Hiking Thread

#626
#626
UT_Dutchman said:
I have done a little research this morning, there's almost always a time when the demand subsides. I will look for this window, I hope there is one, that place looks amazing.
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It is, do you live near Arizona? If I did, I would just apply every month till I got in.

By the way, the South Coyote Buttes area is really just as stunning and surreal, and is a lot easier to get a permit for from the research I've done. Look up hike vids for "South Coyote Buttes" on youtube...thank me later. I think you can put in the lottery for both places every month, plus if you have a partner they can enter also, thereby increasing your chances.
 
#627
#627
Ulysees E. McGill said:
It is, do you live near Arizona? If I did, I would just apply every month till I got in.

By the way, the South Coyote Buttes area is really just as stunning and surreal, and is a lot easier to get a permit for from the research I've done. Look up hike vids for "South Coyote Buttes" on youtube...thank me later. I think you can put in the lottery for both places every month, plus if you have a partner they can enter also, thereby increasing your chances.
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I only live a couple thousand miles away, but I have been going to the 4 corners, south Utah, northern Arizona area for almost twenty years. Nothing out there ever disappoints. I can see a late September trip maybe.
 
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#628
#628
Rishvol said:
Hike the Smokies - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

I know it's gimmicky but I like to log my miles so it seems like a fun thing to do. If you're in this area.
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I hiked the Smokies a lot... enjoyed winter hikes. No snow at lower elevations and 3-4 feet up high. Very difficult breaking trail. Would see some interesting characters along the way. They were hard core hikers... would be out there every weekend. Recall those stone huts were popular for breaks from the weather.
 
#629
#629
Orangedogsrule said:
So if it's cold like this week in Smokeys with temps hovering below 30° all week all you wear is say heavy capilene and regular hiking pants? Which pants?
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Yes but the leggings I have hold in heat very well so I never really worry about how thick my pants are.
 
#630
#630
Charlie's Bunion one of my fave hikes in the Smokies
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#632
#632
Rishvol said:
Nice! Decided to hike Laurel Falls the other day.... I'd hate to see that trail during season
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Yeah, it's probably the busiest hike in the park. What makes Charlie's Bunion tough is that it's at the Newfound Gap parking lot but doesn't list the distance so people start off in flip flops and picnic baskets so you meet a lot of people in the first couple of miles...it's a fairly tough hike..over 8 miles round trip.
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Charlies Bunion - Hike to Charlies Bunion in the Smoky Mountains
 
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#633
#633
Took the family to Ramsey Cascades a couple weekends ago. That's a great hike, but a little tougher for the last mile or so than I anticipated (I had my 6 year old in tow). The old growth forest has some of the biggest trees I've seen in the Eastern U.S., and it was cold enough that there were some icicles in areas of the falls.

Highly recommended.
 

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#634
#634
kiddiedoc said:
Took the family to Ramsey Cascades a couple weekends ago. That's a great hike, but a little tougher for the last mile or so than I anticipated (I had my 6 year old in tow). The old growth forest has some of the biggest trees I've seen in the Eastern U.S., and it was cold enough that there were some icicles in areas of the falls.

Highly recommended.
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Nice!
Here's the list of my 2017/2018 hikes..I'll have to add the Cascades to it
Completed:
Abrams Falls
Alum Cave
Andrews Bald
Charlie's Bunion
Chimney Tops (still not fully open)
Grotto Falls
The Jump Off
Laurel Falls
Porter's Creek Trail..loved that one need to go back this spring

Still to do
Gregory Bald for the Flame Azaleas
Mt LeConte via Alum Cave
Rainbow Falls
Mt. Cammerer
 
#637
#637
VolnJC said:
Nice!
Here's the list of my 2017/2018 hikes..I'll have to add the Cascades to it
Completed:
Abrams Falls
Alum Cave
Andrews Bald
Charlie's Bunion
Chimney Tops (still not fully open)
Grotto Falls
The Jump Off
Laurel Falls
Porter's Creek Trail..loved that one need to go back this spring

Still to do
Gregory Bald for the Flame Azaleas
Mt LeConte via Alum Cave
Rainbow Falls
Mt. Cammerer
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Cammerer, Leconte, and Rocky Top/Thunderhead have the best views of the hikes I've done in the Smokies.

I'm going to try to do Gregory Bald this year, too.
 
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#639
#639
#642
#642
kiddiedoc said:
Took the family to Ramsey Cascades a couple weekends ago. That's a great hike, but a little tougher for the last mile or so than I anticipated (I had my 6 year old in tow). The old growth forest has some of the biggest trees I've seen in the Eastern U.S., and it was cold enough that there were some icicles in areas of the falls.

Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

Wow..... that's what I call a tree!
 
#643
#643
kiddiedoc said:
Cammerer, Leconte, and Rocky Top/Thunderhead have the best views of the hikes I've done in the Smokies.

I'm going to try to do Gregory Bald this year, too.
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Gregory bald is my favorite view in the Smokies. I have been there more than any other backcountry campsite.
 
#644
#644
kiddiedoc said:
Took the family to Ramsey Cascades a couple weekends ago. That's a great hike, but a little tougher for the last mile or so than I anticipated (I had my 6 year old in tow). The old growth forest has some of the biggest trees I've seen in the Eastern U.S., and it was cold enough that there were some icicles in areas of the falls.

Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

That's one of tallest Populars in the park and the world, it's over 170 feet. I remember the first time we hiked Ramsey, started out okay, but got very rocky, makes it a tough hike.
 
#648
#648
VolnJC said:
That was my philosophy prof's fave trail..haven't been down there in years.
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One the very few locations east of the Mississippi where true virgin timber still exists. Stunning to feel time hanging heavy there.

One can only imagine those forests as the Cherokee knew them when they were howling wilderness, filled with the great American Chestnut.

https://youtu.be/XQwV0QfJmwI
 
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#649
#649
Any advice for a good moderate hike this weekend? I was thinking Mt. Sterling or Rainbow Falls or maybe House Mountain
Hiking in the Smokies | HikingintheSmokys.com
Here is what I've completed recently so looking for a new trail.
Abrams Falls
Alum Cave
Andrews Bald
Charlie's Bunion
Chimney Tops
Grotto Falls
The Jump Off
Laurel Falls
Porter's Creek Trail
 
#650
#650
I would easily recommend Ramsey over Rainbow. It's about 8 miles round trip, with the latter mile or so rocky and slow. Not sure what you would consider "moderate," but you can't go wrong with Alum to Leconte (11 mi). Cammerer isn't terribly difficult, 12-13 miles iirc. Check the weather though -- none of those would be fun in a cold rain.
 
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