Hiking Thread

#176
#176
I haven't been to Red Forks fall in many a year,it is a very short hike,less than a mile,it seems :)but well worth the walk,we would drive up to Beauty spot above Erwin and hit all the overlooks on the way

here is some pics of Red Fork Falls

Red Fork Falls in Unicoi Co, Tennessee

the first pic is of Beauty spot
 

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#177
#177
#178
#178
here is the Roan High Bluff

it looks like the concrete picnic tables are gone,where we use to pitch our tents at or maybe not :)

it is a short hike from the parking lot,go when the Rhododendrons are in bloom ,there is a bunch of them to the left of the parking lot and well worth seeing

they have fenced off a lot of it at the over look since I was last there,we would get off the platform and sit on the rocks,I would assume that some have fallen off and got hurt pretty badly


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdFVYgbMfYw


we camped at the first parking lot,when there was a bunch of us,we would cook a hind quarter of beef on a spit and would take a keg and throw an all weekend long party,right on the Appalachian Trail marker,they probably frown on that these days :)

it an easy drive to get to the top,I have cross country skied up it,the gate at the main road was closed and we went up to the first parking lot,drank a beer or two and then skied back down ,it was pretty amazing
 
#181
#181
I'm hiking Charlie's bunion and the jump off this coming weekend with my dad. He is 60 and actually asked to go so im excited.
 
#182
#182
barknoxbrawler said:
I'm hiking Charlie's bunion and the jump off this coming weekend with my dad. He is 60 and actually asked to go so im excited.
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Is that off the AT? If it's the one I'm thinking of, I stayed at the ice water spring shelter over night on that trip... Most interesting over nighter ever. So much animal activity in and around our shelter that night..
 
#183
#183
Anyone have any firsthand comparisons with Merrell and Keen boots, namely is the waterproofing on the Keens more breathable than the Merrells?

I have low cut Merrells and, while comfortable, they turn into an oven pretty quickly.
 
#184
#184
Toujours Pret said:
Anyone have any firsthand comparisons with Merrell and Keen boots, namely is the waterproofing on the Keens more breathable than the Merrells?

I have low cut Merrells and, while comfortable, they turn into an oven pretty quickly.
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I have some low cut Keens that I've been happy with so far (this is my second summer with them.) I went on a hike today when it was 90+ and humid and didn't notice excessive heat. I have never owned any Merrells though, so I don't know how they would compare.
 
#185
#185
ACvol3 said:
Is that off the AT? If it's the one I'm thinking of, I stayed at the ice water spring shelter over night on that trip... Most interesting over nighter ever. So much animal activity in and around our shelter that night..
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It is. Trailhead, or easiest way, is to start at the NC, TN border on the AT. Great hike and beautiful views. I've seen bear on this section and some hog activity but never hogs.
 
#186
#186
barknoxbrawler said:
It is. Trailhead, or easiest way, is to start at the NC, TN border on the AT. Great hike and beautiful views. I've seen bear on this section and some hog activity but never hogs.
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Yep that's the one I was thinking of. the wildest over nighter I've ever done.. That spring near the shelter is a hot bed for animal activity, so be careful where u leave your packs/food containers if u stay in the shelter.
 
#187
#187
ACvol3 said:
Yep that's the one I was thinking of. the wildest over nighter I've ever done.. That spring near the shelter is a hot bed for animal activity, so be careful where u leave your packs/food containers if u stay in the shelter.
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Bear attack on the NC side of the AT Saturday.
 
#189
#189
ACvol3 said:
Oh wow..
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Always bad for hiking when animals attack. By the sound of it, the father and son were sleeping in hammocks and had proper bear proof containers and hanging methods away from their campsite. Sounds just like a random bear attack, but who knows at this point. I believe the boy will be okay.
 
#190
#190
From what I read they're going to close down some campsites and trails because of that attack
 
#193
#193
goldenvol said:
I haven't read the story, but I would sleep with my pistol if I was sleeping in the open.
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If you are that scared that something might happen, just don't go in the woods. That's like saying a guy was attacked by a shark in Destin so I'm going to swim with a spear gun in Panama City. Accidents happen. Back to the story though, my guess is someone did not clean up properly and had grease and or some other odor on their person. Could just be a rogue bear but all the Bears I've seen in the smokies (or upper Cumberland area) will high tail it out of your way once they catch wind of you.
 
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#194
#194
barknoxbrawler said:
If you are that scared that something might happen, just don't go in the woods. That's like saying a guy was attacked by a shark in Destin so I'm going to swim with a spear gun in Panama City. Accidents happen. Back to the story though, my guess is someone did not clean up properly and had grease and or some other odor on their person. Could just be a rogue bear but all the Bears I've seen in the smokies (or upper Cumberland area) will high tail it out of your way once they catch wind of you.
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Yeah, black bears usually don't want anything to do with u unless u have food nearby.
 
#195
#195
barknoxbrawler said:
If you are that scared that something might happen, just don't go in the woods. That's like saying a guy was attacked by a shark in Destin so I'm going to swim with a spear gun in Panama City. Accidents happen. Back to the story though, my guess is someone did not clean up properly and had grease and or some other odor on their person. Could just be a rogue bear but all the Bears I've seen in the smokies (or upper Cumberland area) will high tail it out of your way once they catch wind of you.
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My opinion it's not being scared, but being prepared. It's like diving a car with seat belts, but not wearing them.

I get what your saying with the swimming in the ocean scenario, but I don't swim out to far and I pay attention to what's in the water around me.

Getting attacked by a bear while sleeping in a burrito shell in the woods is not an accident. An accident is random. The bear attack is a probability factor. It's like riding a bike with no shoes, your eventually going to hurt your feet.
 
#196
#196
goldenvol said:
My opinion it's not being scared, but being prepared. It's like diving a car with seat belts, but not wearing them.

I get what your saying with the swimming in the ocean scenario, but I don't swim out to far and I pay attention to what's in the water around me.

Getting attacked by a bear while sleeping in a burrito shell in the woods is not an accident. An accident is random. The bear attack is a probability factor. It's like riding a bike with no shoes, your eventually going to hurt your feet.
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I got you. I just have a hard time believing it was a rogue bear. I believe it was a bear lured into the site by a smell that the man and son thought they had controlled but did not. An accident yes..... But not one to take the Bears life over. I read today that they "think" they killed the right bear near the campsite. They shot a random bear hoping it was the culprit which makes me mad. They don't know if it is or not.........
 
#197
#197
barknoxbrawler said:
I got you. I just have a hard time believing it was a rogue bear. I believe it was a bear lured into the site by a smell that the man and son thought they had controlled but did not. An accident yes..... But not one to take the Bears life over. I read today that they "think" they killed the right bear near the campsite. They shot a random bear hoping it was the culprit which makes me mad. They don't know if it is or not.........
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I totally don't agree killing a bear for this. He's just doing what's natural.
 
#198
#198
barknoxbrawler said:
I got you. I just have a hard time believing it was a rogue bear. I believe it was a bear lured into the site by a smell that the man and son thought they had controlled but did not. An accident yes..... But not one to take the Bears life over. I read today that they "think" they killed the right bear near the campsite. They shot a random bear hoping it was the culprit which makes me mad. They don't know if it is or not.........
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I believe the problem is that even IF there was some scent that served as an attractant it's still waaay outside the norm to take on the kind of predatory action I've seen reported. I'd actually argue it is exactly how rare such occurrences are that is so damning. This is not a "bear just being a bear". If that were the case bear attacks would be a great deal more common.

I don't care much for the " best guess" approach at putting down the bear they found. We may still have a possible problem bear out there and another bear dead for no good reason.
 
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#199
#199
Hiked Mt. Cammerer today via the Low Gap trail to the AT starting at Cosby Campground. It's a fantastic hike, with some nice creek and falls scenery at the onset. 3 miles uphill to the AT ridge, then up and down to the spur trail that goes to the fire lookout tower built in 1928. The views from the tower and surrounding rocks are unrivaled.

I had not heard of this hike until recently mentioned on VN, but I would recommend it above just about all others for the panoramic views. 11 miles round trip, the first 3 are the most strenuous.
 
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