Spring at Biltmore
Spring at Biltmore is a flower fanatic’s dreamworld. The gardens are brimming with daffodils, hyacinth, forsythia, tulips and periwinkle, just to name a few. Today, the tulips were up, but they had not quite bloomed out. Maybe next week, I can go back and take tulip pictures. The current exhibit in the mansion and on the grounds is “Fashionable Romance.” …
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Redbuds
I guess I’m trying to make up for sitting on my butt all winter, but over the past 8 days, I have hiked 22 miles! That is 22 MOUNTAIN miles, folks. My legs feel like noodles. Going straight up steps or up steep grades isn’t easy and I realize just how much fitness I have lost since last November. I …
Read More →March 21, 2016
REDBUDS I guess I’m trying to make up for sitting on my butt all winter, but over the past 8 days, I have hiked 22 miles! That is 22 MOUNTAIN miles, folks. My legs feel like noodles. Going straight up steps or up steep grades isn’t easy and I realize just how much fitness I have lost since last November. …
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March 19, 2016
Pressley Cove Trail is accessed from Avery Creek Road (Forest Service Road #477). Beginning at 2325 ft. of elevation, the trail climbs steeply for 1.1 miles ( 968 ft. elevation gain) to Forest Service Rd #5022. Turn right onto the road and walk for .2 miles to Pressley Gap, elevation 3328 ft.
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I Counted the Steps!
So, during my workout hike at Chimney Rock State Park, I counted 1322 steps on the main trails leading from the Lower Parking Lot at the ticket booth to the very top at Exclamation Point. This does not include a few “detours” through the “Subway”and “The Outcroppings.” I had counted the stairs a few years ago, before upgrades had been made. …
Read More →March 17, 2016
So, during my workout hike at Chimney Rock State Park, I counted 1322 steps on the main trails leading from the Lower Parking Lot at the ticket booth to the very top at Exclamation Point. This does not include a few “detours” through the “Subway”and “The Outcroppings.” [pullquote3 quotes=”true” align=”right”]1322 STEPS TO TOP![/pullquote3]I had counted the stairs a few years ago, before …
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February Ski Trip at the North 40
Bridger Bowl, Bozeman, MT We had an awesome time skiing with friends in Bozeman at The Bridger Bowl. It is approx. an hour drive from the North 40 so we don’t need to pay for accommodations. The ski resort is municipal, owned by the city of Bozeman. Driving up to the resort from our house is one of the prettiest …
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March 11, 2016
Getting Back in the Swing of Things The beautiful, spring-like weather was very welcome after a busy, rainy winter. We haven’t had good weather on our off days that have allowed us to keep up our hiking routine. The BRP is still closed for the winter, but Chimney Rock is close to home and open. My hike was just limited to …
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January 30, 2016
The Thomas Divide trailhead is near the NC/TN border on the Smoky Mountains Parkway. It is a gentle trail that runs the ridge from the parkway out to Kanati Fork Junction. The elevation change is gradual and the hike is relatively short. This is a great little hike for small children and newbies.
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North Forty, September 2015
Annual September trip to the North Forty. Phil managed to get enough vacation days to string together 9 days. It was Phil’s first extended visit since the house was finished last year. The 2 sofas had been delivered after my last visit out, so we had a nice comfy place to sit. It was a relief to see that they …
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Godspeed
Godspeed /ˈɡɒdˈspiːd/ interjection, noun 1. an expression of one’s good wishes for a person’s success and safety Word Origin C15: from God spede may God prosper (you) This word is most, or only appropriate to say to a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine as they start their military journey. I have used it more in the past decade than ever …
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September, 2010
This was our first hike up Sacajawea Peak. Looking up from the parking lot wasn’t so daunting. However, after we hiked through the woods to the bottom of the scree field, looking up gave me vertigo. I wasn’t so sure I could hike up such a steep, exposed trail. But, I kept going and I’m glad I did. The pictures …
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September, 2015
Great hike up Sacajawea Peak. The weather was warm and extremely windy at the top. We were seriously in danger of being blown off the mountain. It was still scary the last 1/4 mile up the spire.
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Alum Cave Trail
Taking advantage of the good weather and lower temperatures, we decided to do a day hike up and down Alum Cave Trail on Mt. LeConte. We left early enough to get a parking space in what is usually a very crowded parking lot at the trailhead. We lucked up and there were still a few spaces available. The trail has …
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August 29, 2015
DAYHIKE: Trip #23 Trails Forever Program … at work on Alum Cave Trail. After a year of work on Alum Cave, Trails Forever finally finished the majority of their work on the trail. They did a great job and it was a lot of back breaking work. Arch Rock was opened up a bit and they made more headroom going …
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National Park Pillows
Pillows … in honor of the 99th birthday of our National Parks System. The true wealth of our nation lies in our national parks. The amount of volunteer hours it has taken to create and maintain their trail systems is phenomenal. So, to celebrate our love of that, I’ve made 4 national park pillows to take out to the North …
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Happy Birthday National Park System!
Today is the 99th birthday of our National Park System! Isn’t that just awesome? Thank you, Teddy Roosevelt, for your foresight in protecting our nation’s most beautiful and sensitive landscapes. Although, I take issue with the fact that the progressive death tax was his idea, and that he over-agressively pursued anti-trust laws bringing about the breakup of notables such as …
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August 25, 2015
Mt. Pisgah Trailhead is located near mile marker 408 on the Blue Ridge Parkway (National Park). It is heavily traveled. Park in the second parking lot, the first is for Buck Spring’s Trail. This trail continues onto National Forest land to climb to the summit of one of the area’s most well-known peaks. Easily visible from most of downtown Asheville, …
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August 20, 2015
August, 2015 We parked at Newfound Gap and walked the Appalachian Trail to the Jump Off Rock junction where we turned right. The trail out to the rock is short and runs thru the forest. It is a favorite for day hikers in the Smokys.
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June in Montana
Wildflower season in the Northern Rockies is in full bloom late May through June. This year, I got spent several weeks at our house during the peak of the flower season. I walked all over the property with my camera trying to make sure that I cataloged the species there. A Few Notable Flowers I Found: This flowers is scattered all over the North …
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July 20, 2015
It was another beautiful day on the ridge. The sun dappled thru the trees and it got a little warm. The ferns were so large, they looked like they belonged in a Jurassic Park movie.
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