Hiking article.
 

I went with two kids on a 50 mile hike in the Smokies earlier this summer. One was a former scout and the other his friend. They are very smart, having made straight A's through high school and college. I guess I am there for comic relief. Anyway, the other kid wrote a newspaper article about our hike. It is at http://seviercountynews.com/sevierco...?id=8&a_id=219

He wrote about a tough hill. It took me about 4 hours to go 3.6miles but the elevation change was over 3000 ft. I got to the top and there were some horseback riders there. I said, "Hello, fellow backpackers!" A guy on one of the horses said, "We're not backpackers." I said, "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the horses."

Doc a well written artical sounds like you have installed your love of the outdoors onto another generation thanks doc see ya in september.

Fred,
 

Fred,

Nice article.
If my weight loss and exercise plan goes well and no more "golf accidents" I want to climb Mt. Adams next July or August.. Third highest peak in the Cascades. Want to go with me? Three days should do it! I have climbed most of the major peaks in the Cascades, except Mt Adams. The South Ridge is just a long hike nothing technical.

Keith

Now Doc that's my kind of backpacking....uh, letting the horses have that kind of fun that is. :D

Nice article.
Have you ever climbed the Adirondacks? There are some wonderful trails and the good old Appilachian Trail ends right up around here. There is a great climb up at Lake Placid to the top of Whiteface Mountain. Once you get up there (typical NY fashion) there is an elevator that you can take down to the parking area. The view is Fantastico!

Oh and you can see three states from up there...NY, VT, and MASS.

From the top of Rainier you can see:
 

British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and they Big States!

Keith

Keith, you get skinny and I'll hike with you next summer. The scouts are going to Phimont Scout Ranch next July for about a 100 miler over 12 days. We plan to train for it every month till then by hiking. Dragon Lady, I would love to do the Adirondack part of the AT. I have done from the Smokies to I 81 in Virginia over the years, about 250 miles. The Northern part is very beautiful I have heard.

Roan Mountain near here has a couple of places with 360 degree views. You can see Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Kentucky on a clear day.

Mt Adams is 12,227 ft elevation
 

Little higer than anything back East. It's a two day climb if you are young. Three day climb for the old folks.

Keith

I've been to about that high at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I got altitude sickness and had to lie in my tent for a day. No big deal: plan for four, try for three.