May 7, 2021 The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. – Burns The original idea was to finish a huge chunk of the Cataloochee portion of the Smoky 900 challenge; hike up Pretty Hollow Gap to Mt. Sterling, spend the night then descend Long Bunk and Little Cataloochee. The hike up … More Pretty Hollow Gap Trail
April 7, 2021 The Big Fork Ridge Trail starts at Rough Fork at a nice single-log bridge. This is a nice trail, wide in parts, that gradually ascends Big Fork Ridge with only 612′ of elevation gain. There are some nice switchbacks and the ridge provides a wide spot for water and a snack. There … More Big Fork Ridge Trail, McKee Branch Trail
July 12, 2020 In undergrad one of my favorite subjects was phonetics, the study of speech and sounds. So many of the names in the mountains are simplistic in their genesis; deep gap, because the gap is deep; blue mountains, because in low light they are blue, etc. Once in a while, you will happen … More Boogerman Trail
July 8, 2020 Pandemic or not; I am jumping back on the Smoky 900 trail challenge. My family and I have dutifully stayed at home since March 12, 2020. We have cancelled all vacations, trips, extracurricular activities, outings, not eaten out or gotten take-out in an effort to flatten the proverbial curve. Alas, most Americans … More Cataloochee Divide Trail
December 26, 2019 The Wilderness Act of 1964 is perhaps the most important and poetic laws in the United States. It was and remains revolutionary. In a capitalistic model, we have set aside land to be untouched, undeveloped. Unlike the stringent legal language of most regulations the law defines its purposes as:”[a] wilderness, in contrast … More Big Lost Cove Cliffs Trail
November 17, 2019 If you are looking for a challenging hike near Boone, NC, look no further than the Thunderhole and China Creek Trails. Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Blowing Rock, NC. This lollipop hike runs down Thunderhole Trail to Thunderhole Falls and then back up the ridge via the China Creek Trail … More Thunderhole Loop Trail
November 16, 2019 Tanawha translates as “fabulous hawk” in Cherokee. Apropos in meaning, the trail offers wondrous views of the High Country. For years I have meant to hike this trail. In 2017, torrential rains flooded the area and washed out the bridge near the Daniel Boone Scout Trail. In 2018, I started to hike … More Tanawha Trail
September 15, 2019 After camping at Spruce Mountain, I decided to grab another trail before heading back to Boone. One place I had not been to was the Tow String Trail. Sometimes referred to as the Tow String Horse Trail, it runs from Tow String Road to the Bradley Fork Trail near Smokemont Campground. The … More Tow String Trail
July 27, 2019 For the past month, I’ve gone on several backpacking trips and a lot of day hikes, but they have been to places that I have already chronicled (Max Patch to Walnut Mountain, the Roans, the Blue Ridge Parkway around Boone) and have chosen to just enjoy those moments. This past Sunday was … More Yellow Mountain Fire Tower
June 1, 2019 I have put off these two towers on the Lookout Tower Challenge for quite some time. They are short hikes, but they are located very far from where I live. Joanna Bald (or Teyahalee Bald) is located in Andrews, NC and Panther Top is in Murphy, NC. Both are located in the … More Joanna Bald Lookout Tower, Panther Top Lookout Tower
