I've had years of cramped up city life...

[Jocassee]

So I decided to go up on ole Rocky Top.
Disclaimer: These pictures are not from the actual Rocky Top in Tennessee. They were taken on ridge I got to from Highway 281 in Sapphire, NC. Exact Location undisclosed.

Posted for your edification and enjoyment.


This was a dawn trip. It would have been a good idea except for the fact that we had to leave at 0315 to get these pictures. And the fact that I almost killed three sleeping people while driving back, including myself.

You can see Lake Jocassee in this picture. We were due north of the western finger of the lake. Not sure of our exact altitude. Its not as high as it looks because everything below us was only foothills.







Yours truly, striking a pose made famous by a certain 80's movie.



The Jocassee Gorges region is part of a small belt of temperate rainforest east of the Mississippi, receiving over 100 inches of rain annually. Other interesting details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_State_Park
And NO, I did not take the rifle within state park boundaries. I was well to the west.

If there are any other APS members in the area that would be interested in another such adventure, please send me a PM.

[Monkeyleg]

Beautiful photos.

[Perd Hapley]

Good song. 

[S. Williamson]

Makes me miss Ireland. 

[Jocassee]

Beautiful photos.

Should have mentioned also that the photos were taken by a friend with an expensive camera. But I still drug myself up that mountain at 5 in the morning so its not like I'm freeloading.

[charby]

Dude, go spend a week in the Boundary Waters.

[Jocassee]

Dude, go spend a week in the Boundary Waters.

Looks like fun but that's an awfully long hike to do a little paddlin...is all that National Forest? And how crowded is it? Unfortunately my "big trip" money is going toward an African venture at the moment...I'm going to set the world record for distance travelled by bush taxi in a week. Seriously though, I like wide open spaces and seclusion, both of which are in short supply in the East. I'll add Superior NF to my list of places to go before I get married or die.

[charby]

Looks like fun but that's an awfully long hike to do a little paddlin...is all that National Forest? And how crowded is it? Unfortunately my "big trip" money is going toward an African venture at the moment...I'm going to set the world record for distance travelled by bush taxi in a week. Seriously though, I like wide open spaces and seclusion, both of which are in short supply in the East. I'll add Superior NF to my list of places to go before I get married or die.

A little paddling? In '07 we did 60 miles of paddling and portaging in 5 days. I think we're going to do a slower trip this year of 50-60 miles over 9 days.

They limit the number of people that can enter the BWCA each day, so its not really that crowded and if you are willing to put some miles on you can go to places where you won't see a soul all day. Its not wide open spaces either, its ogliotrophic lakes surrounded by old growth boreal forests.

If you want wide open spaces then head West to some of the National Grasslands in NE, SD, WY, MT or ND.

Here is a typical view in the BWCA. We're on Cherokee Lake which is about 13 miles in from the Sawbill Lake entry point.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Try Linville Gorge next time you're in the area.  Best views and roughest terrain you'll find east of the Mississippi.

[Gowen]

Thank you for the new wallpaper. 

[KPT]

I'm in the Raleigh area now but graduated from WCU. We went camping all the time around there.











That's the Blue Ridge Parkway in the background to give you an idea of where we were.

Clearer view of the BRP:

[charby]

Thank you for the new wallpaper. 

which pic?

[Jocassee]

KPT, is that a public area or private, and whereabouts exactly? Since I only recently achieved financial and transportational freedom I have a lot of exploring to do.

[KPT]

It is public. Both NC game land and US forest service land. I think that is still Jackson county.

There are at least three trails that go to that area. It would be difficult if not impossible to find it without someone who has been there. Its about an hour drive up the trails from hwy 107 in Cullowhee. 

I'll be going out there sometime in the distant future. The transmission for my truck is currently spread out on the workbench.

[Gowen]

which pic?

Last one first post.  The sunlight coming through the trees.  My wallpapers change with my moods, the last thing I had on was a old British ship of the line.  Before that, I cannot say.

[jackdanson]

before I get married or die.

Same thing.

[Jocassee]

Same thing.

Pretty much the only thing I need to fuel my lifestyle is gasoline and ammunition. Everything else is secondary. After I almost killed myself on the last trip, death is looking much more immanent than marriage. Although to an extent, marriage is death...or so I hear.  No intention of trying it any time soon.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Shooting and backpacking are both more fun with a female along for company.

[Jamisjockey]

Shooting and backpacking are both more fun with a female along for company.

Not necessarily.  Its nice getting out with the boys and "bonding". 

[seeker_two]

Sitting in the uncomfortable chair and using the comfy chair as a rest?.....U R doin' it WRONG.... 

[Balog]

Not necessarily.  Its nice getting out with the boys and "bonding". 

I have a feeling I don't want to know what you mean by "bonding."

[grampster]

"Sitting in the uncomfortable chair and using the comfy chair as a rest?.....U R doin' it WRONG...." 

Finally, we have a visual of the new words....Epic Fail.