Hiking Thread

#276
#276
TnMountaineer said:
Heading up Mount Rainier in August
Medicine Bow Range in Wyoming - July
Colorado - Sawatch Range - July

Charlie's Bunion on the AT hopefully in May. Anyone ever done this? I hear it is outstanding.
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I loved most hiking from Newfound Gap out to Charlie's Bunion and The Sawteeth in the '60s & '70s before breaking my back ended my backcountry trips. This was always by far my favorite Smokies AT hike although too many times I had to go with the group out The Boulevard to Mt. LeConte. Fabulous views north into Tennessee or south into Carolina. Get to Newfound just before daybreak, see the sunrise there and hit the trail. 'Precipitous' doesn't do justice to some of the locations although I just read laurels are rebounding on the exposed rocks. Have your lunch at The Bunion, hike over to The Saweeth for a spell, then back to Newfound.

And, I just found this image. A view of The Sawteeth from The Bunion.
 

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#277
#277
NorCalVol67 said:
September is a better time to be there, much less crowded and as you said snow can be an issue in June. This was a huge winter so snow will be hanging around for a while I am sure. Of course the days are shorter and there is usually a pretty good snowstorm, but overall the weather in September is great.
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We are gonna be there from the 1st to the 6th, so hopefully no big snowstorm..but it is Greater Yellowstone so you never know. One cool side effect of moving the trip from June to Sept is that we had to find new lodging. We were booked to stay in june at Moulton Ranch in Jackson Hole fir 3 nights, and The Gallatin cabin in West Yellowstone Montana for 4 nights, but the dates in sept were already booked for those places. We ended up booking at Colter Bay again in GTNP, which is fine with me, that place is beautiful, but still bummed we couldn't stay at Moulton Ranch cabins, but on the plus side I found this awesome place right on Henrys lake Idaho for the Yellowstone portion. I'm super stoked about staying there. The fishing on Henry lake is superb, and the setting is beautiful. The deck is literally right over the water,and it was very reasonable, actually cheaper than the other West Yellowstone cabin we had reserved. I can't wait.
 
#278
#278
In the market for new hiking boots/shoes. Been using Merrell for years but thinking about something different this time. Any recommendations?
 
#283
#283
Rishvol said:
In the market for new hiking boots/shoes. Been using Merrell for years but thinking about something different this time. Any recommendations?
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I am a big fan of Five Ten. If you are hiking in rocky areas they have incredible grip. Plus I find them very comfortable.
 
#285
#285
We just got back from hiking in Virginia Saturday to Monday. Lots of great trails. Mcafee Knob was fantastic.
 
#286
#286
Rishvol said:
I'll add that I'm not looking to spend more than $120 (thanks for the recommendation though)
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I've found that Keen has surpassed Merrell for me, Merrell's quality has fallen off. You might go a little over $120, but shop around and you ought to find what you need.
 
#287
#287
We are taking the boys up LeConte tomorrow for their first visit. Weather looks perfect.
 
#289
#289
Triggered a memory... took the following hike a couple of times. Parked at the Ranger station just outside of Gatlinburg...walked back towards town a bit and I think at a bridge we cut into the woods and picked up the trail...took that all the way to LaConte. Did this trip up and back the same way and I recall it took us 9-10 hours or more.

Next time, we stationed a car at Alum Cave parking lot and then drove back to Gatlinburg and took the same route to the top and came back down Alum Cave route.

Excellent hikes... I do remember being in good shape back then.
 
#290
#290
Toujours Pret said:
I've found that Keen has surpassed Merrell for me, Merrell's quality has fallen off. You might go a little over $120, but shop around and you ought to find what you need.
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Been buying Keen for the last 10 years, still have the first pair. I mow in them. Just bought a new pair on amazon for a great price.
 
#292
#292
Toujours Pret said:
I've found that Keen has surpassed Merrell for me, Merrell's quality has fallen off. You might go a little over $120, but shop around and you ought to find what you need.
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I can't do keen with their square toe. Doesn't fit my foot right. I think I'm going to go with Salomon. Never had a pair before but they fit my foot nice. Anyone had a pair before?
 
#293
#293
Rishvol said:
I can't do keen with their square toe. Doesn't fit my foot right. I think I'm going to go with Salomon. Never had a pair before but they fit my foot nice. Anyone had a pair before?
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I know a few people who really like them, I've never heard negative. I need the big square toe box, especially for longer hikes.
 
#294
#294

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#295
#295
NEVolFan said:
Triggered a memory... took the following hike a couple of times. Parked at the Ranger station just outside of Gatlinburg...walked back towards town a bit and I think at a bridge we cut into the woods and picked up the trail...took that all the way to LaConte. Did this trip up and back the same way and I recall it took us 9-10 hours or more.

Next time, we stationed a car at Alum Cave parking lot and then drove back to Gatlinburg and took the same route to the top and came back down Alum Cave route.

Excellent hikes... I do remember being in good shape back then.
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That was probably Rainbow Falls trail up. It's a nice hike but long. Alum Cave has a lot more to see.
 
#296
#296
Went to Grayson Highlands state park in Virginia today, but got thunderstormed out of any of the big hikes. Ended up just walking the Twin Pinnacles and shuffling around Massie gap a bit...beautiful place. I love the little wild pony's. One had a foal that couldn't have been more than a few days old, such a cute little bigger. We saw a few whitetail deer, and wild turkey in the woods while hiking the pinnacles. The pony's came out of the woods behind us, maybe five minutes after we got back to the visitor center. I don't see how I never heard them.
 
#297
#297
Rishvol said:
I can't do keen with their square toe. Doesn't fit my foot right. I think I'm going to go with Salomon. Never had a pair before but they fit my foot nice. Anyone had a pair before?
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I have two pair of Keen's... first pair my usual size and they are just right, but I can tell my toes are close to rubbing. Second pair is 1/2 size larger and they feel great and likely will do a nice job hiking.
 
#298
#298
kiddiedoc said:
We did Alum Cave. It took us about 5.5 hours of actual hiking time. We spent a couple hours at the Lodge and Cliff Top. Awesome day, but a little sobering seeing the damage from the fires first-hand.
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Beautiful family picture!
 
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