Hiking Thread

[Smallvol#1]

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.

Thoughts and prayers sent your way.

Arizona in the winter is wonderful. I’d love to just move out there every January for 2 1/2-3 months! Come back to Tennessee in the Spring.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Thoughts and prayers sent your way.

Arizona in the winter is wonderful. I’d love to just move out there every January for 2 1/2-3 months! Come back to Tennessee in the Spring.

Yeah me too. We had gorgeous weather the whole time I was there. One day we drove from Sun City to Globe, then up to Tonto National Monument and rode back to Apache Junction on the Apache Trail..OMG it was so awesome!

Then one day they took me up to Wickenburg then up in the mountains to Prescott, and then over to Montezumas Well and Montezuma Castle NMs..

Another day we drove up to Flagstaff and then over to see the Grand Canyon and spend a few hours for the first time in my life....no words for how that made me feel, so I will use a range of emojis to try and convey the emotions 😲🤤😲😢😍😅😃😁😅 I was literally awestruck and could not speak for a while.

We stayed in Flagstaff that night, and drove back through Sedona and Jerome, then over Mingus mountain to Prescott Valley and then back to Pheonix.

I had an awesome time and just fell in love with Arizona. If not for my duties to God here, I would move out there in a heartbeat...maybe someday I will be able to.

 

[Smallvol#1]

These are photos of the shed. Driving to Great Basin from the east, you literally feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Then you see this shed, nothing else around it, no signs or postings telling what it is or why it’s there.

The artwork goes around all four sides. Everything else is open. I thought it was pretty and thought youall might enjoy seeing it.

I have never found out anything about it. When we go back, I’m going to ask around and hope a local can tell me something.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

These are photos of the shed. Driving to Great Basin from the east, you literally feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Then you see this shed, nothing else around it, no signs or postings telling what it is or why it’s there.

The artwork goes around all four sides. Everything else is open. I thought it was pretty and thought youall might enjoy seeing it.

I have never found out anything about it. When we go back, I’m going to ask around and hope a local can tell me something.


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Yep that is the one I saw in a video. I haven't had time to search for it yet. I will post the link when I find it

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

These are photos of the shed. Driving to Great Basin from the east, you literally feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. Then you see this shed, nothing else around it, no signs or postings telling what it is or why it’s there.

The artwork goes around all four sides. Everything else is open. I thought it was pretty and thought youall might enjoy seeing it.

I have never found out anything about it. When we go back, I’m going to ask around and hope a local can tell me something.


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I have watched a ton of Vids looking for that and while a couple of them show the shed, I cannot find the one that explains how it came to be..it is frustrating, but I have found a lot of beautiful spots in GBNP I am going to check out some day 😎

 

[Smallvol#1]

I have watched a ton of Vids looking for that and while a couple of them show the shed, I cannot find the one that explains how it came to be..it is frustrating, but I have found a lot of beautiful spots in GBNP I am going to check out some day 😎

I’ll post you some pics😃😃.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

I’ll post you some pics😃😃.

I look forward to it, I really want to visit GBNP, but I think I would rather go in the fall. The aspens are unreal in the vids I've seen.

I wish I could figure out how to post some of my pics from our September trip. I have unreal pictures.

 

[Smallvol#1]

I look forward to it, I really want to visit GBNP, but I think I would rather go in the fall. The aspens are unreal in the vids I've seen.

I wish I could figure out how to post some of my pics from our September trip. I have unreal pictures.

These are some from GTNP. I wanted to get some of our drive from RMNP to Colorado, but TO does not have those available right now. It was a scenic drive and we luckily hit it at the peak. If he can find them I’ll post.
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These are GBNP. One reason we are going back is we did not have enough time to see much. Next time we are staying in Baker so we will have time to hike. The creek is pretty much at the entry, just a little ways up. It is a short hike along it. I’m a flower freak and TO is more vistas.

 

[Smallvol#1]

Here are the rest of the GBNP.







Don’t understand what is going on. Here are 2 of the 3 I tried to attach of the Tetons. Can only attach 5 total.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Here are the rest of the GBNP.

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Don’t understand what is going on. Here are 2 of the 3 I tried to attach of the Tetons. Can only attach 5 total.

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Skillet Glacier on Mount Moran, great photo.

 

[Smallvol#1]

Skillet Glacier on Mount Moran, great photo.

Thanks for the info. I had no idea of a name for it and doubt TO does either. I’ll tell him; he comes back from trips and researches like crazy. Has GPS coordinates etc. he uses.

And while I’m at it, here’s the third one, Ulysees.

 

[Rishvol]

Here are the rest of the GBNP.

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Don’t understand what is going on. Here are 2 of the 3 I tried to attach of the Tetons. Can only attach 5 total.

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Place looks beautiful.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea of a name for it and doubt TO does either. I’ll tell him; he comes back from trips and researches like crazy. Has GPS coordinates etc. he uses.

And while I’m at it, here’s the third one, Ulysees.
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I guessing the picture of Mt. Moran is taken from Oxbow bend.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Place looks beautiful.

Pictures..even beautiful ones..just cannot convey how majestic the Tetons are. That is my favorite place on earth.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Here are the rest of the GBNP.

View attachment 155585

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Don’t understand what is going on. Here are 2 of the 3 I tried to attach of the Tetons. Can only attach 5 total.

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When we went in September the fall colors had not popped yet in GTNP. These are beautiful.

 

[bignewt]

Pictures..even beautiful ones..just cannot convey how majestic the Tetons are. That is my favorite place on earth.

Live a year in Jackson Hole when the tourists invade...

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Live a year in Jackson Hole when the tourists invade...

Well since I am a tourist myself it wouldn't bother me. I consider the Smokies my home park, I have been there hundreds of times,and it gets more tourists than anybody...doesn't make it any less beautiful and awe inspiring to me, so I doubt three to four million less tourists in a much bigger space is gonna bother me that much.

 

[Smallvol#1]

I guessing the picture of Mt. Moran is taken from Oxbow bend.

TO agrees. He knows where he is when he takes a pic, has a GPS attached to his camera; it’s what the camera is pointing at that can get tricky. I love the name Skillet Glacier; very apropos!

When we went in September the fall colors had not popped yet in GTNP. These are beautiful.

These are not his best pics, but I was trying to get you some color. We are back in TN now and I will try to get some he took of the scenic drive down from RMNP to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It was really spectacular.

Well since I am a tourist myself it wouldn't bother me. I consider the Smokies my home park, I have been there hundreds of times,and it gets more tourists than anybody...doesn't make it any less beautiful and awe inspiring to me, so I doubt three to four million less tourists in a much bigger space is gonna bother me that much.

Smokies have been and still are the most visited park. It is amazing the number of visitors piled into a relatively small geographic area. We consider it our home park too, when asked to name our favorite park(s) we always specify that the Smokies are excluded. We just can’t compare it to the others, unfair to the others!

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

TO agrees. He knows where he is when he takes a pic, has a GPS attached to his camera; it’s what the camera is pointing at that can get tricky. I love the name Skillet Glacier; very apropos!



These are not his best pics, but I was trying to get you some color. We are back in TN now and I will try to get some he took of the scenic drive down from RMNP to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It was really spectacular.



Smokies have been and still are the most visited park. It is amazing the number of visitors piled into a relatively small geographic area. We consider it our home park too, when asked to name our favorite park(s) we always specify that the Smokies are excluded. We just can’t compare it to the others, unfair to the others!

I will always love the Smokies and it will always be one of my favorites, but it just doesn't compare to the pristine majesty of Grand Teton/Yellowstone to me. I loved visiting Grand Canyon and it was truly awe inspiring, but I can't really experience it in the same way because I will never be able to hike into it. I do love it though and want to go back for a longer visit. I also loved RMNP and want to go back there. I can't wait to visit Yosemite and Glacier. They might be able to dethrone GT/Yellowstone. Or maybe Rainier and Olympic could. I can't wait to find out 😁

 

[UT_Dutchman]

I will always love the Smokies and it will always be one of my favorites, but it just doesn't compare to the pristine majesty of Grand Teton/Yellowstone to me. I loved visiting Grand Canyon and it was truly awe inspiring, but I can't really experience it in the same way because I will never be able to hike into it. I do love it though and want to go back for a longer visit. I also loved RMNP and want to go back there. I can't wait to visit Yosemite and Glacier. They might be able to dethrone GT/Yellowstone. Or maybe Rainier and Olympic could. I can't wait to find out 😁

Yosemite gives them all a run for their money, but GSMNP is always going to be my favorite even if they have some backwards ass ways of doing things.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

Yosemite gives them all a run for their money, but GSMNP is always going to be my favorite even if they have some backwards ass ways of doing things.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will definitely always be up there for me too, we just have so many family memories there, but I just feel like I'm in Heaven in GT/Yellowstone NP. I don't really know how to explain it, but I think it is like Muir described how he felt in Yosemite. Maybe I will feel that way about another park I haven't been to yet. Maybe Zion or Arches or even Capitol Reef. I sure do hope to find out.

 

[UT_Dutchman]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will definitely always be up there for me too, we just have so many family memories there, but I just feel like I'm in Heaven in GT/Yellowstone NP. I don't really know how to explain it, but I think it is like Muir described how he felt in Yosemite. Maybe I will feel that way about another park I haven't been to yet. Maybe Zion or Arches or even Capitol Reef. I sure do hope to find out.

I agree, there are so many NP's. We are looking at going to Voyager, isle Royale, and the apostle islands at the end of summer.

 

[Smallvol#1]

I will always love the Smokies and it will always be one of my favorites, but it just doesn't compare to the pristine majesty of Grand Teton/Yellowstone to me. I loved visiting Grand Canyon and it was truly awe inspiring, but I can't really experience it in the same way because I will never be able to hike into it. I do love it though and want to go back for a longer visit. I also loved RMNP and want to go back there. I can't wait to visit Yosemite and Glacier. They might be able to dethrone GT/Yellowstone. Or maybe Rainier and Olympic could. I can't wait to find out 😁

OK, my take and to each his own. Yellowstone is our favorite park (remember GSM is automatically excluded). It is like 4 parks in one, and then GT is just a short drive, can almost lump in as “same”. Grand Canyon does not do that much for me, been there multiple times, and last time TO hiked down a ways. It’s nice just never one of my tops. Been to Ranier a couple or three times, again, nice. TO loves it much more than I do. I will say this, if you get a room facing the mountain and wake up one morning when you can actually SEE the mountain (NOT a given) it is spectacular. Some nice hikes, beautiful flowers, vistas. Olympic -another 4 in 1. All I heard was Hurricane Ridge, OK, nice. Sol Duc again nice, some interesting hikes, nice. Ruby Beach, sort of disappointed - I think my expectations were unrealistic, still enjoyable. We stayed at Kalaloch Lodge at Ruby and somewhere in Sol Duc, can’t remember the name of the lodge. But then the Hoh Rainforest!!! It was at the bottom of our list for things in Olympic and was I amazed! It was like a wonderland. I felt like I was in a Star Wars ewok forest. Ferns over my head, soft, misty, just ethereal! Absolute wonderland. Like I said, to each his own!!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will definitely always be up there for me too, we just have so many family memories there, but I just feel like I'm in Heaven in GT/Yellowstone NP. I don't really know how to explain it, but I think it is like Muir described how he felt in Yosemite. Maybe I will feel that way about another park I haven't been to yet. Maybe Zion or Arches or even Capitol Reef. I sure do hope to find out.

TO prefers Zion, and yes, he has hiked to the top of Angel’s Landing. I did not even try, I felt I could do it physically, but with my acrophobia was afraid I would get to the “bridge” and freeze, which would spoil it for TO because then he would not have left me and.... I preferred Bryce, especially in the evening, again, I think I am in the minority. We loved Arches, just so interesting and a different kind of beauty. Canyonlands is right next to it. Just could not compare to Arches, too much the “same thing” only lesser. We have returned to Arches and will again this year but have never bothered returning to Canyonlands. Before we went to Capital Reef a good friend, whose opinion I respected and had lived in Jackson Hole, told me it was a “drive through” park. I think she was correct. Some very interesting things: Mormon cabin, petroglyphs, etc. but it is not an awe inspiring, I must return type thing for either of us. Yosemite will probably blow you away. It is much higher on TO’s list than mine, and like I told you, it is my brother’s home park and he loves it like we do the Smokies. (And I would never tell him it was not right up at the top of list of my all time favorites!) That said, I preferred the Wawona side, I think that is southern. Entering the park and coming up on Tunnel View is beautiful, as are the waterfalls. Tulome Meadows is nice too, but if you can only go once, go in the Spring when the falls are full. I think that is one piece of advice on which 99% of people would agree with me. Ones you’ve not mentioned that I loved: Big Bend, Lassen Volcanic, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Crater Lake. Oh heavens! Crater Lake is one of those awe inspiring parks for me. Loved everything and every minute. I’m not crazy about any of the caves, that’s I. Although I must admit Carlsbad I might return to visit. The only park I would say absolutely don’t bother with is the one in Ohio, I think it is Cuyahoga. Went there with friends and all four of us thought it was an absolute waste of time and effort. Again, to each his own. Also I did not like Channel Islands. First, long story on getting there, getting into the park, getting out of the park, and returning to mainland...a lot of that is I, TO not too thrilled with those aspects either, although no where near as negative about it as I. But the park itself! Sheer nasty. Now understand we went in the Spring. But everything was covered in sea gull dung, literally. No place to sit, had taken a picnic lunch, could not eat it, got back to motel and went to their laundry and washed everything we had worn or had with us and took showers. I swear I took two showers when we got in the room. Took that much to even begin to feel clean. Now, remember, we probably were there the only time it was like that....sea gulls can’t mate forever, but I have no intention or desire of ever returning to find out. Anyway, what it took to get on and off the boat at the cliffs would stop me anyway. I do think that has been improved since we were there though.

Like I said, my opinion. If you want pics of any park, almost any area of the park, let me know and I’ll work on TO.

Edit: whoops! Great Sand Dunes -absolutely unreal. I did not know a place like that existed in North America! And Everglands, either section, and good for multiple visits (we have, TO loves it) and Dry Tortuga's - sort of a pain to get there, we rented a seaplane rather than going by boat, but for a once in a lifetime thing to see I think it was worth it. Flying in and seeing it from above is spectacular and the park itself is interesting. Went with friends on that one too and we all four loved it and were glad we had done it. As soon as I post this, I’ll probably think of another one. We are so blessed to have the beauty in this country and the NPS to help preserve it.

 

[Ulysees E. McGill]

OK, my take and to each his own. Yellowstone is our favorite park (remember GSM is automatically excluded). It is like 4 parks in one, and then GT is just a short drive, can almost lump in as “same”. Grand Canyon does not do that much for me, been there multiple times, and last time TO hiked down a ways. It’s nice just never one of my tops. Been to Ranier a couple or three times, again, nice. TO loves it much more than I do. I will say this, if you get a room facing the mountain and wake up one morning when you can actually SEE the mountain (NOT a given) it is spectacular. Some nice hikes, beautiful flowers, vistas. Olympic -another 4 in 1. All I heard was Hurricane Ridge, OK, nice. Sol Duc again nice, some interesting hikes, nice. Ruby Beach, sort of disappointed - I think my expectations were unrealistic, still enjoyable. We stayed at Kalaloch Lodge at Ruby and somewhere in Sol Duc, can’t remember the name of the lodge. But then the Hoh Rainforest!!! It was at the bottom of our list for things in Olympic and was I amazed! It was like a wonderland. I felt like I was in a Star Wars ewok forest. Ferns over my head, soft, misty, just ethereal! Absolute wonderland. Like I said, to each his own!!



TO prefers Zion, and yes, he has hiked to the top of Angel’s Landing. I did not even try, I felt I could do it physically, but with my acrophobia was afraid I would get to the “bridge” and freeze, which would spoil it for TO because then he would not have left me and.... I preferred Bryce, especially in the evening, again, I think I am in the minority. We loved Arches, just so interesting and a different kind of beauty. Canyonlands is right next to it. Just could not compare to Arches, too much the “same thing” only lesser. We have returned to Arches and will again this year but have never bothered returning to Canyonlands. Before we went to Capital Reef a good friend, whose opinion I respected and had lived in Jackson Hole, told me it was a “drive through” park. I think she was correct. Some very interesting things: Mormon cabin, petroglyphs, etc. but it is not an awe inspiring, I must return type thing for either of us. Yosemite will probably blow you away. It is much higher on TO’s list than mine, and like I told you, it is my brother’s home park and he loves it like we do the Smokies. (And I would never tell him it was not right up at the top of list of my all time favorites!) That said, I preferred the Wawona side, I think that is southern. Entering the park and coming up on Tunnel View is beautiful, as are the waterfalls. Tulome Meadows is nice too, but if you can only go once, go in the Spring when the falls are full. I think that is one piece of advice on which 99% of people would agree with me. Ones you’ve not mentioned that I loved: Big Bend, Lassen Volcanic, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Crater Lake. Oh heavens! Crater Lake is one of those awe inspiring parks for me. Loved everything and every minute. I’m not crazy about any of the caves, that’s I. Although I must admit Carlsbad I might return to visit. The only park I would say absolutely don’t bother with is the one in Ohio, I think it is Cuyahoga. Went there with friends and all four of us thought it was an absolute waste of time and effort. Again, to each his own. Also I did not like Channel Islands. First, long story on getting there, getting into the park, getting out of the park, and returning to mainland...a lot of that is I, TO not too thrilled with those aspects either, although no where near as negative about it as I. But the park itself! Sheer nasty. Now understand we went in the Spring. But everything was covered in sea gull dung, literally. No place to sit, had taken a picnic lunch, could not eat it, got back to motel and went to their laundry and washed everything we had worn or had with us and took showers. I swear I took two showers when we got in the room. Took that much to even begin to feel clean. Now, remember, we probably were there the only time it was like that....sea gulls can’t mate forever, but I have no intention or desire of ever returning to find out. Anyway, what it took to get on and off the boat at the cliffs would stop me anyway. I do think that has been improved since we were there though.

Like I said, my opinion. If you want pics of any park, almost any area of the park, let me know and I’ll work on TO.

Edit: whoops! Great Sand Dunes -absolutely unreal. I did not know a place like that existed in North America! And Everglands, either section, and good for multiple visits (we have, TO loves it) and Dry Tortuga's - sort of a pain to get there, we rented a seaplane rather than going by boat, but for a once in a lifetime thing to see I think it was worth it. Flying in and seeing it from above is spectacular and the park itself is interesting. Went with friends on that one too and we all four loved it and were glad we had done it. As soon as I post this, I’ll probably think of another one. We are so blessed to have the beauty in this country and the NPS to help preserve it.

The Hoh rainforest is probably the biggest reason I want to got to Olympic.

I actually think of Grand Teton and Yellowstone as one gigantic park now, that is why I always put them together...Greater Yellowstone is what a lot of folks call it now. Really that whole NE corner of Wyoming that abuts Idaho and Montana is just heaven to me, but the Jackson Hole valley and the Teton Range itself is my favorite area of them all.

I really just want to see all the National Parks and I will probably go visit Cayuhoga just because it is a National Park and there are some things there that look interesting.

I think Glacier, Zion and Yosemite will blow me away. I'm sure Crater, Great Basin and Kings Canyon/Sequoia or even North Cascades would too.

 

[NorCalVol67]

The Hoh rainforest is probably the biggest reason I want to got to Olympic.

I actually think of Grand Teton and Yellowstone as one gigantic park now, that is why I always put them together...Greater Yellowstone is what a lot of folks call it now. Really that whole NE corner of Wyoming that abuts Idaho and Montana is just heaven to me, but the Jackson Hole valley and the Teton Range itself is my favorite area of them all.

I really just want to see all the National Parks and I will probably go visit Cayuhoga just because it is a National Park and there are some things there that look interesting.

I think Glacier, Zion and Yosemite will blow me away. I'm sure Crater, Great Basin and Kings Canyon/Sequoia or even North Cascades would too.

I think Glacier, Zion and Yosemite will blow you away. Words are not adequate to describe the first time you see them.