Ramblin' On...

Excellent day for a hike on the Black Mountain Crest Trail with Noel, Dan and Little D

We got to the picnic area and started chowing down. After a nice lunch, we were on our way

Climbing up Mt Craig:

Looking back at the parking lot:

Finally the Mt Craig plaque. Altitude: 6,663 feet.

Lots of these around ^

Little D will be hoofin' up here soon. Gettin' a little practice ^.

We went a little bit past Cattail Peak 6,383' then turned around and headed back.

Little D was snoozin' a little bit on the hike back towards the car.

The views from the crest make you realize how high up there you are.

A little break on the top of Big Tom on the 2nd time through:

Somebody woke back up^

We're almost there,

It didnt seem this far away on the hike out.

Amos' Epics

Thursday afterwork Heartbreak Ridge with Johnny Calhoun yields another rattlesnake sighting and another bear sighting

Great day on the trail for wildlife sightings. Another Rattlesnake on the climb up and a bear on the Jareds Creek ride back to Curtis Creek.

He was rattling his tail quickly after we saw him. It was a very intense sound.

This guy meant business. We gave him plenty of room.

Two rattlesnakes sightings in 8 days (my 3rd ever in the woods of NC), and two bear sightings in about 2 weeks (my 12th overall). I think that is pretty cool but I must admit these snakes are pretty scary and a much bigger risk than the bears. It still beats riding on the road and having some redneck point at gun on me like on Easter.

A couple of shots taken by Johnny Calhoun on the parkway.

Johnny Calhoun on Heartbreak Ridge ^

This little log jump^ on Heartbreak caused me a little bit of time on ORAMM. I'm going to try to dial in a bunny hop over it the next time(s) I ride it.

Ride Stats:

Total mileage: 22.6 miles

Average moving speed: 6.6 mph

Total time: 3:56 Moving time: 3:25 Stopped time: 30 min

Start time: 5:02 pm End time: 8:58 pm

Amos' Epics

Tuesday 08/05/08 was a Kitsuma after work ride with Johnny Calhoun

Playing catchup on the posts. I've been slack on the bloggin' lately.
Tuesday was my first Kitsuma ride since the Off Road Assault on Mt Mitchell. It was a good time. We didnt rush it but I did lower my seat on the downhill and rolled down it smooth and fast with no pressure. The uphill switchbacks were a lot easier and more fun without all the ORAMM people walking and without the cramping I was experienceing on the 2nd Kits lap during the race.

I forgot my camera and my GPS but maybe Johnny will e-mail me some shots he took and maybe even some of the Ocoee shots from last weekend.

He sent me the 3pics above from the Kitsuma log ride. It took me 3 times but I finally made it all the way to the end.

Wednesday had me carrying Little D., aka Lucas around the hood and down to the river walk at River Glen. This guy is a blast! Thanks to big D for letting us borrow him for awhile.