Do you keep secrets?

“A very good friend of mine in Alaska was very tight lipped about his favorite hunting places. It was almost comical at times. He would be telling a story and someone would casually ask where it was, out of curiosity. His eyes would look squinty and he quickly considered who was listening and usually gave a very vague answer that covered an area the size of Arkansas.

I have found myself thinking in a similar way about favorite backcountry spots. I cherish the fact that many have very little use compared to the high profile spots around the country.

Do you keep places a secret, or tell only very close friends who won't spoil it?”

“Oh yeah I do! I found some caves at a popular trail here in Ohio and that secrets going to my grave as when I found them they were absolutely undisturbed.”

“I'm very solitary by nature but have few secrets. I just plain don't care, so little bothers me.”

“I didn't tell that one of the best lean-tos in BSP is being discontinued after this year until I sent my reservation in for it. It's primo and I want one last trip there!

Other big secrets I've kept are hot fishing holes and my best fiddle headin' spots.

o(=D”

“Nope. No secrets here.”

“I keep fishing holes secret.
I'm still po'ed at my dad for taking one of my cousins to a beaver dam pond we found that had some really nice bass in it.”

“Trust No One.”

“Never ever, give out the location of a hot trout hole.”

“Yes, I tend to keep my favorite, undiscovered spots to myself. Blindfold people 'til I have 'em at the trailhead. 8v)) Once you've told, there's no taking it back.”

“yes I have a big one, Im going to Marylnad to go kayaking and annoy stormbringer at the end of the month. and tree does not know it yet.



you mean like that?”

“I have a wonderful camping spot in Sipsey...not many know of it and it is far enough off the main trail that no one can hear you or bother you....wooo hooooo
Mapleleaf bring that kayak to Sipsey River this spring when the water is up!!!”

“Divinity...do tell.

I have a sorta secret one in Sipsey. I hosted a private TT trip there last Feb, so I guess it's not private anymore. OPIE and Miss Opie know about it too. It's right on top of a waterfall, off trail, and only 1 mile from Big Tree area and maybe 1.5 miles from the trailhead.”

“Thirty years ago, I went to the Outer Banks and stayed just North of the Wright Memorial Bridge. There was practically NOTHING north of where we stayed. The local chamber of commerce had a slogan "A Secret Worth Keeping." Obviously, not enough people kept the area a secret and now its overgrown with McMansions with swimming pools, Food Lions, and boutiques.
Oh well.”

“thanks for the invite, but twignuts party is around that time. i plan on being broke by then”

“Flyguy told me about his favorite car camping place for family outings. I haven't divulged this info to anyone.”

“Lyndys, the old guy sold it. We went once since and the new operators charged us an additional amount for the 5th in our party (my youngest son!) Seems in California or which ever foreign land these Yups hail from, a site is only for 4.
We will not be going back.”

“I keep my sidearm concealed does that count?”

“packing bear - It depends on if you have a permit or not.”

“That is a shame, Fly. Everything is changing ......”

“I have the constitution to defend my right to keep and bear arms. Whether or not I have a permit is secret.”

“The government says different, just ask any pro athlete.”

“Day hiker...if I tell everyone will know:) then it will not be a secret....there is also a few great secluded spots near sipsey river south of the wilderness area...wooohoo....great campsite at the rapids too”

“MDS and I found a reall good one off trail over close to Braziel Creek. I have some pictures on webshtots from that trip. We were only 1/4 mile from the trail, but it was a lightly used horse trail so not much traffic. I was pretty pleased with it. It wouldn't have worked for a big crowd, but pretty good non the less.

I want to try the one on top of Fall Creek Falls that BAMA used on a trip. I didn't go on that trip, but evidently, there is a game trail that will get you on top of the bluff line.”

“There is also a surveyors thing there....( oh poo...what are they called???)”

“where?

Your talking about the surveyor marker that is a brass piece placed in a boulder or concrete?”

“yes...marker...LOl....hehehehe......it is true...beer kills brain cells...and I killed a few last eve....”

“I sometimes feel secretative about fairly well known places--don't want folks to get thinking about them. When one of the outdoor magazines does a piece on someplace I am fond of I wish they would just SHUT THE HECK UP!!”

“That's a little ways up an old road from that campsite, dayhiker.

I have posted pics of it here.”

“which of the places I mentioned is it near. I think it's close to Fall Creek Falls?”

“Yes, near Fall Creek Falls...”

“Thanks bit. I showed those pics to my dad a while back. I just haven't a clue where it is.

bit - did you see that I posted coords for March?”

“Yep I saw that...

I don't think I could find it again, dayhiker. BAMA showed us where it was.”

“I LOVE Fall Creek falls.....and I love the area above it......not many go up there...we walked up the creek for quite a ways.....”

“I'll put that on the to-do list”

“Well, I think it's at the corner of 4 townships, isn't it? should be relatively easy to find with a GPS...”

“I'm guessing it's the nearest corner to the falls. That would make sense anyway.”

“I cant tell you :)”

“Yes!

And that's ALL I'm saying.”

“shhhh....it's a secret....”

“If there was a "brass" thing there, it is called a bench mark and it should be indicated on any good map.

You could use that to zero in on the location.”

“Cottonsocks bought me the National Geographic map data for Christmas. It shows benchmarks and trails. It is proving to be a great data source and you can download or upload waypoints to/from a GPS.”

“There is a place in Colorado that some of the locals know about. I can't even mention which mountain range it is in for fear of someone finding it. One of my best friends is a local and deemed me worthy of experiencing this place. Man, am I grateful!
Anyway, I would pass on the secret, with his blessing, but only if I were hiking with someone in that vicinity. They would have to see it for the first time with me, so that I could see the wonder in their eyes.
Other than that, most of the trails I've been on are well known.”

“I find there are a lot of places that are ignored because of lack of publicity. I hesitate to change that.”

“Sure do! All on video.”

“Id say something but I signed the papers.....”