fun all alone...

“well, couldn't find anyone to go with me, so I went by myself. The RIM OF THE GAP trail was actually very nice, the view not as great as they describe it in books, but it did not matter because after you hit weight watcher rock, you have to watch your step, climb ladders, cross, creeks, waterfalls, etc... those last 2miles or so went by so fast, it was hard to belive I did hike 5 miles one way.

the nice part about the trail was, that I did not see but 2 sets of hikers the whole day I was up there. The first couple at the beginning of my hike back to the car. (oh, if they on this board...thanks ...they seamed to be really worried me being up there my myself)

the other 2 guys I saw at the end of my hike.

great trail and hightly recommended if you like the climbing part. You may want to watch it while it's cold. Lots of ice, if you do fall on some spots you will fall deep. I feel a couple times but thanks god, no where near the part where you fall down the cliffs.”

“Sounds like a fun hike, and Congratulations on your first solo hike!”

“That's great Gemini! I'm glad you didn't get hurt in your falls and had a nice hike.”

“Rim of the Gap? Up from Jones Gap State Park? If so that's an hour from my house. I live in Mauldin.
See you on the trail!”

“yes, the jones gap state park.
same park as the hospital rock, but hospital rock trail was kinda boring.

Solo hiking isn't actually not as bad.”

“"hiking solo isn't that bad"
that's what I was trying so say...
hope you figured it out.

solitary: let me know when you are going hiking. I don't mind company (even i did enjoy the solo)”

“I thought we were going to have to put this with the personal lubricant thread for a minute.

Congrats on the Solo!”

“If solo hiking ever gets lonely, take a dog with you. They go where you want, are good listeners, and if you get saddle bags for them they can carry extra trail treats”

“Beware of Solitary Hiker!!

>8-O eeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!


glad you had fun. I hike, backpack and take trips by myself all the time. I write a column for a paper and people always say "I can't believe you do that alone" or they introduce me to others "This is that gal that travels by herself. You KNOW... THAT ONE. She must be brave."

lolololol

But seriously now, watch out for Solitary Hiker....”

“liz, at first I thought solitary hiker was a female, I guess not huh?? (sorry soli...)

Okay, I'll watch out.
Yupp, people are pretty worried if you tell them you did this by yourself! I did not tell my husband I would go all my myself until I came back. :) I guess we are the brave bunch now huh? One day I want to hike the REAL mountains, you know those in WA or in that area. Real mountains, the ones I'll see on pictures. (dreaming like a little girl) I just have to convince my husband to let me go for a couple of weeks.

I hate to say it, but I am not a dog person. It's probably a good way to hike, but then I have to clean up their mess, etc... I think I'll rather take a can of maze and less treats. LOL

Maybe one day..”

“Sounds like you had a blast!!!!

Way to go that being your first solo hike you will always remember it!!!!!

8)”

“Some people will call Solitary Hiker a girl.... they are mostly Republicans.

(hehehehe)

Now Solly, if only you had been nice to me all these years, I could have given you a good recommendation. tsk tsk....


LMAO!!

And I always thought you lived in Califoria, Solly. Where did I get that idea????”

“haha, so I wasn't that far off, huh??

Oh, I must admit...I did NOT call for mommy, but hey, I did better then that, at the end of the 10 mile hike I did call for a helicopter... :)

oh, and forgive me father for I have sinned... I smoked one on my way up there, but must say didn't even feel like smoking after the second cigarette. HIking and smoking just does not match. Maybe if another smoker would've been around. I don't know.”

“Gem...Having hiked in the Rockies and the Appalachians, I think they're both real mountains, just different. Both are beautiful, and challenging in their own way. The only major difference, difficulty wise, is the elevation out west, imho. If I had to choose only one range to hike, between the two, I'd take the appalachians. I like the trees.”

“you're right, but I have never hiked those "real" mountains before, so I am longing for them. I love those pics I see all the time, lakes, trees, higher elevation and all. (I think snow nymph has those great pictures, but 'am not sure)

yellowstone is another dream of mine.

all are different and beautiful in their own way, it's just that I have never done neither. applachians, hiked some trails before, and they are beautiful, but I can't get there all the time or hubby will freak if I don't come home every weekend. I hike them if he takes the kids to grandma. (so you can imagine...I am just waiting for him to say that he is going to grandmas)”

“You go girl!! Sounds like you had an awesome time...I'll be ready for that it in the spring for sure!”

“Don't pay any attention to Lizs. She's still mad at me cause I caught her trying to lure some po ole Alabama boy into a scam to marry some Russian prostitute. No doubt they were gonna steal all his money. Trust me (heh heh heh), she is not to be believed.

Lizs,
At some time, in another life, I must have been a Californian. I love the place. If I won the Power Ball I'd move there tomorrow. It would either be Bishop (below Mel's house and warmer in the winter),or Jennings over by the mouth or the Russian River, or in one of those little shacks above the nude beach at Muir Beach, or maybe Point Arena. Then there's Hollister Ranch.....plenty of surfing there....Santa Cruz...?”

“NUDE??????????????????

HFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

)8P”

“Good for you Gemini. Lose the ciggies and you will breathe better and gain stamina. Just keep hiking after you quit!

Used to want to go to the Rockies, but in my dottage I think I'll stick to my worn-down old Appalachians and their cute little fossils.”

“glad you had a good time gemini,,,

the good thing about hiking/backpacking is that is just seems to get better all the time...”

“yupp, they do seam to get better. I just hope I find some more good trails close buy. I can't travel that far for a one day hike.”

“That's our problem too. It's a four hour drive at least for the better trails and much farther for the really good ones. SIGH, maybe if we ever relocate we'll take trail proximity into consideration.

Thank goodness for Grammas! =)”

“I took in a four mile loop combined with a geocache find today in Arkansas. It was a great day for a hike.”

“I hiked out of bed, ate some leftover chili, and read scores of articles on the Ohio State victory over Michigan. Whew, exhausting.

Glad you had a nice hike gemini, now you have to solo, AND camp out alone.”

“camp out solo?? ahhh, I am not sure about that yet!! Kind a boring if you are all alone and have no one to talk to. I probably would sit there and think about how cold it is. Naaa, I don't think I am ready for that yet, at least not during the cold season. Besides, crazygurl said she would go with me one day.
crazygurl....chicken....chicken... come on now.... you can do it.....
we could take a bottle of wine and make hot gluewine out of it. (good stuff when it's cold)”

“Hot gluewine?”

“yupp, you'll take some red wine, some spices (i get them from germany, but I think you can get them here too) and heat it up. it's really yummy, but will give you a buzz if you drink too much...
well, that was stupid what I just said, but you'll know. It will give you a buzz real fast”

“german spices?


ZOINKS!”

“I learned how to pack in 5 liters of merlot in a bag at Mt. Rogers last week. It will be a staple part of my pack on trips with large groups from now on! :)

Tell ole' crazy to get her butt to TC2, you both won't want to miss it!

BB”

“well it's final, she ain't coming! Big sissy!!!! you hear me crazygurl!! SIIIIISSSSSYYYYYYY!!!

I don't care. I am still coming, just cross your fingers for me that hubby won't cry too much about it. (love ya babe!!...just in case you sneak into my computer and read this)”

“sticks and stones will break my bones ..but words go straight to my heart!!! (sniff sniff)

Want me to cluck too while I'm at it!!!”