View Full Version : Happy new year :)
Happy new year whiteblazers!
Do you have any hikes or adventures that you're looking forward to in 2023?
As for me I'm trying to get down to Dolly Sods more and I want to hike the white mountains before I get to old but don't want to hike them solo. Hey don't judge me:)
But I'll probably be starting a thread sometime soon about a hiking partner for this hike. I've hiked about half the trail in sections solo.
If you go in the summer you won’t be solo in the Whites. Lots of day hikers and peakbaggers.
I really enjoyed using the huts there, lightened my food load a ton. Pretty good chow and commradarie. If you join the AMC, you get enough of a discount to pay for it after 2-3 stays. On my SOBO I took 11 days from Gorham to over Moosilauke. In retrospect could have done it in 7-8. There is some very hard work in and out of the notches, as they call them, but some long ridge walking in between.
somers515
01-01-2023, 20:00
I'm planning a trip in February in my camper van to hit a bunch of the national forests along the east coast and then very likely to attempt an AT flip flop thru hike starting from Harpers Ferry in June.
Jealous of your trip to the Dolly Sods as I want to backpack in there and haven't had the chance yet. I've backpacked a decent amount the Whites though and I recommend them highly to you! I agree with HankIV that if you stay at the established campgrounds you won't be alone. Also better to hike alone than not to go at all is my moto. If you are looking for a 3-4 day backpacking trip in the Whites I think you should check out the Pemi loop. It's popular but for good reason. It would give you great views, shares some tread with the AT and give you a really good taste of what the Whites are like, in my humble opinion.
Happy New Year to all of whiteblaze and look forward to hearing about people's backpacking trip reports in 2023!
Happy new year!
Heading to a Chile with my wife and a good friend in a couple weeks, we’ll be spending some time in Patagonia of course as well as the desert in the north so I’m super excited to do some hiking in a new part of the world for me.
Don’t have any hiking plans firmed up beyond that but I’m hoping to stay healthy, keep working my way up the AT (almost to VA), explore new trails in southeastern wilderness, get in a section hike or two on the Palmetto Trail, hopefully take one trip to backpack out West, and keep getting out for hikes every weekend I can.
No Match
01-02-2023, 18:36
West Coast Trail-Vancouver Island British Columbia, first heard about it in the 1973 Sierra Designs catalog when the staff did their annnual business escape there. I think 77 ladders, mud beyong reason, rain, more rain, tidal challenges, NO rescue less your totally incapacitated. Sounds like an adventure, so why not? Yeah baby, celebrating retirement from the NPS and post-Covid finish!
Going to finish the Smokies, finally. Mt. Buckley to Fontana Dam. Then back to SW Va. to keep pushing northward.
illabelle
01-03-2023, 08:36
I'm jealous of everybody else's plans. I'm recovering from a bad ankle fracture 6 weeks ago. I'm tired of sitting. I'm tired of crawling. I'm tired of crutches and a scooter and especially The Boot. I'm afraid of wet grass, pebbles, soft ground, ice, slopes, slick boards, etc. It'll be a while before I see a white blaze again - but I will get there.
In the meantime, I've been told I can begin limited weight bearing.
To give myself something to look forward to, I've compiled a list of "ambitious" hikes for this coming spring.
Here are a few:
Level 1
Walk around the house - 300 ft
Walk through the garden - 400 ft
Walk to the duck pond - 800 ft
My own nature trail - 0.25 m
Level 2
Buffalo Creek Fisherman's Walk, Rutledge, TN - 0.5 m
New Harvest Park, Knoxville, TN - 1.1 m
Hickory Flat Branch Quiet Walkway, GSMNP - 0.7 m
Elkmont Nature Trail, GSMNP - 0.8 m
Foxfire Mountain Trail, Sevierville, TN - 1.0 m
Level 3
Thomas Walker Trail, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park - 2.5 m
University of TN Arboretum Loop, Knoxville, TN 4.3 m
Waldens Ridge Firetower Trail, Clinton, TN 2.2 m
LittleRock
01-03-2023, 10:57
I'm jealous of everybody else's plans. I'm recovering from a bad ankle fracture 6 weeks ago. I'm tired of sitting. I'm tired of crawling. I'm tired of crutches and a scooter and especially The Boot. I'm afraid of wet grass, pebbles, soft ground, ice, slopes, slick boards, etc. It'll be a while before I see a white blaze again - but I will get there.
So sorry to hear that, illabelle. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
This year I'm hoping to continue my NOBO AT section hike from Rutland, VT to Franconia Notch, NH. That should give me enough of a taste of the Whites so I can plan out how to tackle the rest next year.
Other than that, I'll mostly be putzing around on day hikes on the NC MST segments within an hour of home.
Thank you,
Hank IV - thanks for sharing your knowledge and encouragement
Somers515- there's so much more to explore down in the Dolly Sods area I haven't been to Seneca rocks or the cranberry wilderness yet. Good luck on your journey be safe out there.
Slugg- HAPPY NEW YEAR! nice please come back with a Patagonia trip report .
No Match - you're absolutely right go for it baby!
WMR- thanks Good luck and safe journeys.
Illabelle- you're funny and still have your sense of humor which is most important you made me laugh thanks. And keep up the hard work through rehab and keep us updated.
Little Rock- thanks and have some great hiking out there!
Birthright
01-04-2023, 22:34
It looks like "NO Hikes" for me this year. I took a new job teaching preschool. I only get one week of vacation this summer. I will probably go on hike with my niece. I still haven't decided whether this job is worth keeping. I like teaching, but not necessarily a set curriculum. I would rather be teaching something fun like Camping 101 for children. LOL.
It looks like "NO Hikes" for me this year. I took a new job teaching preschool. I only get one week of vacation this summer. I will probably go on hike with my niece. I still haven't decided whether this job is worth keeping. I like teaching, but not necessarily a set curriculum. I would rather be teaching something fun like Camping 101 for children. LOL.
Well there's always a need for good teachers. Why only 1 week vacation in the summer are you teaching summer school?
And teachers get lots of time off like summer vacation, all holidays, 2 week Christmas break,1 week spring break etc.
There might be time in there for some hiking :)
Birthright my bad I just noticed "preschool ".
Same thing my daughter does for a living I used to try and talk her into working for the school system and she refuses to.
Is that all y'all have planned? Come on now you're either holding out or nothing planned? I don't know which is worse?
But hey I need to live vicariously through somebody else .....
Mikerfixit
01-13-2023, 12:10
I'm planning on continuing my hiking through PA. I started in MD and have gotten as far as rt34 in PA. We'll be heading north spending the night near the Alec Kennedy shelter before finishing in Boiling Springs the next day. Then later in the year we'll continue on from Boiling Springs and tackling the Cumberland River valley heading North.
I try to do two trips a year spending one night on the trail. Its slow work but I'm making progress.
illabelle
01-13-2023, 16:59
I snagged the last riverside campsite at Elkmont for the opening night of the 2023 season, March 10. Almost two months away, so I'm hoping to be comfortable with a 0.8 loop hike (after ankle fracture, for those who didn't see earlier post). Hike includes a little footbridge over a creek, same kind that's all over the Smokies, same kind that I've crossed dozens of times. But it makes me nervous. :bse A lot of work between now and then to rebuild ligaments and stuff - and confidence. Gives me something real to look forward to. :):):)
Seatbelt
01-13-2023, 17:05
I plan to hike the Knobstone again here in Indiana and possibly the VA triple crown this fall.
sore ankle
01-13-2023, 18:50
After finishing my AT section hike at Katahdin in 2021 (16 years, 25 sections), I was completely off every trail last year. Enough of that! A buddy and I will be heading north from Springer in April. The plan is to go 250-300 miles. Trying to get back in shape. My son and I will hike the AT in NY or Mass later in the year.
2023 will be my first full year of retirement life (which is awesome, by the way!). I was looking at the BMT, but instead I'm going to take a third E2E hike on the Long Trail in June. Bad timing for bugs, but bad bugs means good fishing, and I'm going to spend some time during those long (15+ hours) June days.
And at least 9 more of the NH 4,000-footers, to get me to #30, with some fishing and gold panning while I'm at it. The Whites are just 2 hours from my house, close enough for day trips or overnighters, and I don't have to hike on weekends!
I don't know how I found time for work the past 50 years.
Dan Roper
01-14-2023, 02:06
In May I'll start at the James River Footbridge and head north, to either Rockfish Gap or possibly through the Shenandoas.
I began section hiking at Springer in 2007. I've done two trips in two years, missed one year, and all the other years did one trip. My shortest section was 12 miles; the longest 100. I'm 62. Don't know how far I'll go. Don't know how much longer I have. Don't think I'll finish, but we'll see. If I can make it to the halfway point by around age 65, it'll be time to make a call.
illabelle
01-14-2023, 07:58
In May I'll start at the James River Footbridge and head north, to either Rockfish Gap or possibly through the Shenandoas.
I began section hiking at Springer in 2007. I've done two trips in two years, missed one year, and all the other years did one trip. My shortest section was 12 miles; the longest 100. I'm 62. Don't know how far I'll go. Don't know how much longer I have. Don't think I'll finish, but we'll see. If I can make it to the halfway point by around age 65, it'll be time to make a call.
Dan, there's a lot of significant terrain in New England. It would be a shame for you to miss it. Even if you don't complete every mile, at least go do Katahdin. It's hard, but it's awesome! The younger you are when you tackle it, the better.
Bubblehead
01-14-2023, 09:32
I did my last LASH last year to finish the AT, Katahdin SOBO to Crawford Notch.
Next week I'm going to do a 3 day hike on the Florida Trail to test out my new tent, Gossamer Gear The One.
I'm then going to north Georgia in late February to hike the Georgia loop again; I hiked it last year in preps for my AT LASH...
I'm going to Damascus in late March to hike SOBO to Springer Mountain, taking the AT to Davenport Gap, then thru hiking the Benton Mackaye Trail SOBO down to Springer....cant't wait to get started!
In May I'll start at the James River Footbridge and head north, to either Rockfish Gap or possibly through the Shenandoas.
I began section hiking at Springer in 2007. I've done two trips in two years, missed one year, and all the other years did one trip. My shortest section was 12 miles; the longest 100. I'm 62. Don't know how far I'll go. Don't know how much longer I have. Don't think I'll finish, but we'll see. If I can make it to the halfway point by around age 65, it'll be time to make a call.
Yeah Dan I call BS , let's be more positive with this one life to live!
Unless you have some kind of medical condition you should be able to hike well into your 70's!
As a matter of fact a know a fellow on here with the initials TW that carries a 100 pound pack around the mountains for 3 weeks, but I'm starting to think he's not human more A.I !
.......and DR if you decide to take illabelle advice I'll be looking for hiking partners this year or next for the white mountains and Maine.
I did my last LASH last year to finish the AT, Katahdin SOBO to Crawford Notch.
Next week I'm going to do a 3 day hike on the Florida Trail to test out my new tent, Gossamer Gear The One.
I'm then going to north Georgia in late February to hike the Georgia loop again; I hiked it last year in preps for my AT LASH...
I'm going to Damascus in late March to hike SOBO to Springer Mountain, taking the AT to Davenport Gap, then thru hiking the Benton Mackaye Trail SOBO down to Springer....cant't wait to get started!
Wow, very impressive congratulations on finishing the AT applause and respect! Also impressive schedule good for you, as I always say LIVE LIFE HARD !!
I snagged the last riverside campsite at Elkmont for the opening night of the 2023 season, March 10. Almost two months away, so I'm hoping to be comfortable with a 0.8 loop hike (after ankle fracture, for those who didn't see earlier post). Hike includes a little footbridge over a creek, same kind that's all over the Smokies, same kind that I've crossed dozens of times. But it makes me nervous. :bse A lot of work between now and then to rebuild ligaments and stuff - and confidence. Gives me something real to look forward to. :):):)
"The last site " , serendipity? It was meant to be make it happen, make strong, make it comfortable! And oh let's know how it goes good luck with everything come back stronger!
I'm planning on continuing my hiking through PA. I started in MD and have gotten as far as rt34 in PA. We'll be heading north spending the night near the Alec Kennedy shelter before finishing in Boiling Springs the next day. Then later in the year we'll continue on from Boiling Springs and tackling the Cumberland River valley heading North.
I try to do two trips a year spending one night on the trail. Its slow work but I'm making progress.
Slow work is better than no work in my book:)
johnnybgood
01-16-2023, 21:02
Much like Illabelle, my plans are a bit muddled due to having total (right) hip replacement arthroplasty two weeks ago. I haven't been able to shoulder a pack for any distance or climb over uneven terrain for a solid 15 months without hip pain so my trail time has been hampered, to say the least. Good thing about hip replacement surgery is the remarkable success rate that follows, bearing in mind that a person does their due diligence in the physical therapy stage. Rule of thumb is small steps: short day hikes- leading to longer hikes, which culminate into multi-day hiking. Ultimately, I need to begin/finish the AT in my own state, namely south of Pearisburg--north of Massie Gap. It's a 4 hour drive from my front door. Happy hiking in '23 and possibly our paths will cross. Hopefully I can lose the cane and replace it with trekking poles by that time.
2023 will be my first full year of retirement life (which is awesome, by the way!). I was looking at the BMT, but instead I'm going to take a third E2E hike on the Long Trail in June. Bad timing for bugs, but bad bugs means good fishing, and I'm going to spend some time during those long (15+ hours) June days.
And at least 9 more of the NH 4,000-footers, to get me to #30, with some fishing and gold panning while I'm at it. The Whites are just 2 hours from my house, close enough for day trips or overnighters, and I don't have to hike on weekends!
I don't know how I found time for work the past 50 years.
Congratulations on your retirement!! Sounds like you have a great plan, now get er done .......
Much like Illabelle, my plans are a bit muddled due to having total (right) hip replacement arthroplasty two weeks ago. I haven't been able to shoulder a pack for any distance or climb over uneven terrain for a solid 15 months without hip pain so my trail time has been hampered, to say the least. Good thing about hip replacement surgery is the remarkable success rate that follows, bearing in mind that a person does their due diligence in the physical therapy stage. Rule of thumb is small steps: short day hikes- leading to longer hikes, which culminate into multi-day hiking. Ultimately, I need to begin/finish the AT in my own state, namely south of Pearisburg--north of Massie Gap. It's a 4 hour drive from my front door. Happy hiking in '23 and possibly our paths will cross. Hopefully I can lose the cane and replace it with trekking poles by that time.
As long as Johnnybgood, and takes it slow you'll be good to go.
Good luck with everything.
illabelle
02-05-2023, 09:41
It's February, not exactly "Happy New Year", but so what, I'm HAPPY.
It's been eleven weeks since my ankle surgery. Last Wed/Thur (4-5 days ago) I stood on my injured foot with my full weight for about 1/10 of a second. It hurt. Friday I increased it to 1/2 a second. It hurt. Yesterday I took about two dozen unsupported (no crutches) steps. Minimal pain. I was shocked that I could do that! :)
Later yesterday afternoon we headed to a nearby park and started a real dirt trail (on crutches). We had about 1-1/2 hours to kill. I figured we'd go for 30-40 minutes or as long as I could bear it, then turn around. The on-trail maps at junctions and the AllTrails maps didn't match at all. We took a turn that we thought would lead us back to the parking lot. Instead, it meandered all over the place, back and forth, up and down, in and our, never really going anywhere. We did finally reach our vehicle, but it took 2 hours, and my phone pedometer claims we did 1.9 miles! :sun
I know I'll be limping for a long time, but it felt so good to be OUT THERE! The dancing banana needs to be a jumping banana. :banana
TwoSpirits
02-08-2023, 07:13
Congratulations. And respect. Recovery and rehab is hard work!