On this trip I spent 3 days backpacking solo in North Carolina's Linville Gorge. I had planned a short route to do some fishing but recent heavy rains meant that I just did some relaxing instead - can't complain!
My first day started out hot and sunny heading down Pinch-in. I've gone up and down Pinch-in many times and the awesome views never get old. After making it down to the river and following the Linville Gorge Trail for a couple miles the sky opened up in a series of thunderstorms. I stayed dry in the first burst but then got ambitious and wanted to walk a little farther for a nicer campsite. I did end up with a nicer site, but also got soaked in the second rain burst of the evening.
On day 2 I continued along the LGT before cutting up Conley Cove. All the rain made the Gorge wetter than I had ever seen it - tons of rivulets, water features and cascades along the way. I shouldn't have carried all my water up from the bottom! Camp for the night was at Bean Camp along the Rock Jock trail, very small site. This was my only dry day of the trip.
Day 3 started out rainy but tapered off after I started hiking for the day. The real villain was all the water that had collected on the plants surrounding the trail, soaking me once again from chest to toe. The fog afforded incredible views of the Gorge, partially obscuring some areas and making others stand out even more.
I finished up on the short road walk along Old 105 and saw 2 fellas hammock camping a little ways before Pinch-in. They said the rainy weather was forecasted to continue for a couple more days. I was heading home anyways, to shower up and get dry!
Shorter highlight video for anyone who wants to see the scenery without the trip details:
https://youtu.be/sBacl8rHXG4
Layne
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