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  1. #1
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
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    Rock Castle Gorge Trail

    My scheduled hike through Uwharrie got postponed, so I did a quick solo hike overnight this weekend on the Rock Castle Gorge Trail, starting at the Rocky Knob Visitor Center, milepost 169 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Backcountry camping was by permit only, and only at an old CCC complex (Civilian Conservation Corps, who built the Parkway) at around the halfway point of the loop trail.

    The trail was fairly strenuous at times, both down into the Gorge and back out again. I only got lost once. I met some great folks at camp (who I met when they came over to check out the hammock) and shared a fun campfire with the other folks camping there (3 other people, 2 dogs). The Ranger there thought the hammock was pretty slick as well.

    Pictures of my trip are here.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
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    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
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  2. #2
    Senior Member headchange4u's Avatar
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    Nice pics. That looks like a beautiful area for a hike.
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett



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  3. #3
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
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    It really was! I had a blast.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
    - Mark Twain
    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
    - John Burroughs

  4. #4
    Senior Member Hooch's Avatar
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    Great pics, Patrick, glad you had a good time. My overnighter at RRG was canceled by fires in the area, so I missed out totally. Oh well. I may shoot for an overnighter somewhere in the next couple weeks, maybe a short trip somewhere that I can take Short Stuff on with me as well.
    "If you play a Nicleback song backwards, you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forward, you'll hear Nickleback." - Dave Grohl

  5. #5
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
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    Yeah, I know what you mean. Sorry your RRG trip didn't work out.

    I was determined to go somewhere this weekend, and came up with this overnighter as "plan C". It was definetely an A+ location though.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
    - Mark Twain
    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
    - John Burroughs

  6. #6
    Senior Member Hooch's Avatar
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    You'll have to help me find this one, I'd like to give it a go sometime, myself. It looks like a beautiful hike. BTW, that skull was the last hiker that got lost on the trail.
    "If you play a Nicleback song backwards, you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forward, you'll hear Nickleback." - Dave Grohl

  7. #7
    Senior Member NCPatrick's Avatar
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    He was a strange lookin' feller, that one. . Look for Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I also searched for the Rock Castle Gorge on Whiteblaze and found some good info on it since the AT was once routed through there.


    "Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities."
    - Mark Twain
    “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
    - John Burroughs

  8. #8
    Senior Member Hooch's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NCPatrick View Post
    He was a strange lookin' feller, that one. . Look for Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I also searched for the Rock Castle Gorge on Whiteblaze and found some good info on it since the AT was once routed through there.
    Patrick, I did a little quick reserch on it and found a fair amount of information at the roanoke.com website. I'm definitely going to have to put that one on my to do list (Which is fairly short right now, but growing slowly and steadily), probably near the top, since it's pretty close and would be a quick, challenging overnighter.
    Last edited by Hooch; 06-24-2007 at 16:20.
    "If you play a Nicleback song backwards, you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forward, you'll hear Nickleback." - Dave Grohl

  9. #9
    Senior Member
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    Great pictures!!! That is my favorite area of the parkway. The next overlook from Rocky Knob is called the Saddle with beautiful views on both sides. I did the same hike many years ago and I remember it being very strenuous in spots.
    When it goes over their heads, it really doesn't matter how high it is.

  10. #10
    slowhike's Avatar
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    looks like a pleasant place to spend some time. how long did it take to drive there from W-S?
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

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