9/21/13 and 9/22/13 Weekend: Ocoee day trip running the Upper/Olympic Section and the standard fun run with Wesley on Saturday then a hike on Gingercake Saturday

No pics of the Ocoee run except this one from the drive back home. Love the Andrews area

9/14 & 9/15 A Weekend in WV - I love that state!

Wesley and I headed up Friday evening and camped the first night at my dirt-bag campsite under the NRG bridge. I lucked up again and there was nobody there. Since Bobby Bouche and Mack would not be meeting us until 10:30 at the put-in we checked out the boardwalk down to the bridge overlook and had a biscuit at Biscuit-ville. After running the Upper Gauley, we lucked up and Mike Huggins, let all of us set up at his campsite at the put in. I took advantage of having the van and slept inside it both nights. It was nice not to pay for camping either night.

Day one was a great run on the Upper Gauley. It was only my second time in the boat since I dislocated my shoulder and I didn't feel up to doing any play-boating so I took my ReMix  and had a blast in it. Good lines just about everywhere and I only flipped at Sweets Falls and got my off-side roll immediately. It felt great to be out there and paddling with a solid crew.
It was a Wesley's first Upper G run so we got out and looked at Pillow Rock and Iron Ring while BB and Mack provided probe/stunt boater entertainment.

Day two Wesley and I hiked from the Rivers camp ground and outfitter shop, under the New River Gorge bridge and finally found the trail that takes you to an overlook I have been wanting to get to for years.

view from my "dirt bag" campsite

Some RUSH fans have stayed here

Mack going over the lip at Sweets

Iron Ring:

9/07 Another Parkway hike

I drove up 181 and hit the parkway rolling south. I hiked into 2 obscure trailheads that were a little disappointing so I decided to go see what kind of shape Woods Mountain was in. The beginning right off the parkway/Hwy 80 was a little weedy but otherwise it was in great shape. I didn't see another person from when I left the parking lot til I came back!
I've got to get my bike back up there...

Tanawha Trail right off the parkway.

The Tanawha Trail starts out just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Beacon Heights trail head, mile post 305.2, parallels the parkway for a lot of its course and ends near Julian Price Park. The entire trail is almost 14 miles long and it has several trails intersecting it. I haven't been on all of it yet but I've managed to hike the sections around the viaduct, Beacon Heights area, Wilson Creek headwaters area, Rough Ridge area and the section close to the Daniel Boone Scout Trail leading up towards Grandfather. I would have to say I enjoyed the Daniel Boone Scout Trail, Beacon Heights and the Rough Ridge most as far as views and being out of earshot of the Parkway but the Tanawha Trail is a great one for getting in some mileage fast. Another stumbling block is that I was denied twice because Felix was with me. They don't allow "Man's Best Friend" up around Rough Ridge and I have found the sign on both ends. I still plan on hiking the section around Price Park since I've never done anything in that area. I'll probably wait til winter when the crowds will be minimal.