Aldaron
Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2012
- Messages
- 1,487
Well, life has been crazy since I moved from Utah to Alabama this summer, but we've finally moved into a house and we're about to be settled in. So, over the Labor Day weekend I decided it was time to get out for a few days. This has been a rough summer because for nine years in Utah I've had a very regular routine of backpacking almost every single weekend in the summer. After moving in May, I've only been out ONE night. It's killing me. I'm originally from Tennessee, so I figured I knew what to expect for the holiday weekend: it would be a little crowded, but I could find a retreat. Well, it was more than a little crowded, and I didn't manage to find a retreat.
The plan was to hike at Shining Rock Wilderness, but the crowds there were insane. I literally counted 286 cars at one trail. No joke. I managed to find a less crowded trail that started on the Mountain to Sea Trail and went near Little Sam Knob next to the Shining Rock Wilderness. Unfortunately, it was less than an 8 mile loop and the trail wasn't all that. Also, we found quite a few people around the only campsites, so we ended up just doing the full 8 mile loop and ending up back at the car by mid-afternoon.
Oh well. The weekend ended up being a bust for backpacking, but I did learn a few things: stay at home on Labor Day...it's too crowded and too hot, and, unlike the Rockies, the season here lasts long enough that you can afford to miss a hot, crowded summer weekend. Also, I'm going to stick to the west side of the Appalachians for the most part. That area around Asheville just tends to get more crowded than other areas, I think.
But I did get some pictures:
I didn't know I would have to re-learn how to enjoy the mountains where I grew up, but it would seem that 9 years in Utah and 3 years in Colorado have had a bigger impact on me than I realized. Now I'm spending my evenings planning my 3 week trip to Wyoming next summer!
The plan was to hike at Shining Rock Wilderness, but the crowds there were insane. I literally counted 286 cars at one trail. No joke. I managed to find a less crowded trail that started on the Mountain to Sea Trail and went near Little Sam Knob next to the Shining Rock Wilderness. Unfortunately, it was less than an 8 mile loop and the trail wasn't all that. Also, we found quite a few people around the only campsites, so we ended up just doing the full 8 mile loop and ending up back at the car by mid-afternoon.
Oh well. The weekend ended up being a bust for backpacking, but I did learn a few things: stay at home on Labor Day...it's too crowded and too hot, and, unlike the Rockies, the season here lasts long enough that you can afford to miss a hot, crowded summer weekend. Also, I'm going to stick to the west side of the Appalachians for the most part. That area around Asheville just tends to get more crowded than other areas, I think.
But I did get some pictures:
I didn't know I would have to re-learn how to enjoy the mountains where I grew up, but it would seem that 9 years in Utah and 3 years in Colorado have had a bigger impact on me than I realized. Now I'm spending my evenings planning my 3 week trip to Wyoming next summer!
