Heading Back.

Well, since I was frustrated in my attempt to bag Sitting Bear Mountain a few days ago, I'm heading back to Linville Gorge in the morning to try again. It's the only major peak in the wilderness that I haven't hiked, so I want to strike it off my list before it becomes a frustrated obsession. In the coming years I'll be hiking and camping and backpacking so much that I doubt it would rank very high on my list, so best to do it now while I still think about it.

I've heard the views from the top are pretty good. I'm always curious if I'll find a grandstand in the Gorge as good as the Hawksbill summit. So far, I have not found a view to surpass with that one.

From a recent visit to the Gorge. Not far from Table Rock.

Taken at The Amphitheater. A grand location.

I took this selfie on Hawksbill. So far, it's my favorite view in and of the Gorge. I doubt it can be topped, but you never know.

A Few Parting Shots

Just a couple of videos and a few more photographs (courtesy of Andy Kunkle). But don't just look at my blog--go to visit the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. It's truly one of the most beautiful spots in the eastern USA.

Taken just south of Table Rock Mountain. That's The Chimneys in the background.

Me, taking in the views.

I think my insistence on climbing up rocks was making Andy nervous.

The Amazing Views at The Chimneys, just south of Table Rock Mountain.

The View from the South Rim of The Amphitheater.

The Real Deal

After leaving the Mountains to Sea Trail we started down a relatively well-worn path made for us by rock climbers. It passes through the part of the forest that was burned down in the drought-induced fire of 2000. This fire scoured off all of the trees on this side of the gorge. Eight years later, during the next severe drought, another fire would denude to gorge of its trees on the opposite side. (I wrote about that on this blog in my recounting of our hike on the Rock Jock Trail.)

The trees are beginning to recover, but it's a struggle to hike through a forest of eight-year-old trees. They are just the right height to impede walking and the needles of Table Mountain pines are quite sharp and painful.

After dropping down from the heights of the ridge, we soon found ourselves hiking on the northern arm of The Amphitheater. It was as fantastic as Andy had promised. You find yourself atop a looming cliff face that falls down into a side canyon that trickles with water. Down in those spaces I could spot a few good campsites for another day--shelves of earth and rock with pools of water waiting to quench a camper's thirst or for boiling water for a hot meal. I aim to return with my loaded backpack.


Andy and Boone as we hiked out on the northern arm of The Amphitheater.

I can't think of a better place to stop and eat lunch. The weather was cooperative. The skies were clear with cobalt skies. It was unseasonably warm--the temperatures were in the 70s and I wished all along the hike that I'd worn shorts.

One of the few self-portraits I took on this hike. Andy had brought his camera and was good enough to take a number of photos of me and the mountains.

Looking from the south rim of The Amphitheater toward the north rim. The top of the cliff is where Andy was eating his lunch in that earlier photo.

Looking down into the scarred earth.

The scenery seemed to change with the light. As the sun rose in the sky, shadows altered the landscape.

Every step was an experience.

At one point on the trail, we were able to look down on our lunch spot.

As the day was winding down, we had to move to get out of the gorge. The trail at some points is...well...an experience in itself. Here we negotiate a fat man's squeeze along the highest of the ridge line.

Eye-Popping Scenery

Andy Kunkle had promised to guide me to a place in Linville Gorge that rivaled some of the West's scenery. It's a placed called The Amphitheater. Known mainly to rock climbers, it's just not common knowledge among the hiking and backpacking community. It consists of a number of huge sheer walls that plunge down pretty much to the Linville River from the heights just below the ridge line not far south of Table Rock and The Chimneys.

This photo journal today illustrates the first part of our hike.

We had parked on Ginger Cake Road at a spot that's pretty popular for casual hikers. For the reason that it's the shortest and easiest route to hike down to the Linville River. We had a hard time finding a parking spot, and I ended up parking on the shoulder of the road. This was taken not far into the woods from the road.

Boone, as usual, was raring to go. He kept running ahead of us and then doubling back to see what was keeping his human companions. Forget about seeing wildlife when you have a dog along.

Classic southern hiking. Narrow trails and rhododendron.

Boone can scrambled up rocky walls, too!

Another great view into the gorge. Hawksbill Mountain was to the north of us and Table Rock was to the south, in the direction we were headed.

As we get alongside Table Rock, we are afforded good views of The Chimneys.

Andy and Boone pose at the base of Table Rock's western walls.

Looking back at Table Rock after we'd paused at the parking area just below it.

This was on the first of the three Chimneys. Go ahead. Try to walk across that pine tree. I dare ya. I double-dog dare ya.

Andy and Boone precede me down the trail.

Yep. That's the trail. A tight squeeze.

See how narrow?

Looking north into the Gorge.

Not sure what's being protected. Could be vegetation. Might be peregrine nesting area. This was on the second of The Chimney formations.

I had clambered up one of The Chimneys, looking for a scrambling route to the top. But it was just a tad too technical for me. But I got a good photo from about 3/4 of the way to the summit looking down at Andy and Boone.

Click on this photo. It's a good one!

The scenery just kept getting more rugged and more spectacular.

The improved cairn that rock climbers have left on the Mountains to Sea Trail to alert their fellows of the way down to The Amphitheater.

Tomorrow: the real deal.

Hiking into Linville Gorge

I went hiking into the Linville Gorge yesterday with my sometime-hiking friend Andy Kunkle and his dog, Boone.

Here are a few shots. I'll post details about the hike later...

One of the first views we got of the surrounding territory after hiking from the lower country toward the ridge lines.

As we progressed toward Table Rock Mountain, the views began to become more and more impressive. This, however, was nothing compared to what was to come later.

A view from our goal: the heights of The Amphitheater. Known mainly only to rock climbers, hikers rarely visit this part of the gorge. I'll hit you with more details and eye candy tomorrow.