Made it there and back in one piece! Awsome weather, tuff hiking (for a fat old guy). Definately THE most beautifull views and trails I ever remember hiking through.
Gave my daughter her trail name. She kept wanting to slack pack here and there.... being an English Major (big word skool) she wanted to go "Sans Pack". So she's "Sans _______" fill in the blank. Usually "pack". Kind of weird but aren't we all.
We got to eat wild blueberries. People drove trucks to Ivestor gap and set up like a tailgate party and were commin outta the bushes with buckets full. A ranger told me about a "Cranberry Bog" ..... yes, in the south! I thought they only grew way up north but 5500' will do that. It was just below a small spring.... mmmmm just had to try one. Also got to eat an apple from that tree at the south end of deep gap. Tasted like Granny Smith but just a tiny bit tart, delicious.
2 Boyscout troops and a church group and a couple dozen others at Shining Rock Gap the first night. Ugh. The second day hike made up for it. The Narrows and Stairs Mt. are georgous! Tuff hike though. If only there was water somewhere up on Stairs it would be a great place to camp.
Used my new backup hammock. The primary is the Speer.... still the best one. The backup used to be a Wal-Mart "Kalisto". I got an ENO double. It's BIG. I guess ok for a backup but it's not handy as the Speer package. Maybe if I get some whoopie slings and one of those bug nets Shug shows in his video.
I'll try to put up some pics but it's the first time. If you wanna see more pics my facebook has em. Mark Jenner .... Get out more!
Diesel
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