Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Senior Member Twistytee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    North Carolina
    Hammock
    SLD Trail Lair
    Tarp
    Thunderfly
    Insulation
    JRB Greylock 3
    Suspension
    UCR/Spider Straps
    Posts
    372

    Shinning Rock Wilderness Loop June 17 & 18

    I’m heading up to SRW Fri & Sat to do a loop around the Art Loeb Trail and the MST. I need to escape this crazy heat in the Piedmont - temps are forecasted for low 70s/mid 40s night so should be perfect hiking and hammock conditions. Haven’t finalized my loop yet but will probably start from the Black Balsam lot. I plan to be back mid day Sun for Father’s Day activities but if anyone cares to join a last min trip feel free to drop me a PM for more details.

  2. #2
    DocTheo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Warwick, NY
    Hammock
    Who can choose?
    Tarp
    DW Bonded P2F
    Insulation
    Unicorn Fur
    Suspension
    Beckett hitch
    Posts
    186
    Man - Shining Rock Wilderness! Was just talking about that hike at the TrailHeadz hang! If I were closer ... and in a LOT better condition ...

    I think I still have the scars from the last SRW trip I took. Tough hike. Gorgeous views. I did Art Loeb up to Cold Mountain and looped it around to Stairs Mountain, then caught Shining Rock, went over to Flower Knob, Grassy Cove Top, and cut back on Ivestor Gap trail to Little East Fork back to Camp Daniel Boone. A good GPS device or incredible map reading skills are essential because the blazes were almost nonexistent - but Little East Fork was very nice.

    The rest of that trail beat me half to death. But the views were absolutely worth it - except Cold Mountain which was completely socked in

    And yeah. I'd do it again.

    I'm jealous - does it show?
    Medical professional, semi-professional Scouter, aspiring layabout.
    "If it's stupid, and it works - it's not stupid."

    WWW
    S487-132

  3. #3
    Senior Member Twistytee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    North Carolina
    Hammock
    SLD Trail Lair
    Tarp
    Thunderfly
    Insulation
    JRB Greylock 3
    Suspension
    UCR/Spider Straps
    Posts
    372
    Haha - I know what you mean. I did the full ALT going northbound last June and it was tough - heavy elevation changes and the ridgeline up from Deep Gap to Silvermine Bald was brutal in the heat and humidity. I also did the exact loop you described in December with a night on Cold Mountain where the winds hit 30+ mph. Was pretty cold and foggy. Unfortunately the damage from Hurricane Fred in 2021 really impacted sections of the Little East Fork - in several sections it was barely passable due to mudslides. The ALT up from CDB to Cold Mountain also suffered a couple of pretty serious wash outs.

    I plan to stick to the Balds and MST with the connector trail to Big East Fork this time. Should be less elevation change but I’ll still benefit from the panoramic views on the Balds.

    Sunset view from camp at Cold Mountain before the fog set in

    DSC02518 by Twistytee, on Flickr
    Last edited by Twistytee; 06-13-2022 at 22:22.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Twistytee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    North Carolina
    Hammock
    SLD Trail Lair
    Tarp
    Thunderfly
    Insulation
    JRB Greylock 3
    Suspension
    UCR/Spider Straps
    Posts
    372
    I’m still heading up to SRW tomorrow in case there’s any last minute joiners. Plan to do the southern loop around Shinning Creek, ALT, Graveyard Fields, etc. Weather looks clear so far with temps in 60-70 range and no rain in the forecast.

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 20
      Last Post: 05-19-2021, 20:09
    2. Replies: 28
      Last Post: 08-10-2020, 09:58
    3. Replies: 11
      Last Post: 06-29-2017, 19:10
    4. Georgia loop or Bartram/AT loop in June?
      By Nodust in forum Southeast
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 08-16-2015, 12:05
    5. Ellicott Rock Wilderness Loop
      By CeeVee in forum Southeast
      Replies: 71
      Last Post: 10-15-2014, 11:09

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •