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Sunday, July 2nd We got up early this morning so we could get our day packs arranged and pre-hydrate. Breakfast was served just before 08:00 out at the food trailer (more on this later) so we were fed, watered and ready for departure around 08:30. At 08:52, we parked in Carvers Gap and started up Round Bald. Snapchat-197731977-M.jpg The ascent was exceptionally well graded - we found ourselves looking back into the gap without breaking a sweat. Wherever possible, I will post pictures that Smokin…

That had to be a tough decision. I hope you heal up and can get back to New Hampshire. The Whites are worth the effort.

Background When I did my March Section Hike from Sams Gap to Dennis Cove, I made a decision to skip the section between Carvers Gap and Route 19E. One of the reasons was that I wanted to bring my daughter out to the AT and this seemed like a slam-dunk eye candy addicting section that could be done either as an overnighter or as a long day hike. We opted for the latter and met up at the Mountain Harbour B&B on July 1st so we could get an early start on the morning of the 2nd. As a warm-up, we dro…

Had a great day hike of the Roan Highlands with my daughter yesterday. Trip report to come. If I had any regrets for skipping this section back in March, they were long gone by the time I started up Round Bald fom Carvers Gap. DSCN0880-L.jpg

Quote from Drybones: “Quote from StalkingTortoise: “Scheduled to head back to TN / NC over July 4th weekend to finish the 15 miles between Carvers Gap and Route 19E at Mountain Harbour. This will be my first father-daughter hike on the AT. w00t! ” I thought about going back to Mt Harbour, taking the wife and staying at the B&B, but after thinking about it decided I'd rather stay over the barn again, definitely would like to have the breakfast again, doubt it would be the same as after hiking to …

Scheduled to head back to TN / NC over July 4th weekend to finish the 15 miles between Carvers Gap and Route 19E at Mountain Harbour. This will be my first father-daughter hike on the AT. w00t!

Speaking of pro players vs. recreational golfers... I was playing a course on St. Croix with a local many years ago. As we finished the 15th and moved to the nearby 16th tee, four shots rained down onto the 15th green behind us - all of them close to the pin. Turns out the LPGA had a tournament scheduled and four tour members were playing a practice round together. We learned that four professionals can play birdie golf faster than two amateurs playing bogey golf - we had to step aside and let t…

I would guess that the USGA was not happy with -16 winning the U.S. Open. Maybe the clown's mouth will be added to a few greens at Shinnecock Hills... I understand making the U.S. Open a supreme test of golfing skill. What I don't understand is recreational courses that have severely sloped greens where a putt that just misses the hole will roll off the green. Off to hit and then chase the little white ball in 8 hours...

Quote from CoachLou: “My plan is to set this back up to ride 'Rail Trails'. The C&O, The Creeper, 'Pine Creek' in Pa., and forest roads. Bike packing is cool, and when I bike packed before, I had not learned to fish , and rail trails run along rivers..........and bike packs carry fishing rods, and lots of food, and wine Just sayin' ” Pine Creek Rail Trail is very nice. I don't know if the restaurant is still in operation at the Blackwell trailhead, but it was a welcome stop after a long ride up …

Quote from TrafficJam: “Got up at the butt crack of dawn to ride my bike 25 mi from Townsend to Cade's Cove. My legs were shot after hiking last weekend so had to stop three times on the last hill. The descent was awesome and I would have hit 40 mph except I chickened out and tapped the brakes. ” Scariest descent, yet highly exhilarating i-zwWFbxk-M.jpg I ride full gear on my motorcycle but I push a twitchy bike to it's limits on a long downhill with nothing but lycra between me and the road. Go…

I'm surprised that Jenny Meatballs didn't find a way to include LUNCH SHAMING into her statement.

Quote from uncle meat: “Quote from Rasty: “Quote from JimBlue: “Well. I had no problems reading it. Didn't take me very long either. I understood it just fine. I doubt any of you have a literacy problem. So if a guy had made identical claims, based on past posts in here, you guys would have accepted his claims. The alleged problem occurred because a woman made the claim. ” Evidence your wrong about us being sexist with record attemptsAnish announces FKT attempt There is also support on this site…

[raised hand] "Yes Mr. Tortoise... do you have a question?" "No. It's too late for the shoes. I'm just trying to save my watch."

Ummm... you might want to post your intentions on the FKT site. Your thread is most likely going to drift into a discussion about drinking Blatz and peeing in water sources while hiking with an unleashed dog. Oh look... a butterfly!

Quote from StalkingTortoise: “Quote from odd man out: “Quote from StalkingTortoise: “20170519_143259_resized-L.jpg ” So is this one of the precipices you are supposed to be avoiding? ” Yep. That was actually more terrifying than sitting on the ledge at McAfee Knob. My fingernails were digging into the rock. One slip and it would have been a bad day for the Chinese SAR guys. This ledge was on the opposite side of this feature. 20170519_143955-M.jpg Tourists go to the left side. Thrill seekers go …

Did a two-day trek on the Great Wall back in 2008. Got a permit to sleep on the wall. The next day, my guide and I had the wall to ourselves because a VIP and her entourage were trekking later in the day. Turned out to be Olivia Newton John on her 'Great Walk to the Sea". IMG_0584-L.jpg IMG_0599-L.jpg Hiked the Kalalau Trail on Kauai in 2005 DSCN3195-L.jpg DSCN3237-L.jpg Visited the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean in 2011and climbed the crater of the active volcano DSCN0552-L.jpg DS…

I had absolutely no expectations of having fun on this two-week trip. Huangshan was a bonus. Then I arrived in Chengdu and my supplier took me to see Kung Fu Panda. 20170522_180157-1-M.jpg 20170522_165641-M.jpg 20170522_170640-1-L.jpg 20170522_171947-L.jpg 20170522_171317-L.jpg 20170522_172804-L.jpg Did you ever see a red panda? Now you have. 20170522_173854-L.jpg The day ended with a hot pot dinner. That is where jet fuel is mixed with several hundred red chilis and the mixture is heated to 250…

Quote from odd man out: “Quote from StalkingTortoise: “20170519_143259_resized-L.jpg ” So is this one of the precipices you are supposed to be avoiding? ” Yep. That was actually more terrifying than sitting on the ledge at McAfee Knob. My fingernails were digging into the rock. One slip and it would have been a bad day for the Chinese SAR guys. This ledge was on the opposite side of this feature. 20170519_143955-M.jpg Tourists go to the left side. Thrill seekers go to the right side.

I'm compiling pictures from my trekking companions and should have some more good ones in a day or two. Flying to Chengdu in a few hours so it's time to stretch the calf muscles and get packed. Hoping to visit the Giant Panda breeding center during my brief stay there.

China has a lot of people. And they all flock to Mount Huangshan on the weekends. After all, everyone knows that you won't visit any other mountain after visiting here. 20170520_084046-L.jpg 20170520_090646-L.jpg 20170520_090701-L.jpg This is why there were rails in the middle of the trail. The masses arriving from the Yuping gondola outnumbered the early risers trying to descent from the mountain. Sadly, the Chinese just don't understand queuing or waiting your turn. Arriving visitors were 6 - …