Hey Mac. The gorge is always open. Let us know when you can come and we'll do something. I don't get to camp a lot, but I do plenty of day trips. Be glad to have you any time!
Ken
Hey Mac. The gorge is always open. Let us know when you can come and we'll do something. I don't get to camp a lot, but I do plenty of day trips. Be glad to have you any time!
Ken
Thanks, I appreciate it!!
Well, I've scoured over the maps, a NC Atlas/Gazatteer, Google Maps and MapQuest...........
Although the mileage and travel times between Google and MapQuest differ, I figured its about 585 miles to Jonas Ridge. That should take me somewhere between 8 1/2 to 9 hours. I'll strategically pack food to eat in transit, to eliminate down time. If I leave arounf 3 am, that should put me in the area after noon or 1 pm. I'll judge, based on my travel, where to start the hike.
Any other suggestions...I'm all ears!!
Menu is planned. Shopping day tomorrow for eats.....and fire up the dehydrator!! Having fun in the planning!!
Looking forward to this and to see the sights!! This will be my first time in the western part of the state.
"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere."- RONALD REAGAN
"There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer." - CALVIN COOLIDGE
My Backpacking Site
Where are the rest of the saturday am hikers going to begin?
If I wanted to climb table rock before meeting everyone where should I enter the trail? Or is this not reasonable?
I Know I asked earlier a similar question and was told to enter at the conley trailhead and make a right and that seems short and easy and what I can do if I'm hking alone. If I come with a friend I can probably do a longer hike. "earn my dinner"
Any further advice?
thanks
cooldays
Time for another updated re-post of the pertinent trip data. I'll do this every so often so newcomers won't have to sort through the entire thread:
I am planning to do a loop backpacking trip around Linville Gorge starting Friday May 14th and ending Sunday the 16th.
The trip will cover about 22-25 miles. I am planning an easy pace to allow for plenty of sightseeing and picture taking, but a lot of the trails are officially listed as "Most Difficult".
Others hikers would be welcome. If anyone wants to join us for Saturday night, we will be on the Linville Gorge Trail, somewhere between Pinch-in and Conley Cove. Likely closer to Conley.
Let's plan to meet at the Spence Ridge trailhead at 10 a.m., head south and pick up the Mountains to Sea Trail, camp Friday night in the vicinity of Shortoff Mountain, continue across the Linville River, Saturday, on the MST, turn north on the Leadmine Trail and pick up the Linville Gorge Trail. We'll make our Saturday camp along the river and welcome any overnighters. Sunday we'll continue north on the LGT, head across the river on the Spence Ridge Trail and make our way up to the trailhead.
For anyone arriving later than 10 a.m. Friday, we will probably pass through the Tablerock parking area around noon. This would be a good alternate parking area. When we go through, we will leave a piece of orange surveyors tape on the fence that divides the parking lot upper and lower. It will be tied to the farthest north fence post. If you see the tape, head south to catch us. If no tape, either wait for us there or head north to find us at Tablerock.
Route map is attached below.
Linville Gorge Wilderness pamphlet from the Forest Service.
Ken's website - Linville Gorge Hiking and Trail Data
There's a good chance I might hang around(pun intended) for another night or two, either before or after these dates, based on the best weather.
Backcountry permits are required for weekend camping in the wilderness area, but they are free. Currently, I have a permit, Running Feather has one and Hawk-eye has one. These should cover everyone that shows up.
Showing up Friday:
Tinker(Jerry)
skippy
Hangin' Burrito
Running Feather
Hedcase
Nooner
Cookie
mtncmpr
wisenber
SoundWitness
Showing up Saturday
Hawk-eye
slowhike
Ken
Jim
cooldays
eagleJ
Maybe:
CapitalBill
hang um high
stormcrow
Post or PM and I'll keep this list up to date.
Jerry
Last edited by JerryW; 05-05-2010 at 23:43.
The "Search" function is your friend!
I just reread your post cooldays. I missed that you are starting on Saturday. If you are really ambitious, you could hike down Conley Cove trail, north along the river to the bridge and up Spence Ridge trail to get to Tablerock. The round trip to get you back down to the river to meet us would probably be more than 10 miles(Linville Gorge miles!). That's pretty ambitious in my book.
An alternative would be to drive to Tablerock, hike up and see the views and then hike to Spence Ridge trail. Take it down to the river and head south until you found us. Probably be about 6+ miles without as much climbing. Then you could hike out with us on Sunday.
Jerry
The "Search" function is your friend!
Soundwitness, I was going to start at 3pm with Mac at Table Rock. My shorter commute will let me shift my schedule around if you're wanting someone to hike in with.
Leaving at 3 am would be pretty rough. Just let me know if you want to adopt a more sane departure time.
"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere."- RONALD REAGAN
"There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer." - CALVIN COOLIDGE
My Backpacking Site
Another look at the long range weather outlook for Linville Falls (north of LG) and Morganton (south of LG)
WARNING: Will discuss Rhurbarb Strawberry Pie and Livermush at random.
"A democracy is two wolves and a small lamb voting on what to have for dinner.
Freedom under a constitutional republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote." ... B.Franklin
Home of the Gorge Rats: Linville Gorge
My Videos YouTube Channel
Photo collections Flickr Photostream
Gorge Rat Productions On FaceBook
Bookmarks