Hiking Thread

[NEVolFan]

I hiked most weekends for a period of 3 years in the Smokeys and found that I enjoyed winter hiking the most. A tough hike in winter is from Cades Cove up to Russell Field and across to Spence Field and back down....once on top of the ridges, we had to blaze our trail in waist deep snow... that hike was exhausting.

[Mr. Tri Star]

Mt. LeConte is a neat place to be on top of, and Roan Mountain is badass as well.

[LawsonVFL]

We hiked to this bad boy in Sparta. 8 miles total.

[YorkVol]

Heading down to Atlanta tonight to link up with my 74 year old father so we can hit Springer Mountain tomorrow. I'm going with him for the first week, then he's going to keep going north on the AT. It should be a beautiful week, you all should be jealous!

[volwindy]

We did Pilot mountain last weekend. Tomorrow is Table Rock.

[Yankee_Vol]

I did a trail run in Table Rock last year. Beautiful area. I want to go back for some hiking and take pics

[volwindy]

I've been wanting to do table rock since last summer, was recommended it last year after we went to nearby Caesars head, which I loved!

[utvol0427]

Anyone done a rim to river hike in the Grand Canyon? I'd love to make another trip out there and do it.

[ETNRIDER]

Did Alum Cave Bluff this weekend in the Smokies and it was awesome!!!

[YorkVol]

Originally Posted by YorkVol

Heading down to Atlanta tonight to link up with my 74 year old father so we can hit Springer Mountain tomorrow. I'm going with him for the first week, then he's going to keep going north on the AT. It should be a beautiful week, you all should be jealous!

Back from a great week going from Springer Mountain to Hogpen Gap. I left the trail Friday so I could fly back north and return to work. Dad kept going, made it to Helen, GA for his first 0 day. He's back on the trail today and should be in North Carolina by Wednesday. I'm very proud of him for tackling the AT at the ripe young age of 74. We were doing fairly short days averaging around 7 miles per day as it was really the elevation changes that were affecting him the most. Plus the best advice he got was to take it easy the first couple of weeks so that he wouldn't develop stress fractures after a month on the trail.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos of us at the start, along the way and at the Blood Mountain Shelter.

[Professor Nono]

January on the App in the Smokies

[Professor Nono]

IMG_0373.jpg

IMG_0377.jpg

Our reflector around the fire and the mice got my glove and our mints

[bamacheats]

Originally Posted by LawsonVFL

We hiked to this bad boy in Sparta. 8 miles total.

Virgin Falls?

[OldandStillaVol]

Bump. Does anyone know if there are any hiking trails for Short Mountain in Cannon County? See article below:

Former pot land dedicated as parkland

[YorkVol]

Update on Padre (my dad's trail name). He completed the first 420 miles and came off the AT in Kingsport to see some old friends and make his way north to officiate my daughter's wedding last weekend. He decided to do the AT in New Jersey while waiting to go to my nephews graduation next week in upstate NY, so, along with my mom (also 74) he attempted a side trail at the NJ/NY border that turned out to be the worst trail he's seen since he started back in April. They had almost reached the AT when he fell and gashed his head open. Long story short, mom bandaged him up, search and rescue escorted them to an ambulance (he walked out) and he got 8 stitches in his head. That was Monday. Yesterday, they entered the trail at an easier access point and started going from N-S. They intend to hike to the Delaware Water Gap together. After the graduation he intends to go to the northern end, climb Mt. Katadin and then head south and complete as much as he can before another wedding in October. If mom's hips hold out, I'm thinking she'll want to go along.