Linville Gorge trip
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hlpressley
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The wife and I done 13.8 miles on Sunday
in my truck!
Seriously, we rode up Old Hwy 105 on Sunday. Was the first for me but it definitely won’t be the last! The peacefulness and scenery is like no other! Wish I was there many times throughout the day today.
in my truck!
Seriously, we rode up Old Hwy 105 on Sunday. Was the first for me but it definitely won’t be the last! The peacefulness and scenery is like no other! Wish I was there many times throughout the day today.
MacEntyre
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I've done it, but not in one outing... it's a lot to do. Gorge miles are not the same other other hiking miles.
MacEntyre
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I've never known anyone to do it that fast... but, folks run marathons in the Gorge, down and up and back down again!
I'd suggest leaving a car at Table Rock parking lot, then go over to Connely Cove to depart. Go down the LRT, up Leadmine, down the MST, ford the river and head up onto Shortoff Mtn and on past Chimney Gap to the Chimneys and Table Rock.
I'd suggest leaving a car at Table Rock parking lot, then go over to Connely Cove to depart. Go down the LRT, up Leadmine, down the MST, ford the river and head up onto Shortoff Mtn and on past Chimney Gap to the Chimneys and Table Rock.
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Hammer12b
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I was going to say that, the place is literally crawling with them in places! Also with all this rain, the creeks will be very high and slick. And it tends to wash the snakes up high.
MacEntyre
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If you want to avoid a river crossing, you can just do a 20 mile hike down one side or t'other...
I like to park at Wolf Pit and go north.
I like to park at Wolf Pit and go north.
Be careful and I would avoid river crossings this weekend. At the least, have a back up plan if you can't do it. They drag enough injured and dead out of that gorge in a year, we don't need any more.
Not too bad. Be advised, Pinch in trial is the most brutal 1 mile I have ever hiked. I also made the mistake of making it an overnight trip, down to the river and back. I hiked parts of that trial down backwards, facing the hill. Which I could reach out and touch standing up. lol FWIW, I've hiked and camped since college, spent 2 years leading trekking trips for BSA, and 6 years in a Wilderness Program. Steepest trail I've ever been on. Only thing that comes close are some of the messes I have gotten into off trail trout fishing, most of those involved climbing around waterfalls.
Not trying to scare you off, just give yourself enough time to deal with it and take hiking staffs or pick up a sturdy stick somewhere.
Not trying to scare you off, just give yourself enough time to deal with it and take hiking staffs or pick up a sturdy stick somewhere.
Found this play by play of the same route. Pretty helpful!
https://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/PinchInRockJockLinvilleGorge/
https://www.hikingupward.com/PNF/PinchInRockJockLinvilleGorge/
cubrock
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Yes, but be careful where you camp and watch the weather. Flash floods happen, well, in a flash down in the gorge.
MacEntyre
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I'd say "no", because you will end up bushwackin', an' it'll be pretty rough. Where there is no trail along the river, it's pretty tough goin'.
If you park at Wolfpit, at t'other end of the Gorge, and go to the MST crossing, you can hike up the river on the east side, where there is no trail. It's not as rough, an' the fishin' is better.
If you park at Wolfpit, at t'other end of the Gorge, and go to the MST crossing, you can hike up the river on the east side, where there is no trail. It's not as rough, an' the fishin' is better.
cubrock
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I'd listen to Mac over me. I was answering in the theoretical - it is possible. He answers with way more Gorge experience than I have.
WOW! What a great trip and Linville Gorge is a must for anyone in the area that likes hiking.
Day one was nearly a total washout as we did Pinch In to LGT and LGT to just past cathedral falls. Rained from one hour in until we hit the hay. Sometimes a drizzle and sometimes a downpour. Too hot to even bother with rain gear, we just accepted the soaking.
While we made it to the site past cathedral falls, we ended up back tracking to a site we’d passed before cathedral. SUPER steep walk down but worth it to be right on a smaller falls and chute on the river. It was so loud though, even sitting next to each other at our site we almost needed to yell to talk to one another.
Day two was a different story weather-wise. Sunny and warm. We took LGT to Conley Cove to Rock Jock then walked the road back to Pinch In parking. I have to say, that 800 vertical climb up last 1/2 mile of Rock Jock is NO JOKE! My buddy is a marathoner so he did well. I struggled but made it. Earned the beer at the truck for sure!
Definitely a strenuous two day hike but completely doable. I’ve seen some strong warnings on some sites about the level of difficulty for this loop and I don’t want that to discourage some from taking it on. Do you need to be relatively fit? Yes. A highly experienced mountaineer? No. You need a good map and map skills, the right gear (light), the right mentality, ability to climb down and up steep terrain and climb over uneven obstacles, and knowledge to identify poisonous snakes!!!
What a beautiful state we have here!
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Day one was nearly a total washout as we did Pinch In to LGT and LGT to just past cathedral falls. Rained from one hour in until we hit the hay. Sometimes a drizzle and sometimes a downpour. Too hot to even bother with rain gear, we just accepted the soaking.
While we made it to the site past cathedral falls, we ended up back tracking to a site we’d passed before cathedral. SUPER steep walk down but worth it to be right on a smaller falls and chute on the river. It was so loud though, even sitting next to each other at our site we almost needed to yell to talk to one another.
Day two was a different story weather-wise. Sunny and warm. We took LGT to Conley Cove to Rock Jock then walked the road back to Pinch In parking. I have to say, that 800 vertical climb up last 1/2 mile of Rock Jock is NO JOKE! My buddy is a marathoner so he did well. I struggled but made it. Earned the beer at the truck for sure!
Definitely a strenuous two day hike but completely doable. I’ve seen some strong warnings on some sites about the level of difficulty for this loop and I don’t want that to discourage some from taking it on. Do you need to be relatively fit? Yes. A highly experienced mountaineer? No. You need a good map and map skills, the right gear (light), the right mentality, ability to climb down and up steep terrain and climb over uneven obstacles, and knowledge to identify poisonous snakes!!!
What a beautiful state we have here!
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MacEntyre
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Great trip report! Excellent photos! Glad you had a good hike. Looks like your copperhead friend is tryin' to shed, and might be havin' a hard time seein' you.
What did your packs weigh?
In the Gorge, perhaps more than anywhere else, lightening up yer pack makes a huge difference in how difficult is the hike.
What did your packs weigh?
In the Gorge, perhaps more than anywhere else, lightening up yer pack makes a huge difference in how difficult is the hike.
Our packs were not weighed but in the 35-40 range. I could have shed some weight without a firearm and a lighter pack but it was fine. The water proof bag covers were a must. Should have just left the rain gear at home. Could have also skipped my wool layer but you never know..
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I've been using Avenza up around the parkway when hiking and it seems to do really well. I have not used it where cell phone service isn't great, so no idea how it works then. Sounds like it works fine though if it worked in the Gorge. Might have to get maps for the Smokies when we go up in August.
Dale Gribble
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Great photo!