Pre-Halloween Midweek Linville Hang Oct 26-30

[Ongs-Hat]

What we were lamenting about was Rhubarb/Strawberry Pie ... dang near a religious experience only to be had at Famous Louise's Rock House Restaurant!

Closed Tuesday ... but guarantee that it'll be one of my stops before heading home! And maybe ... Thursday ... before heading to another location in the gorge to spend Thursday night!

I haven't had a good Rhubarb pie since my great aunt passed. They are hard to come by up north but they seem popular below the dixon. Can you remind me to stop on the way out? Ken, I'll be arriving Tuesday morning and if someone could show me to a longer hike in trail I'd be more then happy to burn the extra calories.

Gear list

Blackbird 1.1 dbl
Big MambaJamba Tarp or Blackcat
Yeti & JRB NoSniv
GG 1/4 in pad
MSR Reactor stove.

I also have my Ultra Light Backpacker with 2QZQ zipper mod if anyone wants to take a look. Let me know and I'll pack it

Do we need paper plates and trash bags? Wow! just read the entire thread... time for a nap.

Edit: Blue Grand Cherokee with Jersey tags BTW

[Ken]

Ken, I'll be arriving Tuesday morning and if someone could show me to a longer hike in trail I'd be more then happy to burn the extra calories.

Gear list

Blackbird 1.1 dbl
Big MambaJamba Tarp or Blackcat
Yeti & JRB NoSniv
GG 1/4 in pad
MSR Reactor stove.

I also have my Ultra Light Backpacker with 2QZQ zipper mod if anyone wants to take a look. Let me know and I'll pack it

Do we need paper plates and trash bags? Wow! just read the entire thread... time for a nap.

Edit: Blue Grand Cherokee with Jersey tags BTW

I'll re-work the group list and directions tonight with directions to Spence Ridge. There are other options also, like Pine Gap, or Babel as millergear was originally planning.

ken

[millergear]

. There are other options also, like Pine Gap, or Babel as millergear was originally planning.

ken

My plan now is to park at Spence and then loop around the Gorge, fording the Linville River on the MST and back to Spence on Thursday or Friday. Depends on how much fun I'm having with you youngsters. Company on the loop would be welcome!

[MacEntyre]

This is a link to the PDF file of the USFS map ... I reccmd picking one up when you can.

PM me if you want one. I'll have plenty of time on Sunday to buy them, as I cruise down the BRP to Linville. The one I have is marked $6 and was purchased recently.

- MacEntyre

[Hawk-eye]

.... Depends on how much fun I'm having with you youngsters.....

Ha ... only young at heart!

[stormcrow]

Stormcrow, is that AutoPager or SmartPager?

- MacEntyre

I use autopager but I think Smartpager would probably do the same thing...I just havnt tried it.

sc

[slowhike]

Ken, you've been working hard on this thread, revising the list, providing directions, maps & such!!! Thanks man!

If anyone hasn't seen the big, log, foot bridge that crosses the river at the bottom of Spence Ridge Trail, it's a beauty!

And if Ken & hawk Eye eat the liver mush & say they got lost, they are lying They know they big ditch better than most

[Ken]

And if Ken & hawk Eye eat the liver mush & say they got lost, they are lying They know they big ditch better than most

Dang! You shot that plan to pieces!

Oh, I've enjoyed updating the list. It's just hard to keep up with which page we've left it on. I think it's on 76 right now!

[MacEntyre]

You can probably leave it on page 76...

Folks needs to gets their behonkuses into da woods now and be counted!

- MacEntyre

[Ken]

Updated list and directions:
Arrival times are from memory. Let me know where I'm wrong.
* = confirmed as coming

Slowhike * Tuesday evening
wfuballer21 unknown
Ken * Tuesday morning 9:15am
Hawk-eye * Tuesday morning 9:15am
Shug * plus 2 they better make it. Hominy Grits * & The Turk * Monday evening?
Mac-Entyre * Monday morning
Hangin Burrito * Monday morning
Running Feather * Monday morning
Yosef
Kanguru
maz1111
mtncmpr * Monday
jgregory124 * Monday
Diamond Diggs * ?
Wendigo
Hedcase * Monday morning
Capital Bill * Tuesday Morning
seuss
millergear * Tuesday Morning
JerryW * Tuesday, early afternoon!
Stormcrow * ?
Thr33 * ?
Dimetri, the Russian gymnast * ?
Hooch * Monday morning
Ongs-Hat * Tuesday morning

(21 *)



Directions - West side (Conley Cove Trailhead:

From Boone I'd take 105 south to 221 and 221 to the Linville Falls community. Then turn left on 183. In a mile or less Kistler Hwy. (dirt road also known as OldNC105 and County Line Road) goes straight off of 183 in a curve. Conley Cove parking is something like 5 miles south, or the first parking area south of the turn to Wiseman's View.


From I-40 south of the gorge, take Exit 94 Dysartsville Road. Go north of the interstate on Dysartsville road. It will dead end at Hwy 70 in about 3/4 mile. Turn left on 70. In just under 2 miles Bridgewater road will turn right off of 70 at a large wood chipping operation. You'll see the large yellow crane before you get there. Turn right onto Bridgewater road. In less than 1.5 miles you'll need to turn left on Benfield Landing Rd. Benfield Landing road will dead end into Hwy 126 in about 2 miles or a little more. Turn right on 126 and in about 3 miles you'll be coming up a hill and Kistler will be a straight ahead, as 126 enters a turn to the right. I believe Kistler is signed as Old NC105 at that intersection. The first couple of miles will be paved and after that you'll be on gravel. From the end of pavement to Conley parking is about 8.5 miles.


To enter the north end from Morganton (i-40), take 181 north and turn onto 183 off of 181. It's about 4 miles on 183 to the turn onto the north end of
Kistler as descibed in the directions from Boone.

Directions - East Side (Spence Ridge Trailhead):

Like the last option above, Exit 105 at Morganton takes you right into town on Hwy. 18 north. After you pass the courthouse square downtown 18 and 181 split in the next couple of blocks. Stay left on 181 which is also North Green Street. Follow 181 out of town and up the mountain. Just after you go over the top, the Gingercake Acres neighborhood is on the left. Turn left into Gingercake Acres. In about 1/2 mile you come to a "Y". Turn left, uphill. In about another half mile the pavement ends and you are on FS210. The first parking area on the right is Sitting Bear, Then Hawksbill parking on the left. Next will be Spence Ridge with parking on both sides of the road.

Ken