Black Mtn Crest Trail & Big Butt(kikker) fall trip

“Mommy, Yammy is picking on me again. Waaaaaaaa.

Anywho (since you're being sooo dang pushy), this week I'll scope out some info and see if we can do this puppy.”

“before you ask...I didn't go anywhere this weekend. Thought I can get my work done, but nope...wasn't ment to be.

Would've been a perfect weekend too because the kids went camping too.

I feel like part of my life is torn out of me. No hiking for how long? I lost track of days, weeks...month, years....

j/k

okay... I'm done with the drama.”

“I wonder how this hurricane going to affect this trip. I see the path is taking it right thru western NC”

“Gemini - come up to VA or WVA Columbus day weekend, I'm gonna put something together in Shenandoah or the Monongahela.

Ewker - At this rate there will be a hurricane comin' through while we're up there.”

“Bison, what date is columbus day on?”

“It's the weekend before the Black Mountain crest trip.”

“okay, don't think i have any plans then...I'm in.”

“Gemini to West Virginia????


Oh, really?”

“yupp, i noticed I signed up for the pharaho trip, but heck nope, that's almost 1000 miles one way for me, so I guess VA or WVA it is. That is...if someone is planning a trip.

If not...I'll go somewhere all alone and hope the bears don't bite me in the ass :(”

“Bison if you do a Shenandoah trip, could chance I'll go. Phantom Soul was wanting a Shenandoah trip this fall.”

“good chance I'll go.


-

The Black Mountains have held up well so far to the onslought of hurricanes it has faced. We shall see. I'll call the forest service and statepark after this one moves through.

Are there any other hurricanes wandering out there that could affect us?”

“Alright, I'll try to post a shenandoah trip for Columbus day weekend later today.”

“I've posted the Rockytop trip, so join up, it'll be a good warm up for this trip.”

“"If not...I'll go somewhere all alone and hope the bears don't bite me in the ass :("
Gemini
09:40:34 AM

Yeah, and what are ya gonna eat........worms?”

“31 degree windchill with 36 mile an hour wind up on Mitchell today.”

“He said he loves you and really misses you. He wants to know if you will marry him. heehee!

Gemini, those zamberlans do run large - I had to get a size smaller.

Bison - Is columbus day on a monday? I dont think WVA is too far from me...”

“bump”

“Embear - Columbus day is on a Monday. The trip is on Saturday and Sunday and is at Shenandoah in Virginia, Where are you located? It shouldn't matter how far anyway, if you're a real backpacker you'll come along. If you don't come to this trip you will lose the respect of all of the attendees and they will be justified in considering you an inferior backpacker.”

“oh whatever. you're silly. I might try to come on this - I'm in Nashville. Gem - are you gonna go for sure?”

“Embear - Nashville to Waynesboro, VA. Approximately 521 miles, 8 1/2 hours. No too far for a holiday weekend, assuming you don't have some crappy job where you don't get Columbus day off.”

“Gem is definitely going, she's knows the ridicule she would suffer if she backed out now.”

“yeah, I am gonna go on this one for sure.”

“I actually work for myself Bison, so I can leave Friday and come back Monday:)”

“I may be able to make it for the full blk mtn trip now. i have been offered a new job and if i accept it, i would make sure i had that friday (oct 15th) off for the trip.”

“that's awesome yam, you will like the first day's hike. From Bolens Creek to Deep Gap is the best part and you will get another knife edge.”

“Yam! Yay! Was it the job who asked you all the crazy questions to verify your experience? I'm so happy for you! Lets go celebrate!

PS. You know that now means that you have to stay here for at least until I move:)”

“embear--i'm torn about this new job. it seems silly to take it for 6 months and then move (so i will STILL be moving before you, don't you doubt it!). but on the other hand, it's more $$ and i'll actually have benefits!!
ok. just had to blurt that out for the internet to see.
carry on.”

“Congrat's Yam!”

“thanks lumby. hopefully i won't regret it!! :)”

“I'm unemployed right now”

“Yam, you still moving to where I think you are. Congrats on the new job offer.”

“ewk--

as of now, i am still looking to move NE. you wanna buy my condo in the spring?? :)”

“oh and thanks for the congrats!”

“nobody wants to buy your stinkin condo with the broken fence!


just kidding:)

Ewker - you can buy mine next summer!”

“embear, your planning on moving also :(
We can't lose pretty woman like you two to another part of the country...sigh”

“Sorry Ewker!

yam, you won't be sorry moving this close to the Northeast crew.

Trust me.......”

“just curious. If we get up there that Friday and the trail is in terrible shape due to the hurricanes is there an alternate plan in the works. Hoping that won't be the case but who knows what we will find.”

“ewker that is a great question!

ENS?”

“"and the trail is in terrible shape"

Uh, What trail? Just because they call it the Black Mountain Crest trail doesn't mean there's actually a trail there. In the words of Gemini - "Deese trail ist kaput"”

“Bison, lets say it is even in worse shape than it was when you went there last time.”

“I doubt that's possible, but once we get up there the only real options will be to push on through or abort.”

“yeah, it is basically a Bushwack from Celo Knob to Deep Gap. It's rugged and hard. If we get up there and the trail is in such bad shape that it's impassible, there are several options. Hike down the Colbert Ridge trail from Deep Gap or hike to Mt. Mitchell on Satrday and bail. Or turn around and hike back down the mountain. I am going to call the forest service + state park and see if they can advise as to what the status of the trail is a few days prior to the hike. The trail was ok post Ivan. I don't know if Jeane has caused any damage.

Bison is right. There really is no trail from Celo to Deep Gap. We're basically hiking along the ridge spine of the Blacks for 5 miles once we crest.”

“And if I survive another ridiculous climb up Celo Knob I'm pushin' on through.”

“the color is going to be so awesome when we get up there.”

“I talked to a friend in NC tonight and they said the higher you get in the mountains the worse it gets. They are more worried about the roads than they are getting the trails back together. That is why I am asking about an alternate plan in case we need it. I really hope this trip is a go, looking forward to it.”

“If the hurricanes did anything to the "trail" they probably improved it.”

“I can't imagine this trail getting any worse than it is. If need be, we can bail at Deep Gap or Mitchell. I think we will be alright.”

“that is what I wanted to hear. Looking forward to seeing you that Friday morning at Hardee's”

“when are you leaving for this trip. Embear and the dude are coming to my place and we will leave Thursday afternoon. There is room for you if you want to ride with us.”