Hikes April 1-7
The hiking routine ramped up this week. It feels good to get back into the swing of things after a very busy, but “hike-less” first quarter. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed most of the winter, so our infrequent hikes were closer to home with lower mileage and less elevation gain. Finally! The Parkway opened and I was able to …
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April 1, 2013
The Avery Creek area near Brevard is an area that both Phil and I have driven by our entire lives but never stopped to investigate. We turned right off Hwy 276 just past the rangers station on our way out of Brevard. The dirt road through this low valley has several roadside camping sites, horse stables and trailheads. We parked …
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March 30, 2013
The hike today was a 4.1 mile loop in the Avery Creek area. We hiked up Bennett Gap Trail past Coon Tree Gap and over several summits. The trail rose 1100 feet in approx. 2 miles. The slope was gradual so it didn’t feel like we were climbing as much. We walked along the ridge for a mile or so …
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CRSP
March 29, Good Friday. It was a very Good Friday. I packed my backpack with a few fun things and set out for my daily workout walking up Four Seasons Trail at Chimney Rock State Park. The trillium that had come up last week was virtually frozen in place waiting on another warm day before sprouting its blooms. I saw …
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CRSP
It was a beautiful day so I ran up to Chimney Rock for a hike.I walked the Four Seasons Trail up to the parking lot. There were some surprising signs of spring! The signature 3 leaf trillium had sprouted. It should start to bloom by the first of next week. I made a mental note to go back Monday to …
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WHAT ?!*#$%
Delta flies their large planes out of the “S” concourse at the Seattle airport. These flights are mostly international flights to and from the Pacific rim. As a result, there are many travelers whose cell phones don’t work internationally. So, the concourse has a bank of pay phones for their convenience. Pay phones are such a relic. They look out …
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February 3, 2013
The weather was a little “iffy” today. The parkway has been closed due to snow and ice for weeks now, but we thought we would drive up to the gate at Wagon Road Gap and see if we could walk over the MTS and walk the ridgeline. We got to the parkinglot and it was cold and windy. The windchill …
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CRSP
Took a pleasant little walk in the woods today. Chimney Rock Park’s Four Seasons Trail is short, moderate and close to home. As you may see in the picture of the steps below, the little squirrels were hard at work with their nuts. They left nut shells all over the staircases on the trail. Busy little fellers! This little trail …
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January 26 – Gatlinburg
It was time for our yearly anniversary trip to Gatlinburg. The drive to Gatlinburg on Friday was difficult. It was 27 degrees when we left our house with freezing rain. It drizzled freezing rain the entire way. Thankfully, Interstate 40 had been pre-treated so the icy spots were minimal. We had good light all the way there. Saturday is always …
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January 20 Hike
On Sunday, we decided to hike a section of the Mountains to the Sea Trail that runs the ridge line overlooking Avery Creek Basin and the Shining Rock Wilderness. The Parkway was closed due to snow and ice. We could took 276 to the parkway access at the Wagon Road Gap overlook between mile marker 411 and 412 and parked …
Read More →January 20, 2013
On Sunday, we decided to hike a section of the Mountains to the Sea Trail that runs the ridge line overlooking Avery Creek Basin and the Shining Rock Wilderness. The Parkway was closed due to snow and ice. We could took 276 to the parkway access at the Wagon Road Gap overlook between mile marker 411 and 412 and parked …
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CRSP
Continuing along with my hiking, yesterday I ran over to Chimney Rock and walked up and down the stairs. This is really hard to do when you are doing it as fast as you can. So, I can add a little to my mileage and elevation gain totals. Yeah!
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Monday Hike at the Chimney
Total miles hiked: 1.7 Total vertical: tba Chimney Rock Park is having a few issues right now. The Hickory Nut Falls trail is closed due to a rock slide. The trail from the “Devil’s Head” to “Exclamation Point” is closed too. This messes up my mileage a little bit. Today, I hiked the Four Seasons Trail (1.2 miles round trip …
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Day Hike
Total miles hiked: 5.1 Total vertical: 1000′ This was our first hike of 2013. This year, I resolve to keep track of our mileage and a close estimate of the total vertical gained. Today’s hike began at the fish hatchery near Brevard. We hiked clockwise from the parking lot on Cat Gap Trail. We forked off the trail and hiked …
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Gingerbread 2012
Getting ready for Aunt Sandy’s Thanksgiving. Gingerbread men are present and accounted for!
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November 12, 2012
The annual trip to Mt. LeConte is logged into memory! Our guests this year included Bo and Kim! It was Kim’s first trip up the mountain and to the Smokies! This trip was full of “firsts!” We hiked up on Trillium. We ran into snow about 2.5 miles in. The higher we got, the deeper the snow. The snow was …
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2012-11-10
The annual trip to Mt. LeConte is logged into memory! Our guests this year included Bo and Kim! It was Kim’s first trip up the mountain and to the Smokies! This trip was full of “firsts!” We hiked up on Trillium. It was my first time on this trail. We ran into snow about 2.5 miles in. The higher we …
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America Votes
It was my privilege to be an official observer and project volunteer for one of the national campaigns. I consider myself an Independent voter, without party affiliation. This time around, I felt strongly enough to volunteer my time to one presidential candidate. This experience was interesting in several ways. When I showed up at the polling center 15 minutes early, …
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Dowsing
Phil and I had the pleasure to meet Vernon Bandy, a gifted dowser that has gained national acclaim with his skills. It was such a pleasure just to meet him and spend time watching him at work. Mr. Bandy says that he was born with this “gift” and that he believes it is a “God given ability” that can be …
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WNC Fair
One of the highlights of the year here in the Blue Ridge is the Western North Carolina State Fair. No, it isn’t the rides or the candied apples that attracts Phil and me. It’s not the clowns, the hotdogs, nor the carnies selling their wares. It’s the Goats! Nigerian Pigmy Goats We are drawn to the barns! The barns are …
Read More →Blog Updates
As my business turns its focus to simple responsive design for all devices, it gives the opportunity to update all 3 personal blogs with new software wrapped in a responsive design. It also highlights the fact that there are so many events and image galleries that are no longer available until they are re-created. uestion What have I learned by …
Read More →PGA 2012
Phil and I enjoyed attending the PGA Championship in Kiawah Island, SC. We got to see most of the high profile players. The crowd surrounding Tiger was a bit overbearing. The band of groupies swooped in on us on the 16th hole as they followed him from hole to hole. Sitting on the 16th fairway, we got to see most …
Read More →5th Day in a Row
This is the 5th day in a row I have hikes this trail. It is my “quiet time” Good for the soul
Read More →Pisgah
Great cardio this morning It was much needed.
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My Hiking Buddy 
