November 9, 2017 Hiking in Shining Rock Wilderness is always an interesting endeavor. The terrain isn’t terribly difficult compared to the Black Mountain Crest or Grandfather Mountain, but the sheer solitude coupled with the lack of blazes makes orienteering a necessity. According to internet searches, I found only three other bloggers that have posted about … More Fork Mountain Trail
October 3, 2017 Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit. -Edward Abbey Hiking in a federally designated Wilderness is to return to nature, as it was intended, free of blazes, signs and machinery. The Little East Fork Trail starts at Camp Daniel Boone and travels to the heart of the … More Little East Fork Trail
September 3, 2016 Ramona and I headed out on the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) on a wonderfully sunny Saturday morning. The drive from Balsam Gap was full of sunshine, while the clouds below us created a sea of white on the valley floors. At mile 417, we parked at the Looking Glass Overlook. From the … More Bridges Camp Gap Trail
April 2, 2016 Old Butt Knob Trail is the crown jewel of the Shining Rock Wilderness. Hiked east to west from Big East Fork Trailhead, it is unrelenting. It’s the kind of trail that never lets you forget you are climbing a mountain. Undulation and steepness greet you at every turn. It is one of … More Old Butt Knob Trail, Shining Creek Trail