Tag: Mount Mitchell
-
“Do you have any drugs?”
Who needs drugs? When you can go out for an early-morning stroll and see this: And when you get to the top you’re surrounded by rolling hills like this: — We hit the Appalachian Trail this past weekend for some exercise and some R&R. A few in the group are doing a South Beyond 6000…
-
The one where snow ruins everything
I used to *love* snow. I mean, what kid doesn’t? A free pass from school and something fun and new to play with … can’t beat that … Then I got a job at a newspaper. And they had a lovely rule in which we had to drive into work even in inclement weather. Understandable,…
-
You are what you carry in your pack
Chris B. asked me last week to write a gear list regarding what I took, should have taken, and shouldn’t have taken on my recent trip to Mount Mitchell for winter camping. So, without further adieu, here it is: Head to toe Here’s what I wore on my trip: Balaclava – I fought against one…
-
(Mountain) lions and clowns and bears, oh my!
Things I learned on this camping trip: – I burned more calories backpacking last weekend than I did running the marathon last month. – Chris is terrified of clowns. – Bears do come out in the winter, and when there is snow on the ground they leave the tracks to prove it. – The guys all knew…
-
I’m so hydrated you can’t even see my pee
Gear I would not do this trip again without: In addition to the usual stuff, of course … – Yaktrax – attaches to your hiking boots to make them easy to walk in snow/ice – Toe Warmers – I used to think they were a luxury. In this weather, they were a necessity. Next time, I will…
-
Cold feet. 30 extra pounds. Questions of survival.
Quotes from the trip: Me: We saw some tracks that looked like a cat. Would that be a bear? A mountain lion? Andrew: No, that’d be a cat. Chris: I’m gonna get one of those at some point (spoken every time someone showed him a piece of gear. Any gear.) Chadd: I hate rabbits (spoken every time…
-
9 people. 4 degrees. 3 nights in the snow.
Destination: Mount Mitchell Elevation: 6,684 feet to summit Total miles I hiked: 10.5 Number of hikers in our group: 8 9 (apparently I can’t count) Number of female hikers in our group: 1 Degrees (low) that we saw on our thermometer: 4 Feet of snow on the ground: About 2 Number of animals seen: 2…
-
So, I had this whole post in mind …
… about my hiking trip this weekend. I was going to photograph all my new gear and tell you all about it. However, I packed my gear in my pack last night and hell if I’m going to pull it back out now! So, I’ll show it to you when I get back. It’s time…
-
Life is a gift. Use it or lose it …
So, I’m a little late on the the whole “look back/look ahead” post that comes at the end of the year, but I was too busy celebrating the holidays to take the time to sit down and think about it! So, better late than never, right? Last year I wrote about some thoughts on 2008,…
-
Axe murderes and ice storms and bears, oh my!
Previously I brought you Day 1 and Day 2 of our hiking trip to Mount Mitchell. Today I bring you Day 3, sadly, the final day this round. Day 3, Sunday: Do we have to go back to reality? After leaving the warm campfire Saturday night, I finally fall asleep, warm in my sleeping bag,…