Hiking Thread

#651
#651
kiddiedoc said:
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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Thanks, if it's decent weather I'll do Ramsey....would you suggest spikes for Alum to Leconte? I heard there are a couple of narrow ledges on that trail.
 
#652
#652
#653
#653
VolnJC said:
Thanks, if it's decent weather I'll do Ramsey....would you suggest spikes for Alum to Leconte? I heard there are a couple of narrow ledges on that trail.
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Only in winter ice. My 10 and 13 year olds were fine in sneakers. There are a couple of narrow sections, but they aren't really tough to navigate, and there are metal rope handrails.

Make sure you allow time to have lunch at the lodge and relax up there for awhile. It's a surreal location, and you might get lucky and see a bear or two. Definitely take the extra short trail to Cliff Top.

One more idea: if you have multiple vehicles going, you can drop a car at the Rainbow Falls trailhead, hike Alum up, Rainbow down... Two birds, one stone!
 
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#654
#654
VolnJC said:
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
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Or you could take Lead Cove trail to Bote Mountain trail to Spence Field and you're 1.5 south of Rocky Top. Great hike. You could go check out the Albright Grove just south of Cosby. It's old growth forest.
 
#655
#655
UT_Dutchman said:
Or you could take Lead Cove trail to Bote Mountain trail to Spence Field and you're 1.5 south of Rocky Top. Great hike. You could go check out the Albright Grove just south of Cosby. It's old growth forest.
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Bote -> Spence is great. You would HAVE to make it up Rocky Top if you were that close though,... And I wouldn't call that section "moderate" LOL.
 
#659
#659
kiddiedoc said:
Bote -> Spence is great. You would HAVE to make it up Rocky Top if you were that close though,... And I wouldn't call that section "moderate" LOL.
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Most of what was listed is above the moderate range, it's the Smokies it's almost always up then down or vice versa.
 
#663
#663
Anyone ever been to Great Basin? What are the best hikes there? We only will be there 4 days. Been once before but were short of tme and just took the little hike down the creek near the camp grounds.

And on the road to GB, does anyone know anything about the shed in the middle of nowhere with the art work around the top on all four sides? We’ve got pics and have tried google, but can’t find out anything about it.
 
#664
#664
Hiked Ramsey's Cascades yesterday...probably should have waited..combination of recent rain and melting snow and the streams were rolling. Beyond the footbridges I also had to cross to smaller streams with water up to my calves and the top part of the trail had water running down the rocks and roots. There was also a stream that we couldn't cross at the very end..we could see the falls in the distance but the water was just too swift there. Might try it again later..loved seeing the large trees!
 
#665
#665
Smallvol#1 said:
Anyone ever been to Great Basin? What are the best hikes there? We only will be there 4 days. Been once before but were short of tme and just took the little hike down the creek near the camp grounds.

And on the road to GB, does anyone know anything about the shed in the middle of nowhere with the art work around the top on all four sides? We’ve got pics and have tried google, but can’t find out anything about it.
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.
 
#666
#666
Smallvol#1 said:
Anyone ever been to Great Basin? What are the best hikes there? We only will be there 4 days. Been once before but were short of tme and just took the little hike down the creek near the camp grounds.

And on the road to GB, does anyone know anything about the shed in the middle of nowhere with the art work around the top on all four sides? We’ve got pics and have tried google, but can’t find out anything about it.
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I saw a YouTube vid on GB a while back, and the poster had a explanation on the shed. I can't remember who it was, but you could search Great Basin National Park YouTube vids and probably find it. There are a lot of good GBNP visiting and hiking vids on YT. There is also a really nice airbnb house/cabin right near the park that one poster recommended.
 
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#667
#667
Smallvol#1, I know that we have discussed the San Juan Mountains extensively in the context of your upcoming trip, but did you say whether you plan on traversing any portion of New Mexico? If so, one area that is certainly worthy of consideration is the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, an 84-mile loop that circumnavigates Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, and passes through the following towns in the extreme northern tier of the state: Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Taos, and Red River. I cannot vouch for it personally, but this highway certainly looks like it would be time well spent. See Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, New Mexico – Legends of America.

By the way, what time of the year did you follow decide upon for your itinerary? If it is in the fall, the aspen visible from the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway will dazzle you, as evidenced by this webpage: The Best Fall Leaf Peeping Road Trips | Jetsetter.
 
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#668
#668
Volosaurus rex said:
Smallvol#1, I know that we have discussed the San Juan Mountains extensively in the context of your upcoming trip, but did you say whether you plan on traversing any portion of New Mexico? If so, one area that is certainly worthy of consideration is the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, an 84-mile loop that circumnavigates Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, and passes through the following towns in the extreme northern tier of the state: Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Taos, and Red River. I cannot vouch for it personally, but this highway certainly looks like it would be time well spent. See Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, New Mexico – Legends of America.

By the way, what time of the year did you follow decide upon for your itinerary? If it is in the fall, the aspen visible from the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway will dazzle you, as evidenced by this webpage: The Best Fall Leaf Peeping Road Trips | Jetsetter.
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What's up Rex? 😎 Great work as always. My dad took us up the enchanted circle highway several times as a young teen. It is spectacular in the fall.
 
#669
#669
Ulysees E. McGill said:
I saw a YouTube vid on GB a while back, and the poster had a explanation on the shed. I can't remember who it was, but you could search Great Basin National Park YouTube vids and probably find it. There are a lot of good GBNP visiting and hiking vids on YT. There is also a really nice airbnb house/cabin right near the park that one poster recommended.
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I’ve looked at several YouTube vids and can’t find it. Someone out there may know. I thought it was unique. If I can get TO to find the pics I’ll post them for you. We are staying at Star Gazer Inn. Sounds nice, couple that run it have a restaurant on site. Supposedly darkest spot in US.

Did I tell you we went to the Rose Parade and also drove a lot of old Route 66 in January? Used I-20 and I-10 going out. Good thing, I-40 got whacked by snow. Once in CA we got on 66 and drove it to Santa Monica. What a difference in a drive! Beautiful cities like Rancho Cucamonga to some pretty horrible areas. Santa Monica Park was very dirty and dilapidated, don’t know what I expected but sure not what I got. After the Rose Parade and the afterviewing, we got back on 66, went through Needles, up to the mule town (can’t remember its name) and past Albuquerque on 66. Stayed in one of those 50ish motels along the route. I had 4 GPSs, a paper map, and a book of directions going all at the same time and we would still get off the route! Just past Albuquerque we dropped off and went south to San Antonio. Loved the Riverwalk and the city. Could walk right out the back door and be on the Riverwalk; it was beautiful and the people were so helpful. Didn’t get in any hikes, had had knee surgery (MCL and torn cartilage), and then for good measure an injection I got to help it was possibly from a contaminated batch. Not as bad as the doc said it would have been, but it sure threw me for a loop. Anyway, doing good to walk, let alone hike. All in all a good trip.

Now TO wants to drive 66 from St. Louis north so he can say he has driven it all. That man’s bucket list is going to kill me!
 
#670
#670
Volosaurus rex said:
Smallvol#1, I know that we have discussed the San Juan Mountains extensively in the context of your upcoming trip, but did you say whether you plan on traversing any portion of New Mexico? If so, one area that is certainly worthy of consideration is the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, an 84-mile loop that circumnavigates Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, and passes through the following towns in the extreme northern tier of the state: Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Taos, and Red River. I cannot vouch for it personally, but this highway certainly looks like it would be time well spent. See Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, New Mexico – Legends of America.

By the way, what time of the year did you follow decide upon for your itinerary? If it is in the fall, the aspen visible from the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway will dazzle you, as evidenced by this webpage: The Best Fall Leaf Peeping Road Trips | Jetsetter.
Click to expand...

We’re not getting that far south on this trip. I had wanted to drop down and come through Bryce and Zion but I waited too late to get reservations. Tried about the middle of September and Zion was full. If you can’t stay in the park it’s too much driving, no parking, etc. On the way home we have a week in Avon. There’s some trails there up the ski slopes etc. Not too sure what else. We stayed there once before, but only got in a few short hikes. One of those early snowstorms (higher elvations) came and it wasn’t safe. We weren’t prepared for it and they didn’t want hikers out, at least not ones that weren’t very used to the area.

The Byway sounds like a good one to mark though for a future trip. Then I can stop at Big Vern’s on the way home!
 
#671
#671
Have you been to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah? ‘tis very similar to Bryce Canyon, at a similar elevation, but almost certainly less heavily visited. See Cedar Breaks National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).

Incidentally, the eastern Sierra would make a really nice focal point for a fall trip. The canyons accessible from U.S. Highway 395 really put on a superb fall foliage display (see, for example, Bishop Fall Color Guide: A Morning in Paradise | CaliTrails), and the entire area is less heavily visited than Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. Just a bit farther east, you can visit the White Mountains and the oldest bristlecone trees on earth; the “Methuselah Tree” is 4,849 years old.
 
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#672
#672
Ulysees E. McGill said:
What's up Rex? 😎 Great work as always. My dad took us up the enchanted circle highway several times as a young teen. It is spectacular in the fall.
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Don’t mean to go OT (I got yelled at one time for this), but how is your father in law? Still have you and your family on my prayer list.🙏🙏
 
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#673
#673
Smallvol#1 said:
I’ve looked at several YouTube vids and can’t find it. Someone out there may know. I thought it was unique. If I can get TO to find the pics I’ll post them for you. We are staying at Star Gazer Inn. Sounds nice, couple that run it have a restaurant on site. Supposedly darkest spot in US.

Did I tell you we went to the Rose Parade and also drove a lot of old Route 66 in January? Used I-20 and I-10 going out. Good thing, I-40 got whacked by snow. Once in CA we got on 66 and drove it to Santa Monica. What a difference in a drive! Beautiful cities like Rancho Cucamonga to some pretty horrible areas. Santa Monica Park was very dirty and dilapidated, don’t know what I expected but sure not what I got. After the Rose Parade and the afterviewing, we got back on 66, went through Needles, up to the mule town (can’t remember its name) and past Albuquerque on 66. Stayed in one of those 50ish motels along the route. I had 4 GPSs, a paper map, and a book of directions going all at the same time and we would still get off the route! Just past Albuquerque we dropped off and went south to San Antonio. Loved the Riverwalk and the city. Could walk right out the back door and be on the Riverwalk; it was beautiful and the people were so helpful. Didn’t get in any hikes, had had knee surgery (MCL and torn cartilage), and then for good measure an injection I got to help it was possibly from a contaminated batch. Not as bad as the doc said it would have been, but it sure threw me for a loop. Anyway, doing good to walk, let alone hike. All in all a good trip.

Now TO wants to drive 66 from St. Louis north so he can say he has driven it all. That man’s bucket list is going to kill me!
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That trip sounds amazing, and I love the San Antonio riverwalk, it has been 36 years since my dad took us there one year, but I still remember how awesome it was.

On the other note..I have seen the video on YT with a guy discussing the shed with the artwork on it. It is a video on visiting Great Basin NP. He showed some video of it. He visited the main part of the park, did the cave tour and hiked to the top and the Bristlecone groves, and then went south on the main highway to visit another section of the park that has a natural arch that I don't recall the name of.

Seeing that video is the only reason I knew what shed you were talking about, and I'm sorry that I don't remember the specifics of the story. Now I'm curious to find out myself again. I will see if I can find that video.
 
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#674
#674
Smallvol#1 said:
Don’t mean to go OT (I got yelled at one time for this), but how is your father in law? Still have you and your family on my prayer list.🙏🙏
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Lol..I'm a recruiting forum regular..we live off topic 😁

My Father in Law is doing much better, but he is in pretty poor health now, he had a pacemaker put in back in November, and I actually went out to Arizona for two weeks in December to help them pack up and move back to Alabama, I was, I was able to visit a lot of great places while we had downtime.

On a bad note, my stepfather...one of the biggest heroes of my life, passed away in early November after a long battle with cancer. Yesterday was his birthday, so we are all kind of just dealing with that right now, my mom is in pretty rough shape still emotionally.

Thanks for asking, caring and most of all your prayers for me and my family.
 
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#675
#675
Smallvol#1 said:
We’re not getting that far south on this trip. I had wanted to drop down and come through Bryce and Zion but I waited too late to get reservations. Tried about the middle of September and Zion was full. If you can’t stay in the park it’s too much driving, no parking, etc. On the way home we have a week in Avon. There’s some trails there up the ski slopes etc. Not too sure what else. We stayed there once before, but only got in a few short hikes. One of those early snowstorms (higher elvations) came and it wasn’t safe. We weren’t prepared for it and they didn’t want hikers out, at least not ones that weren’t very used to the area.

The Byway sounds like a good one to mark though for a future trip. Then I can stop at Big Vern’s on the way home!
Click to expand...

The EC byway in the fall is simply amazing.
 
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