Linville Gorge May 10-11 2014

Met up with my good pals Loki and RF at the official restaurant of the Gorge Rats. As an added bonus Artie from the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew out of New York was with them. I met Artie a couple months back doing trail work at Bat Cave. He had returned to help out with some more trail work at Hickory Nut Gorge and decided to stay the weekend to take in some of the southeast finest wilderness

After a nice dinner a Louise's Famous Rock house, we journeyed back to Hawksbill Trail head were the fellas were camped for the weekend. Being this Artie's first trip to the gorge Loki and RF had been trying to get him around to the most popular sites around the gorge. At this point Artie and I decided to hike up Hawksbill to take in the views and the sunset. Hawksbill did not disappoint. We had a great time taking in the views 

We returned to camp and enjoyed the fellowship with Loki and RF around a small fire before retiring for the evening after a couple hours. 

Jollyrovers.org

Sunday morning started off with a traditional breakfast at Louise's. We then returned to Hawksbill, broke camp and prepped to do a short hike for the day. Met Justin, who was up to do a photo shoot with some climbers. Had a nice conversation with him. Our friend Kayah showed up around 11 am to do some climbing with her friend Nick. We decided we'd hike up to Ledge trail and venture down to see if we could watch them climb. We did not venture far down Ledge before turning back as our pal Artie needed to get back headed north around three. Although not a long hike. It was really great for me as we visited George's point which has great sentimental value to me, as well as a hell of a view...

We took a break at Ledge camp for some hammock time at a snack. I must say, I enjoyed the view from the hammock...

A little goofing off....

Back at the trail head....

A nice gorge tat....

GPS track of the hike overlaid in google earth looking North to South...

Foothills Trail, SC Sloan Bridge to Oconee state Park

4/17/14

Arrived at Burrells Ford Campground around 6pm. Met up with Loki and RF. Had a nice dinner and fellowship around the fire before retiring to the hammock around 9:30. I was really pumped up looking forward to getting this hike going even though I found out I would be hiking solo. I never mind soloing though as it really gives you a chance to connect not only wit yourself but Nature as well

 mileage 0

4/18/14

My good friends and shuttle crew for this Trip Running Feather and Loki, or sherpa 1 and sherpa dropped me at Sloan Bridge along Highway 107. After a little bit of lollygaging . I hit the trail 9:45am

It was a Cool cloudy day to start my roughly 25 mile trip

The trail from Sloan Bridge to Fish Hatchery Road was in good shape a few minor blow downs along with a couple knarly spots with roots rock and mud. Made excellent time. 1hr 20 to FHR. Taking a break here for hydration and a snack. Arrive at FHR at 11:05AM

Leaving FHR I began Ascending the mountain. Not a hard assent, but enough to get the blood pumping. This was followed by a nice wooded walk with some limited views of Chattooga gorge along with some undulations along the ridge. Switchbacks lead the way down the pretty sharp decent to bfr offering some more obstructed views into Chattooga gorge.

The trail then made a easy decent into Burrells Ford Campground.

What a great hike it was. I surprised myself with the time I made even with this being an easier section if the FHT



BFC 1:40pm
Total milage 7.78
Time 3hr 55 min

Set up camp in the same spot as last night. The rains began late in the afternoon so we huddled under a tarp Loki brought down from his van. Had MH New Orleans style of rice with ham and shrimp.Loki also surprised me with some cheesecake he had picked up at a restaurant he and RF found on their adventures during the day.

Headed to the hammock around 730. After a while of relaxing my eyes began to feel heavy. The rain was still coming down quite heavy as well. Hoped  for better conditions for hiking on Saturday. Hiking in the rain sucks but I was not calling off my trip due to rain... One leg down. 2 to go


4/19/14

After a night of rain and great sleep. Decided to slack pack to Nicholson Ford Road. My good friends really didn't want to tear down camp at BFC and to be quite truthful, I didn't want to tear down a pack wet gear either. Also being that I have backpacked this stretch multiple times. I figured why not just slack pack it. Hit the trail around 10:30am. Today's hike was marked by spotty trail and rainy weather. Still a fun hike.

 I had forgot about parts of this section and some parts seemed to drag on. A grind a times. Saw quite a few blow downs along the way and one that had uprooted and taken a section of the trail with it. 

Met Loki and RF at Pigpen Falls to catch a ride back to BFC where we'd stay for the night. I was pleasantly surprised to run into my buddy JJ and his girlfriend as they were getting ready head down to the river to camp. Along with them at the Trail Access was Hayward Douglass, The president of the FTC. Had a nice conversation with him about the trail and trail conditions. Ont the way back to BFC. We stopped for dinner at the Mountain Rest cafe . Great food and a pleasnt atmosphere. Sunday,  Loki and RF would drop me back at Nicholson Ford Road. From there I will hike the 7.6 miles to Oconee State Park. Mike and Loki planed to join up with me at jumping branch access and hike the last 4.2 with me

Off trail 3:45 P.M
Time on trail: 5hrs 15 mins
Milage 8.9
total: 16.68

4/20/14 

Late start to the day. On trail at  12:05. The sun decided to come out for the last day of the trip and the forrest was full of florissant green as spring seemed to have sprung over night. Made it to 107 at 12:50pm and  To jumping branch at 1:25PM Little sluggish out of the gates but felt real good by the time I hit JBA. Stopped for a short break and a snack before making the final 4.6 to OSP. Got back on trail after my break at 1:50. I couldn't help but think about the fact that is was Easter and here I was surrounded by new life springing all around me. At one point a nice breeze came up and I just had to stop, close my eyes and soak it all in. 

There was a nice accent up long mountain after leaving JBA. Once up the top I took a quick side trail up to the summit and the old fire tower. unfortunately it was locked up by a fence so I just took a picture and started the decent to Oconee State Park. 

Pretty easy hiking from here out. I put my head down and just hiked the rest of the way making good time. I arrived at OSP at 3:40 PM

Time on trail 3hrs 35min
Mileage 7.74
total mileage: 24.42

A very special thanks to RF and Loki for the Shuttles!!!

-CB

One last trip...

Well, that is one last trip before I take a break to plan for the "big trip" to the Linville Gorge at the end of October! Saturday morning I am heading just north of the South Carolina Boarder to Gorges State Park in Sapphire, NC. I will be entering the park on Frozen Creek Road and hiking the Cane Break trail for 5 or so miles to the eastern side of lake Jocassee.

The forecast ( http://tinyurl.com/6f278gh) is looking great for views of the sunset over the lake. Also, the temps should be down in the 30's Saturday night, which will finally give me a chance to check out my cold weather hammock setup. I have been waiting for this since I acquired this setup over six months ago!!!

If you are interested in seeing where I'm heading, a map of the park can be found here:

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/gorg/pics/parkmap.pdf

I will be home Sometime Sunday. I will have photos and videos up as soon as possible! STAY TUNED...

Happy Trails

~ Jeremy

Labor Day weekend 2011 in the Linville Gorge

There was a hell of a storm that blew in Friday night about 30 minutes after I got there... I was set up at one of the pull off camp sites on Kistler. The wind was unreal. The trees were bending enough to get me nervous enough to ride out the main part of the storm sitting in my car. Very pleasant night after the storm blew through.


Saturday I started down Pinch In around 10:30 am. The sun was beating down on the exposed Ridge Line and it was very humid. Once I reached the tree line, I took around an hour to cool off and hydrate....

Sunday was much of the same going back up except clouds were starting to push in so I stopped about half way up for around 2 hours to wait for the clouds to block the sun. Along with the clouds, a nice breeze came as well... I went through about 4 liters of water going up. Because of the humidity my Shirt looked like I had just jumped in the river fully clothed when I made it to the Trail Head... I nick named Pinch In Hell with a Trail on my way up

It was absolutely awesome though and I enjoyed every minute of it... even the miserable parts! For me personally, I believe I will be staying away from the Exposed ridge lines during the summer months.

Photos can be found here: http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm104/jmcwatty_2008/Linville%20Gorge%20-%20Pinchin%20trail/

some of the past adventures

I figure I need to get some content on here, so below you will find some videos of some trips I have taken over the last year or so... If you like them leave a comment or like them on my Youtube channel. You can also subscribe to the channel. I can promise you there will be more to come!!!

Chattooga River trail:

Linville Gorge 1:

Ellicott's Wilderness:

Part 1:

Part 2:

 

Linville Gorge 2:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Happy Trails...