beyond the limits they thought they had before. He could've turned into a death march and I'm sure at moments it felt like that, but as John fought through the pain and struggled over every obstacle he powered through it and didn't let it take over his attitude. Don't get me wrong he was cussing, but not complaining or feeling sorry for himself.</div>
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John texted me the next couple days to tell me he was feeling much better and saying we should do a long day trip soon and some shorter over nights this summer. Which made me feel good until I ran into his roommates on Friday and scolded me for "crippling" John.</div>
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<b>A lone Iris standing tall near the shelter</b></div>
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<b>Some type of violet</b></div>
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<b>John Hiking out with the shelter in the back ground. </b></div>
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<b>Its beautiful what thrives in a landscape that has such harsh weather so often.</b></div>
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<b>My best guess is some kind of Waterleaf?</b></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-32271688488285233382012-05-20T11:38:00.000-04:002012-05-20T11:43:06.837-04:00Rainy Days in the Gorge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I drive across the state line and the rain isn't letting up. Visibility is decreasing and the roads have more and more standing water. I'm thinking "I'm supposed to be fording a river late this afternoon?" Maybe the rain will make things a bit more exciting. I'm after a challenge today. </div>
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Its my first visit the Linville Gorge and I'm not sure what to expect. The rain is easing up, but still ever present when I hit the trail. I drop down Babel Tower into the gorge. When I get my first good look at the swollen white water of the rocky river below I begin to rethink my plans. "I'll get to the crossing and decide then. I'm alone and not taking unneeded risks." So I head down the Linville Gorge Trail following the river unsure of how the trip will end up.</div>
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<b>Wild Bleeding Heart in the rain</b></div>
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"FUCK!" I go down hard on the rocks and start sliding. I don't stop when I think I do and continue down the gorge towards the river for several more feet before I finally come to a rest. My adrenaline is going, but my elbow is hurting. I manage to get up back on the trail and see a dry cave ahead of me. I decide to stop, eat and assess the situation. A couple more steps and the ground gives way again. This time I go down on my wrist and knee before I start sliding down taking part of the muddy trail with me. I sit down under the rock overhang and wipe the mud from myself to inspect the damage. Just a few bumps and bruises. After I eat I check the map. The rain and the slippery rocks and unstable mud that make up the trail have cut my pace to half what I expected. Add in the late start I got and I decide to be open to the possibility of just an out and back instead of the loop I planned. Feeling better after some salmon and potatoes I head back down the trail. A few steps later I go down again and keep sliding...</div>
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<b>I believe this to be Sweetshrub (aka Bubby Bush), but it could be Anise</b></div>
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At one point I miss a turn and am off the trail. I know exactly where I am and consider to keep going until I meet back up with the trail, but I'm alone down here on a Wednesday. Even if someone where to pass by we would never hear each other over the roar of the river so I decide boulder hopping in the rain is a bad idea. 15 minutes later I find locate the trail and keep heading south.</div>
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A mile or so later the trail really opens up and I'm able to pick up the pace to try and make up some time. The skies begin to clear and the gorge begins to widen up a bit. Its getting lighter out so I can see better. </div>
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To say this area is highly impacted would be a huge understatement. With the exception of a few stretches of overgrown and difficult to find trail you never go more than a couple minutes without walking through or past a group of campsites filled with garbage, camp equipment, fishing gear, heaping fire pits, and more. Its not exactly the Wilderness Area I was hoping to find. It would take a large effort to clean this place up and years more for the area to heal from the damage done.</div>
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I find the "unsanctioned" and unmapped trail from the LGT up to the Mountains to Sea trail. I want to thank whoever put this in for not messing around. TN/NC have been putting in too many switchbacks lately and its good that people are still building trails straight up the mountain. I haven't been on trail this steep since the Flume Slide in The Whites.</div>
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I hit the MST and really start flying now. I don't have much time before dark and would like to get across the river. The trail crosses at a really wide and slow spot and after all day of wondering I'm pleased to be able to make it across with no issue beyond the wet socks and shorts.</div>
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I grab a spot to sleep near the river and as soon as its dark I'm ready for bed. I'm lulled to sleep by the river, the whippoorwills, and the geese. </div>
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I hit the trail at sun up and start climbing through evidence of fire. The fire cleared out and made room for the flowers who are happy to soak up all that available sunshine.</div>
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If you haven't been to Linville Gorge I feel like I should tell you at this point to do the MST section. I don't recommend the LGT unless you like walking through other peoples trash. Its true its a unique area, but there are better river walks in Western NC.</div>
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I'm able to take my time and still make good miles on the MST. The weather isn't slowing me today. Its a beautiful day and I'm taking lots of photo stops and snack breaks along the way. I eventually hit Table Rock and head down the gorge and hit Spence Ridge to the only bridge across the river. I head north on the LGT to find Babel Tower and back to my car. </div>
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Starving, smelly, muddy and banged up all I want to do is find someone to eat lunch with, but who would want to share a table with a dirty hiker? I do the only reasonable thing and pick up some Thru-Hikers on my way through Roan Mtn and grab some grub with them at Bob's Dairyland.</div>
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<b>Goat's Rue</b></div>
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<b>Mountain Laurel letting us know summer is coming!</b></div>
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<b>Fly Poison above the water</b></div>
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<b>I was loving the Mountain Myrtle along the MST!</b></div>
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<b>The Rhododendron were coming on along the rim </b></div>
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<b>A few years ago on my thru hike I was reading a flower book that a friend had. The next day I recognized a single Lilly of the Valley on the trail. It was raining and I didn't get a photograph thinking I'd see more later. This is the first time I've seen them since. I was pretty excited.</b></div>
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<b>The beautiful Flame Azalea</b></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-11916454141756356302012-05-06T20:22:00.000-04:002012-05-06T20:22:06.795-04:00Any Way the Wind Blows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took a very itinerant approach to the weekend. No particular place to go, see or witness. I just had a pack, a map, and a capricious mindset. Every junction lay before me different opportunity. Sometimes I'd pick a direction in a careless way and sometimes I'd pick the trail that would lead to more options miles away, but I'd always pick impulsively. My wayward and aimless mode of walking took me to wide open vistas shared with feral ponies on the verge of bursting forth the next generation. It took me down steep and intimate rocky trails among the shade of mixed hardwoods. It took me to paths along creeks, over streams and beside cascades. I found myself sometimes surrounded by friendly faces stopping to share lunch with a group, help a frantic hiker lost in the clouds, or just chat about memories of trails elsewhere. I'd take the next turn and it would seem I had the entire Jefferson National Forest to myself for hours. Sharing it only with wildflowers and the ubiquitous little gray birds. </div>
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I entered this tripping proclaiming that this area was too small to fill up a weekend. "I'm making too good of time." "These miles are too fast" I'd proclaim to the rocks, birds and occasional sweaty Scout leader. I found a truly aspiring and varying network of hiking trails and horse trails that I occasionally linked together by following game paths or the hoof worn paths of the feral ponies and sometimes open terrain. I couldn't begin to tell you how many miles I did over the past couple days. Its not about the numbers, but I can't begin to put to words what it really is about.</div>
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Beautiful clear morning after a rainy night.</div>
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This tiny guy was tough to get a good picture of. I think its some kind of violet. They were sporadic across the fields in the high elevations.</div>
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Get down face first in the dew and rain soaked grass and really take in and experience all the life that thrives and coexists in a space as small as your footprint. Really be aware of what you're walking through. Mountain vistas aren't the only grand views to be found on the mountain tops.</div>
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Unknown. Growing in the grass. It sure was a stinker to get a good photo of this.</div>
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I have no idea what this is. They were 1-3 inches tall and growing around rocks in the high elevation balds. These were grouping around a rock in the middle of the trail.</div>
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I believe this is Chokeberry, but it could possibly be Blackberry?</div>
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Field of Bluets!</div>
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A few miles of fields Fringed Phacelia on either side of the trail. With some groups of May Apples and white Trillium mixed in occasionally to break it up.</div>
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This one was growing right smack in the middle of a horse trail near the Phacelia. Its tough to identify from this picture, but the leaves were different from the Phacelia.</div>
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Mountainside made of Ragweed and Dandelion.</div>
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A side not on my photos: I don't edit these in anyway. I used to practically live in Photoshop when I was studying in college, but don't really like to spend too much time on the computer. I don't find any fault with those who do. Its a great tool, but one I do fine without. Also you can always click on any of my photos to get the full high resolution versions, which is a must to get an idea of any of the panoramas I post.</div>
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-66314840394993417992012-05-01T17:56:00.000-04:002012-05-01T17:56:53.523-04:00Welcome Back Old Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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That smell of fresh spring rain. The smell of flowers budding and blossoming. The smell of Spring. The smell of the new outpouring of life. The brief commotion of spring. Everything is fighting to find its perfect place. Bursting forth of its colors and odors to attract its pollinator. Everything in perfect timing. Flowering maybe only a day, maybe only a few hours to find its partner. Ecosystems existing only for a brief few days of the life cycle of the flower and insect before it sits and waits for the next few days the following year. Such a perfect balance and dance of life. </div>
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Lousewort. One of my all time favorites. I probably have a dozen or more photos of Lousewort on my blog, but I will continue to post them.</div>
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Vasey's Trillium</div>
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Lily</div>
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I believe this is Smooth Rock Cress, but could be totally wrong on that.</div>
<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-27798304151270970222011-12-03T15:37:00.000-05:002012-05-06T21:07:14.370-04:00Its always colder in the mountainsFind a spot to park among the scattered ice and snow. It is nice and sunny down in town, but the hollers cut out by the river still have spots of snow hidden in all the shade. I hit the trail running. Running to find the rhythm of the rocks, running to find the freedom of the trail, and mainly running to find the warmth as my blood starts pumping. The river to my left and the wet cold air burns my throat. The crunch and squish of the mix of frozen and wet thawed out leaves under my feet. The brown and orange leaf often giving way and betraying the hidden rocks and roots hiding underneath. Keep the steps light and fast to avoid the slip of a foot or the twist of an ankle.<br />
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I try to quiet my thoughts seeping through in the back of my mind. "Will the water be too high with the melting snow? Am I willing to put up with how cold this river is going to be?" I get to the first crossing and brace myself. As my feet sink in and in an instant the bitter chill flashes up my body. I keep going. The water is higher than usual. I've had to turn back before, but it was higher and faster then. Over my mid-thigh this time and I let out the involuntary "Wooooo! FuuUuuUUuuuck thats cold!" that your body screams when you have water crossings in December.<br />
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When I get to the other side I keep moving. Moving from the rush and moving to get the warm blood back to the stinging and numb toes. By the time I warm up it'll be time to cross the river again. The comfort and odd warmth of wet feet welcomes you back to the chilling water. And so it goes. But I do so knowing that all this will be for me today. Not a person to be seen out this way this time of year.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpw5lPeEzsY/TtqHJ3koOZI/AAAAAAAABBc/FpfsKGGCyzM/s1600/102_4397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dpw5lPeEzsY/TtqHJ3koOZI/AAAAAAAABBc/FpfsKGGCyzM/s400/102_4397.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-28503305675425482992011-08-27T21:31:00.000-04:002012-05-06T21:07:28.160-04:00Whatchu got in that bag?I'm a gear guy. I value when my pack or something in it makes my time outside more enjoyable. But I have always purposely avoided talking about gear on this blog. There are plenty of bloggers out there that review fun junk made for you to carry. I find this can sometimes come off as materialistic and turn me off. Its a fine line and there will always be those people that care more about getting the gear than getting outside. Its neither good nor bad. I don't really read gear blogs and I have no intentions of turning this into one. I love reading about people's experiences and seeing photos of other parts of the world or sometimes seeing an outsider's point of view on a visit to the mountains on my corner of the Earth.<br />
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That being said I made a little crummy video of what I carried with me on my last trip (which I wrote a bit about in my previous entry). I had a baseweight of a little under 5 lbs. I ditched the stove and fuel in favor of carrying a book, which I fortunately was enjoying my time too much to read. A good idea on what you can get by with on a summer trip in the 4,000-6,000ft elevations of the NC/TN state line.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28249344?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/28249344">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3300665">Patrick S</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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My camera can sure take nice photos, but awful videos. Plus lack of skills make it less than great.Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-62569607507378558642011-08-19T16:36:00.000-04:002012-05-06T21:07:45.649-04:00Slow and Deliberate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This post is written for Dave's Summer Trip Report contest over at <a href="http://bedrockandparadox.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/summer-trip-report-contest/">Bedrock and Paradox</a>. The more people that enter the more fun trips we get to read about.</div>
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Breathing in, I'm breathing in. I feel the cool mountain winds in my lungs. Breathing out I'm breathing out. I feel the Sun's warmth on my body and the trail under my feet. </div>
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I've been here before a few times. I've been in the habitation of these mountains and my feet have blistered themselves on these worn trails. I've felt the presence of these very balds and gaps, but they've never felt my presence. Not like now. I'm fully here. Each step is slow and deliberate. Each breath is equally so.<br />
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"Fast and Light" is often a phrase used among my hiking peers. At least I have half of it right today. The lightness on my back enables the lightness on my mind. I am conscious of nothing beyond this moment. This moment is on these balds and this moment is among the grasses and flowers surrounding me and the vistas beyond them. The evening light bathing everything in warm hues as our shadows collectively stretch out. I'm going at a snail's pace enabling me to enjoy every small step.</div>
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I have no goals for this hike. No place to get to. I have nothing invested in this walk. No expectations. No ideals. I'm not thinking "This long climb up the mountain will be worth it and rewarded by the sights." I give myself permission to enjoy the walk up under the trees. The infamous (and underratedly beautiful) "green tunnel" of the Appalachians. I have nothing tied into this hike. I have no thoughts of "this will be enjoyable when..."<br />
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My last trip had too much invested in it. I set out to thru-hike the Benton MacKaye Trail last month. Something I had wanted to do for a few years. Once again I could get out for more then just a night or two and get back to my love of a thru-hike. When I didn't enjoy any of the that trail it devastated me. I had too much riding on it for myself. I identified too much with the circumstance of being on a trail I had a big goal to do and spent years daydreaming about. I was finally doing it! But I hated the trail and I wasn't having any fun. It felt like it wasn't the right place for me so I got off after less than 50 miles. It broke me financially and emotionally. I had set many goals and expectations for the BMT and didn't live up to any of them. I didn't allow myself to not tie myself into the 'success' of that hike. I didn't allow myself to just enjoy my self and be present despite the way things turned out.<br />
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I wake up to the sound of rain on my tarp overhead. I spent the early hours of morning drifting in and out of the waking world and sleep listening to the drops of water surrounding me. I hike out under cloud cover, and drop below the bald in to the trees. One thing I enjoy more than hiking through the woods in the rain is hiking through the woods on an early foggy morning directly after a good rain shower. The water running under my feet, the smells of the wet vegetation and the spaced out sound of the drops falling from the leaves and branches above.<br />
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As I leave the trees behind for more balds the Sun breaks through the grey clouds. The light dances through the beads of water clinging to the tall grass. I slow my pace and I smile as I make my way back to the road back to the house, but knowing that I'm already home.<br />
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<br />Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-59442190405992429042011-04-24T17:48:00.003-04:002012-05-06T21:08:05.682-04:00Spring has sprung!There are some really good reasons why I live where I do. I live here because I want to. One of my favorite things about East Tennessee is that I can drive an hour or less in just about any direction and have top quality hiking. Its not the most majestic of places I've hiked, but there is something really special about the southern Appalachians. <br />
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I've done the Roan Highlands more times than I can count and every time I've been over the Hump Mountains I've had bad weather from fog to the sideways sleet and hail I got on my AT thru-hike. When I saw the forecast a few days ago I knew I had to finally see the view I knew was up there. I got a pretty great view and amazing weather, but more importantly I had 24 hours of amazing wild flowers.<br />
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Vasey's Trillium. This kept me guessing the entire time. I'd never encountered Trillium this color before even though its apparently everywhere around here.</div>
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Lousewort! This is my favorite wildflower and spotting it for the first time this year had me pretty happy. Welcome back old friend.</div>
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Spring creeping up the mountain with a little more green each day.</div>
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I think this is Spring Cress or maybe a type of violet? Someone please correct me on this one! (edit: I'm being told this is probably Spring Beauty.)</div>
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Yellow Trout Lilly. One beautiful flower.</div>
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Looking trail south. It felt so wrong hiking away from Katahdin.</div>
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I felt like a fool. I got more blisters in less than 20 miles than I did for the entire 2179 of the AT. I may have to start wearing socks again. yuck.</div>
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Another Trillium.</div>
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Once again I'm stumped. Any help from you guys? Come one I'm friends with botanists for a reason! (edit: I think people are agreeing this is probably Disporum.)</div>
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Spider hanging out some some Trillium.</div>
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Maybe a geranium of some sort?</div>
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Once again I'm stumped. I need to find a better wildflower resource apparently. (edit: also another geranium.)</div>
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Phlox!</div>
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Plenty of Fringed Phacelia popped up over night! I basically did about 10 miles out and then 10 back the next day. It was really amazing that over half of this flowers weren't there yesterday when I was hiking in and they were absolutely everywhere today!</div>
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<br /></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-41910286475460762172011-01-06T15:17:00.001-05:002012-05-06T21:08:20.012-04:00What do you get from a walk?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hiking centers me. Brings me peace. I've said this before on many occasion. The rhythm of the foot steps and of my breath and the clear air often brings me to a meditative state. It helps me work through lots of things in my life. Usually when I stop for a snack or at a vista I break that and for a small moment of my day I become awake and aware of where I am and whats around me. The more I hike the more I'm aware. These days I'm very present on my hikes. Each flower, the temperature of the air, the feel and direction of the wind. The softness of the cool dark mud or the smell of the rain soaked lichen on the rocks. Before these moments were all temporary and fleeting. Now they are the walk. Every step is one of intent. Every look and touch is chosen and deliberate. Each breath I draw in brings me closer to the mountains underneath and all around.</div>
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I get more peace and more joy out of every walk I take. Now hiking doesn't help me work through my problems or help me clear my head of them. I'll let myself give them the attention they deserve, but right now my thoughts are in the moment. Exactly here they need to be.</div>
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What do you get from a walk?</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-28652073404331985342011-01-03T00:35:00.000-05:002011-01-03T00:35:54.887-05:00Spreading the loveI haven't got around to getting the photos off my camera from my last few little hikes so this post will be without pictures. I just wanted to draw attention to my buddy Honey Du's blog from his summer on the Colorado Trail.<br />
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<a href="http://amodestfolly.blogspot.com/">http://amodestfolly.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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He's got some great photos and a love for wildflowers. But its his way of sharing life on the trail and in trail towns that is what really draws me in with his posts. I find when other people write about hikes it usually can be awfully boring, but thats not the case here.Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-71827268653047956552010-11-16T23:08:00.000-05:002012-05-06T21:09:10.516-04:00DaytrippingI really haven't done that much backpacking this year. Mostly day hikes and usually just quick solo trips and if I were to hazard a guess I'd say I've done less than 500 miles this year. I tend to get out at least once a week and usually don't bring a camera and if I do my day hikes often don't end up on here. Maybe in the future I need to be a bit more disciplined with updating this little blog here.<br />
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<br /></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-60062102957650022302010-10-22T17:37:00.001-04:002010-12-27T21:16:08.809-05:00Indian Summer in the Shining Rock Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The timing of this trip just worked out with the warm weather, the cloudless skies, the leaves, and every detail. I knew I wanted to do something outside for my birthday and I knew I wanted to get a least one of the 6,000 ft peaks done. It all worked out much better than I had planned.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boring details: I parked on Black Balsam Rd off of the Blue Ridge Pkwy. I took the Mountains to Sea trail east, then the Bridges Camp Gap trail which turns into the Big East Fork Trail. At the end of that trail I did an insignificantly short (like 75 yards) road walk to the Shining Creek Trail. I camped maybe a half mile from the road. Next day was the Shining Creek Trail to the Art Loeb then back to the truck with a small detour to bag Black Balsam Knob. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a pretty sweet loop most of it next to East Pigeon Fork River the first day and it was great dropping down from 5,500 ft and late Autumn to the lower elevations where the colors where much brighter in the thicker forests. The one thing I'd do differently would be taking the Old Butt Knob Trail the second day to add a little distance and from the looks of it much more open ridge walking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I left my Aqua-Mira drops at the house (whoops!), but luckily I always keep some A-M tabs in my food bag for things like this. The only problem is I had to conserve and only got less than 3 liters of water each day.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The small section of the Mountains to Sea Trail that I did was amazing. I loved it. Lots of waterfalls and plenty of great camping spots.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Big East Fork Trail was really a good walk. Easy walking along the river. Lots of pools, flumes and waterfalls that made me wish it was summer so I could swim, but the leaves were quick to remind me that autumn (while too cold to swim) has its own greatness.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a pretty chilly night next to the river, but I had my 20deg bag and was pretty toasty. In fact I slept in because I was so cozy and warm and didn't want to get up before the sun warmed things up a bit.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The forecast said no chance of rain, but I'm glad I set my tarp up just to keep the falling leaves from waking me up.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was my birthday so I packed out a sweet treat and a candle to have a birthday breakfast. This Texas cinnamon roll was so sickly and unnaturally sweet it sort of turned my stomach after two bites and I couldn't suffer through the rest.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shining Creek Trail was quite a climb going up around 2,000 ft, but it was long and nothing real harsh. Easy going with a light pack and strong legs. You really don't need to carry hardly any water for the most of it since you're right along Shining Creek.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A touch of warm colors up high. The weather was great. I'd say high 60's to low 70's. I hiked in nothing but shoes and running shorts the whole time. It was ridiculously windy up high and when I got closer to the road and started running into day hikers with their long pants and hoods cinched around their faces I got some odd looks. I did manage to get a little sunburned though.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The visibility was unreal that day. Not a cloud in the sky and you could see as far as humanly possible. You can click on the photos to get the larger size to really take it in.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Art Loeb Trail looking back north to Tennet Mtn.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can anyone identify these guys for me? They were everywhere the entire trip (except the most exposed balds and ridges) with entire fields down around 2,000 ft.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all I would totally recommend this hike to anyone else in the area and it was a great way to celebrate my birthday. I love Shining Rock more and more each time I visit. You get the views and the experience of the Smokies, but without the crowds as long as you stay away from the parkway. Just bear in mind that there are no signs or blazes inside the Wilderness area and most of the trail junctions can be pretty confusing so bring a map and compass. Just don't use the National Geographic map. I cannot stress how much I hate their maps. I like the map you can get from www.cradleofforestry.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-442487475593973982010-10-15T12:04:00.001-04:002012-05-06T21:09:25.929-04:00Those solo nights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is something special about hiking alone. No distractions, but on the flip side nobody to share the fun. Hiking alone brings a lot out of you that you don't normally get. If you're pushing your limits and going beyond your comfort zone then you learn a lot more of what your capable of, but thats not what I'm getting into right now. On the other side of the solo trip you're doing a trail that maybe you've done before (or a million times before) or a well maintained and blazed trail and you're not distracted with conversation or navigation. You're not worrying about mileage or where the next water source will be. You get into that rhythm of the hike, the quietness of the high altitude or the mountain nights. You're moving to the rhythm of the mountain at the same pace the winds are pushing the grass, the pines and the rhododendron around you. Its all very meditative and you get into your head. Its time to think and enjoy. Hiking helps me focus, work things out, and it re-energizes me. There is a lot to be said about hiking with yourself.</div>
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I love the mornings in the mountains of North Carolina with the ocean of fog turn the mountains into islands.</div>
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I fell asleep counting the shooting stars. I often feel an urgency to enjoy the rare clear nights in the highest of elevation around here where its usually full of clouds. </div>
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I could see my breath as I hiked in that night and woke up to some ice and frost on the trail, but the first warmth of the sunrise does a lot to energize you for the day ahead.</div>
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Jane and Round bald off the the left leading trail south on the AT towards Roan High Knob on the far left.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TLh2Ilwg8rI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pQNcKaWDNUE/s1600/102_3857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TLh2Ilwg8rI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pQNcKaWDNUE/s400/102_3857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-37069810060609595582010-09-07T23:17:00.000-04:002012-05-06T21:09:38.905-04:00Mt LaConteAfter almost a year of trying to get someone to day hike Mt LaConte I decided to just suck it up and go alone. I like hiking alone, but I don't like the idea of driving 2 hours and hiking 17ish miles then a 2 hour drive home alone.<br />
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Due to some road closure I had to park at Ogle Homestead site and do a half mile road walk (ugh all road walks are too long) to the Rainbow Falls trailhead. After about 6 miles the trail hits the LaConte spur trail and go about .6 to the lodge for some water and another little .5ish to the summit. I did a little loop to Cliff Top for lunch and some views. Plus some good talks with a couple other hikers. After that I took the LaConte Spur back and then the Bull Head Trail for about 6 miles down another ridge then a horse trail (Old Sugarlands) back to the road for a walk back to the truck.<br />
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Rainbow Falls trail is pretty sweet. I had it to myself for the most part (even on a Friday) due to the road work. The trail cuts back and forth over the LaConte Creek and by a few falls. I didn't get any good photos of Rainbow Falls due to a hornets nest and me being stung way too many times on my last several hikes. But I'll be back.</div>
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I was lucky enough to get up the same time as the Llamas. I don't really like the idea of huts and inns on mountains, but I wouldn't mind working there. Plus I have some really good memories of the Hut Croos in the Whites of NH.</div>
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Boring summit shot. This summer I was trying to get all the South Beyond 6,000 footers bagged, but due to working so much I only got 5 or 6. The good news is that leaves plenty left to do!</div>
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In this shot you can really see how an invasive species of beetles have reeked havoc on the high altitude fir forests around here. They still smell amazing for the time being, but its noticeable for sure.</div>
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On the way down I spent some time with this guy who was enjoying the stinging nettles a lot more than my legs were.</div>
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The Bull Head Trail has lots of really cool rock formations when you get down to the mixed deciduous forest and below the pines. </div>
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There were a few of these really cool overhangs and even though I felt fresh I have a rule where I always sit down on a good sitting rock.</div>
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Over all the trail was a lot easier than I expected. Its 4,000 ft of elevation difference from the trail head to the peak, but spread that over the miles and its a piece of cake for someone in decent shape. I spent a few hours on the summit and took several long snack breaks on the way down and the whole day took maybe 8-9 hours. It just left me wanting a bit more and my mind on other peaks to bag.</div>
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<br /></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-36575002959918107532010-08-11T22:50:00.002-04:002011-04-24T17:56:34.009-04:00Shining Rock Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TGNXSFYivhI/AAAAAAAAA0I/5ZL_--yStdY/s1600/100_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TGNXSFYivhI/AAAAAAAAA0I/5ZL_--yStdY/s400/100_3623.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here's the plan: get to the Black Balsam Trail head around noon, follow the northern bit of the Art Loeb Trail north, camp near Cold Mtn and summit first thing for a sunrise before heading south on the Ivestor Trail to the truck. So much for plans... hikers are laid back people, relaxed, flexible and these are good things. We all know uptight people make bad hikers right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TGNXTbbcMWI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/KM8k2IHvmqI/s1600/100_3628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SzPORiWrNJQ/TGNXTbbcMWI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/KM8k2IHvmqI/s400/100_3628.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hit the trail closer to 1:30, but made good time. Its pretty easy going at first. Just over ridges filled with wild flowers and good views. Some elevation changes, but if you hike in western NC you're used to that and used to a lot worse than this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weather was not ideal, but not terrible. The forecast was for sunny and clear in the towns and a chance of afternoon t-storms in the mountains. What really happened was off and on light rain all day. Enough to keep you cool and the springs full, but still pretty wet going through tall overgrown trail. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bees were loving all the flowers, and the bugs were out in full force, but stayed away from me. I didn't have to deal with a single insect pest mostly butterflies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is pretty much what the trail turned into north of Ivestor Gap. Blue berries. Tons of them as far as the eye can see, because thats all you can see. Sometimes a good foot over my head and always covering up the trail. Believe it or not thats a picture of the actual trail and not even the worst of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things got a bit cold and wet fighting through the wet blueberry bushes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The overgrown trail and lack of blazes, trail signs or markers on any of the trails made for some confusing junctions. I'm pretty happy I brought my compass along instead of just the map. Once I dropped down north of Shining Rock is when things started getting frustrating. The trail basically petered out to nothing. I spent a good hour going back and forth following game trails to nowhere and trying over and over again to find the trail hoping that I just missed a switchback or something. No such luck so I turned around and scrapped my Cold Mountain plans. I filled up on water near Shining Rock Gap and hiked south back to Ivestor Gap for the night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After I turned around I couldn't get my mind off my Ramen, salmon and broccoli dinner I had waiting for me in my pack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Relaxing and drying my feet out. Taking the views in while waiting on supper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking south at Ivestor Gap with my tarp and campsite. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We may not have the scale and space of the American west, but I still love southern Appalachia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nice sunset before bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should've used a flatter rock as my tripod. I promise I wasn't camping on that steep of an incline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I pitched my tarp low and tight expecting some late night thunderstorms, but the forecast was wrong again. Its the clearest night I've ever had in the southeast. Definitely the starriest night I've witnessed in the southern Appalachias. After some star gazing I crawled into bed for a pretty good night's sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall it was a good quick little overnight. A good blow to my hiking pride having to change plans after misplacing the trail (I wasn't lost I knew exactly where I was just not where the trail was! right?). Oddly enough a few years ago when I was on my 3rd backpacking trip it was an Art Loeb attempt and we had to bail after one night. Cold Mountain being an easy and accessible 6,000 footer is still haunting me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-57283525163829129782010-07-24T13:41:00.001-04:002010-12-27T21:12:37.763-05:00Grayson Highlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hit up the Grayson Highlands last weekend. The plans were to do a real flexible loop, but in the spirit of flexibility we had a super lazy hike. Jason and I parked at Massie Gap and hiked up the Rhododendron Trail to the AT. Headed south on the AT (felt so wrong and dirty) and got water at Thomas Knob and set up camp near there. Dude and Eileen came in from VA Beach and got a super late start and rolled in around 3am and missed our campsite. We woke them up at the shelter the next morning around 10am. We decided not to do a loop and just headed north on the AT slowly with plenty of stops after a side trip up Mount Rogers (since Dude and I both skipped it on our thru hike). The next day we doubled back up the AT and took the AT Spur back to our vehicles for the drive home. All in all a nice relaxing time outside with friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once we hit the trail head on the Rhododendron Trail we spotted the first of the ponies. Assuming we'd see much more later (just didn't know how much later) we didn't stop for long. Went almost all weekend without seeing any. Just hearing them around our campsite the first night and walking through their piles of excrement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jason spying our provisions of Dickel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">My note I left for Dude knowing he'd be passing by it after dark and most likely miss it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We grabbed a great spot in an open field near the next shelter north (I can't remember the name and I'm not looking it up) on Saturday. We ended up having the most intense lightning storm I've ever experienced that night. The rain was so heavy the field was flooded until it stopped raining. I had a good half an inch of water under my tarp, but my pack was in a garbage bag and my bivy kept me dry as a bone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We finally ran into the ponies when we were almost back to the parking lot Sunday morning. I was worried Dude was bad luck because he never saw them on his thru.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">All in all I needed the trip after working as much as I have been. The original plan was cut short a day and we definitely took the lazy route, but hey real hikers are lazy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-33870836365047042162010-07-05T16:47:00.002-04:002012-05-06T21:10:18.346-04:00Roan highlands and not so highlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have a bunch of pictures that I've got to post, but they probably won't see the light of day. I've kinda neglected this blog for various reasons. I'm just going to post some pictures from a few trips around the Roan Highlands area. Starting with a short day hike up the Overmountain Victory Trail up Yellow Mtn. Its in the Hampton Recreational Area and the trail connects to the AT right near the Overmountain Shelter below the Hump Mtns.</div>
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I've been working 6 days a week for the past few months and my last real 2 day weekend in April I went on a quick overnight hike from Carver's Gap intending on posting up on Big Hump for the night, but severe wind and running into some trail magic cut my trip short and I crashed for a cold night at Overmountain Shelter.</div>
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The Balds were coated in frost early morning as I hiked back to my car.</div>
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Frost covered Roan Hight Knob.</div>
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Recently after work on Saturday night I drove the truck up to Carvers Gap and got on the trail around 1am and headed for a few short miles to Grassy Ridge to find a spot for my bivy. Laid down around 2am and was up for the sunrise.</div>
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Grassy Ridge was pretty popular and luckily I just had a bivy so I didn't have to find a large enough spot when I slipped in at 2am. I never saw any sign of life beyond the dozen or so tents. I caught the sunrise with some deer and we were all gone before any of these other hikers were up.</div>
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<br /></div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-35668108084255917322010-03-17T17:13:00.002-04:002010-12-27T21:17:35.777-05:00Bee vs Black Widow<object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9963752&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9963752&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/9963752">bee vs Black Widow</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3300665">Patrick S</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Not much of a story. I was hiking along with this kid Leadfoot somewhere in VA (I'm pretty sure around Daleville). We heard a buzzing and watched the battle for a little while. We left and they were still going at it, but I figure the best case scenario for the bee is a draw. Leadfoot and I got a hotel room that night and he decided to stay an extra day and I heard from him again. The mysteries of the trail.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And sorry for the crappiness of the video. I was using a point and shoot camera and was videoing with my pack on. The focus on that thing sucks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10565087351091610925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70510613137462801.post-52677293628890119612010-03-06T16:42:00.001-05:002010-12-27T21:17:58.614-05:00Maine and such<object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9954648&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9954648&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/9954648">Walking in Maine</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3300665">Patrick S</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The trail shown in the video was actually pretty dry as far as things go. At that point we had several days of sunshine and no rain. You can imagine how wet things were a week earlier.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I decided to throw a few extra photos of Maine up here as well. I'll get around to putting some newer trips up here soon enough, but these were already on the computer. I'm still walking around places.</div><br />
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