I've been lurking in the shadows here for quite some time gaining knowledge and thoroughly enjoying the site and figured it was time to stick my head in the door and say howdy.........."Howdy". I've been backpacking since the late 50's (aging myself here) when a ULA Catalyst was a gunny sack with four hemp ropes tied on the corners, ti cooksets were a cast iron skillet, and Mountain House five lb sacks of flour, a jar of pickles, and hopefully fresh caught fish were the tablefare. I had a hammock made of extra heavyweight white canvas and it definitly was not UL. Times have changed greatly since then (thankfully) but the outdoors are still just as beautiful and I try to spend as much time on the trail as possible. I live in Carthage, NC and a lot of the trip reports here are from places I frequent. I just got back friday from spending a few days in the Wilson Creek area which I have trout fished and hike in for years. I moved every day and didn't see a soul until friday coming down Harper Creek. It gets a little crowed there on weekends. I used to take my scout troop in there for a 50 mile loop every year in the 80's. I've ridden my horse in the Grayson Highlands area and all over Jeferson National Forest to the east and greatly enjoyed the trip report with Medicine Man, Poof, Tall Paul, and Bonepile. Wish I could have been with you. By the way, Medicine Man, your background music tugs at my heartstrings. Jay Unger and Molly Mason have been on my bestun's list for quite a while. When Ken Burns released the Civil War series and I first heard "Ashokan Farewell" it haunted me night and day until I learned to play it. My alltime greatest fiddle tune. I hike in Uwharrie a lot because it's almost in my backdoor and was there a day after that large stormfront (6-13-13) moved through and the damage is quite significant. There are 3-4 foot diameter white oaks down everywhere. I did the hwy 24 to Yates Place 19 mile loop and I was shocked. It's going to take a major cleanup. I used to grouse hunt and camp every year for a week in the Harmon Den area on Cold Springs Road just down the mountain from Max Patch. Amazing place. Anyway, that's enough about me but I look forward to maybe meeting some of you "semi close by" folks and covering some miles together.
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