Campfire Smell

Get Outside Campaign Pt 8…

Another fantastic Buds vs Wild weekend. A return visit to the Linville Gorge for me, with the intent of an over-nighter away from our ladies with one of my best buds from Ohio and to melt some out of town face with the Gorge’s beautiful eastern rim along the Mountains to Sea trail.

The hike up to Table Rock had David and I pretty smoked, but as we got to the foot of the summit approach were treated with our first shot of the gorge below, we got a second wind and made quick work of the 1000’ summit.

Pressing on and leaving the girls to return on their own to the trailhead, David and I strolled through a multitude of bright pink and white Mt Laurel blooms along the trail rimming the Chimney section of the hike. This 2 mile strip of giant craggs jutting up and out into large spires is very popular with local climbers and really neat to hike through. The terrain was a far departure form the flat to slightly hilly land of north eastern Ohio that David was used to, so it was a treat for him to have a more challenging and exciting hike with scrambles etc.

We were soon upon the small trail that lofted us up about 30’ to a small cave where we were to camp. This rock overhang was about 25-30 feet wide and about 12-14 feet high and a perfect spot to frame in the gorge. As the weather moved in while we were camping, we stayed totally dry and warm and a gentle cross breeze kept the smoke out of our faces haha :D It couldn’t have been a better scenario.

It’s always such a pleasurable experience to share the amazing wilderness to those who’d otherwise never get to. This 8th installment of the Get Outside Campaign went off without a hitch and the much needed and well deserved rejuvenation that nature provided to David and I left us both eager for the next trip out into her warm embrace.

Cheers