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ga2me9603
01-21-2004, 22:17
What are your 10 most scenic places on the Appalachian Trail?

A-Train
01-21-2004, 23:21
Wow,

Thats a tough one....I'll give it a try in no particular order

1. Grayson Highlands, particulary the area near Old Orchard Shelter.
2. The Race Mtn ridge in Mass
3. Rands view just south of Salisbury CT
4. Looking back on Lake of the Clouds as you climb washington
5. Max Patch
6. Overmountain shelter and the view on the "front lawn"
7. Whole stretch between VA 624 and Tinker Cliffs, including McAfee Knob, and a hardly talked about section of trail between 624 and 311 filled with farms, streams and rolling hills.
8. The Franconia Ridge
9. Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to and swimming area
10. ...Katahdin at sunrise

Kerosene
01-22-2004, 15:23
I've only covered the 1,000+ miles from central Virginia to Glencliff, New Hampshire, so I'll only give you my Top 5 covering that stretch:

1) McAfee Knob, VA for its expansive view of the 15 miles of NOBO Trail [pic] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1746&size=big&password=&sort=1&cat=556)
2) The Priest, VA for the peaceful solitude of Pinnacle Ridge and Three Ridges in autumn [pic] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=458&size=big&password=&sort=1&cat=556)
3) Spy Rock, VA for its panoramic view of the surrounding hills (it was too late in the day and overcast for a good picture to do it justice)
4) Sages Ravine, CT/MA for its cool (frozen in my case), wild feel [pic] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=70&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=3)
5) Canopus Lake, NY for its lovely view of the lake stretching out before you from the northern summit [pic] (http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=58&size=big&password=&sort=1&cat=558)

I would have included Cathedral Pines, CT which the Trail passed through in '74 but is no longer on the official route.

Bankrobber
01-22-2004, 18:47
Here we go... I am obviously not going to count areas where my weather was miserable (Roans, Blood Mtn, etc...)

No particular order...
1. Albert Mountain.
2. Charlie's Bunion
3. Max Patch
4. Grayson Highlands
5. Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs stretch near Catawba, Va
6. Three Ridges Mountain and the view to the Priest
7. Glastenbury Mountain, Vermont
8. Franconia Ridge
9. Saddleback
10. Bigelow
12. Whitecap and the view of Katahdin (for the sheer thrill)
13. Nahmakanta Lake
14. Katahdin

Sorry, but I could not keep it to 10. I had trouble keeping it as low as I did.

radar
01-22-2004, 21:37
In no particular order:

The Humpbacks (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=8036)
Jones Falls (in the 2003 reroute south of Kinkora) (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=37360)
Katahdin from Abol Bridge (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=14320)
Zeacliff at sunrise (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=13261)
Saddleback (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=37359)
Antlers Campsite (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=14309)
Grayson Highlands (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=8756)
Mt Hight (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=13304)
Nesuntabunt (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=14312)
Catawba Valley (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=9515)
Nesowadnehunk River (http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=14322)

I couldn't stop at ten either and there are many more...

Jack Tarlin
01-22-2004, 23:25
Great question.....but hard to stop at 10. But here goes:

1. Looking down the valley at Overmountain Shelter, NC. Also, the several miles immediately north of Overmountain
2. Max Patch Mt.,NC
3. Rand's View, CT, just south of Salisbury
4. The Beauty Spot, just north of Erwin, Tn
5. Antler's campsite, Maine, at sunrise
6. Goose Eye Mountain, Maine, sunset
7. Grayson Highlands Park, VA, anytime
8. Cheoah Bald, NC, sundown
9. Baker Peak, VT, just north of Manchester Center
10. Killington Peak, VT

The minute I post this I'll think of ten more.

Lone Wolf
01-22-2004, 23:34
I'm thankful I'm sighted. It's all good. It's all scenic.

tlbj6142
01-23-2004, 10:40
I'm thankful I'm sighted. It's all good. It's all scenic.Whoa! Very true, but not what we expect to hear from Lone Wolf. Now I know that haircut and "diet" are starting to affect your personality. Bring back the "drinkin' pukin' and homosexual sex" comments.:D

Kerosene
01-23-2004, 13:18
Love that Catawba Valley photomosaic view from Tinker Cliffs, Radar. Nice job!

oyvay
01-23-2004, 23:31
Great question.....but hard to stop at 10. But here goes:

1. Looking down the valley at Overmountain Shelter, NC. Also, the several miles immediately north of Overmountain
2. Max Patch Mt.,NC
3. Rand's View, CT, just south of Salisbury
4. The Beauty Spot, just north of Erwin, Tn
5. Antler's campsite, Maine, at sunrise
6. Goose Eye Mountain, Maine, sunset
7. Grayson Highlands Park, VA, anytime
8. Cheoah Bald, NC, sundown
9. Baker Peak, VT, just north of Manchester Center
10. Killington Peak, VT

The minute I post this I'll think of ten more.

Don't forget sunrise on Goose Eye mtn too. I had a fantastic clear evening, full moon (or nearly full) shining all night and a crystal clear morning! Nothing like stealthing it! :clap

B Thrash
01-25-2004, 21:22
What are your 10 most scenic places on the Appalachian Trail?

This list is only a few of the scenic places, I could name a hundred more.

1. Clingmans Dome
2. Charles Bunion
3. Max Patch
4. Grayson Highlands
5. Angles Rest, Pearis Mtn
6. Dragons Tooth
7. Hanging Rock Overlook
8. Falls on Housatonic River
9. The Cobbles
10. Mt Graylock

weathercarrot
01-26-2004, 12:08
There are many more than 10, so this will just be the first to pop into my head, in random order, and I'll leave out the usual ones you always hear about (like Katahdin, Franconia, Hump, etc):

1. Glastenbury
2. The woods walk from Cooper Brook toward Antlers
3. Chestnut Ridge
4. Webster Cliffs
5. Roan in the winter
6. Cheoah for sunset
7. Icewater to Cosby
8. Nahmakanta vicinity
9. Mt Moriah in early morning sunlight
10. Cold Mtn

Jaybird
01-26-2004, 12:29
my Top 10 is very limited as i've only hiked on the southern portion of the A.T. thus far....but have been to several spots along the trail over the years & have enjoyed the views.


(in NO particular order)

1 Clingmans Dome....(i can see for miles & miles & miles & miles....)
2.Blood Mtn
3.Albert Mtn (tuff climb for me...but the view wuz worth it)
4.Cheoah Bald (@ sunset...you cant beat the view)
5.Nantahala Overlook (most beautiful early in the morning when misty)
6.Roan Mtn (Carvers Gap area...even in winter this place in gorgeous!)
7.the Humps (view is fantastic with or Without the Longhorns)
8.OverMountain shelter valley (its a postcard setting no matter when)
9.Mt. Rogers area (or Anyplace along the BlueRidge Mtns in Virginia
10.Franconia Ridge/Notch area


i look foward to putting Mt.Katahdin on my top 10 in the next few years! ;)



see ya'll UP the trail in 2004

Kozmic Zian
02-19-2004, 22:33
Yea.....10 Most beautiful.

1) Baxter Peak, sunset.
2) Cranberry Peak, anytime.
3) Standing Indian, looking south at Sunset.
4) Mt Cammerer on a clear day.
5) Mt Lafayette on a clear, calm day.
6) The Dragons Tooth
7) McAfee Knob
8) Chestnut Knob into Burkes Garden
9) Virginia Highlands
10) Saddleback Mt

These are my top ten, but sometime I add and drop one here, or there. The order is also changeable. KZ@

ga2me97
02-19-2004, 23:24
From South to North

1) Shuckstack Firetower
2) Max Patch Bald
3) Hump Mountain
4) Grayson Highlands
5) McAffee Knob
6) The Pinniacle
7) Glastenbury Mountain
8) Killington Peak
9) All of the Whites
10) Katahdin

Actually 10 is not enough!

11) Avery Peak 12) Saddleback 13) Lake off of Maine Rt 17 14) Bald Plate Mountain 15) Maine State Line 16) Mount Greylock 17) Race Mountain 18) Rands View 19) Hudson River/Bear Mt Bridge 20) Campsite on cliff just north of Mohichian Outdoor Center in NJ 21) Wolf Rocks 22) Cumberland Valley 23) Annapolis Rocks 24) Mary's Rock 25) VA/WV state line just north of Perrisburg 26) Laurel Creek Falls 27) View of Nolichucky River 28) Big Bald 29) Charles Bunion 30) Briar Knob 31) Rocky Top / Thunderhead Mountains 32) Wayah Bald 33) The view/lookout/rock outcrop on the way down into NOC heading north 34) Albert Mountain 35) Cow Rock Mountain 36) Blood Mountain 37) Springer Mountain

Plus all the thousands of views without a name.

freewheelinmilo
02-20-2004, 08:53
yall have missed two of my favorites: 1)big bald, and the forest descending from it, and 2) mousilake. i like the housatonic alot, and dont forget the bigelows in the fall. grayson and sages revine were dope. unfortunately the rest was repeditive tedium. except for dragons tooth. wicked dope.

mdionne
02-21-2004, 16:49
From South to North

1) Shuckstack Firetower
2) Max Patch Bald
3) Hump Mountain
4) Grayson Highlands
5) McAffee Knob
6) The Pinniacle
7) Glastenbury Mountain
8) Killington Peak
9) All of the Whites
10) Katahdin

Actually 10 is not enough!

11) Avery Peak 12) Saddleback 13) Lake off of Maine Rt 17 14) Bald Plate Mountain 15) Maine State Line 16) Mount Greylock 17) Race Mountain 18) Rands View 19) Hudson River/Bear Mt Bridge 20) Campsite on cliff just north of Mohichian Outdoor Center in NJ 21) Wolf Rocks 22) Cumberland Valley 23) Annapolis Rocks 24) Mary's Rock 25) VA/WV state line just north of Perrisburg 26) Laurel Creek Falls 27) View of Nolichucky River 28) Big Bald 29) Charles Bunion 30) Briar Knob 31) Rocky Top / Thunderhead Mountains 32) Wayah Bald 33) The view/lookout/rock outcrop on the way down into NOC heading north 34) Albert Mountain 35) Cow Rock Mountain 36) Blood Mountain 37) Springer Mountain

Plus all the thousands of views without a name.

The Pinnacle? really? nice place but really, when are they going to put that switchback in that goes around pennsylvania?

mdionne
02-21-2004, 17:30
10) Standing Indian Mountain (at night)
9) Any one of the Rhoodendron tunnels in the south
8) James River rock formations
7) Grayson Highlands
6) Hump Mountains
5) Dragon's Tooth
4) Franconia Ridge
3) Saddleback and The Horns
2) Baldpate Mountain
1) Katahdin

too many more to mention!

tribes
02-21-2004, 18:48
What are your 10 most scenic places on the Appalachian Trail?

In my limited experience (not in any particular order):

Top ten...

10.) High Rocks, MD
9.) Pinwheel Vista, NJ
8.) Rand's View, CT
7.) Stratton Mountain, VT
6.) Race Mountain, MA
5.) Sage's Ravine, MA
4.) Mary,s Rock, SNP-VA
3.) Mt. Greylock, MA
2.) Stony Man Cliffs, SNP-VA
1.) Prospect Rock, NY

My limited time on the AT has brought me to the 100 + miles in SNP. a small section in MD, and DWG-Manchester Center, VT. Like Jack said, I will think of more as soon as I submit this :)

tombone
02-23-2004, 10:35
i predict that the class of 2004 will be adding the brand new big firescald ridge scramble to the list. Awesome views, challenging footpath, a blue blazed bad weather route (old AT route - purists can relax...) as wll as side trails to the top of whiterock cliffs and blackstack cliffs.
I saw evidence yesterday of motorized vehicle tracks on the trail ar whiterock cliffs-always a problem in this section. I think the new reroute to the top of the ridge has enough stairs and scrambles to keep 'em outta there. Here's hoping, anyway.
Is this a carolina mtn. club job, or tennessee eastman? Great work and a welcome addition - the views of the blacks, big bald, roan, balsams were magnificent!

TankHiker
02-23-2004, 11:25
This is such a fun thread, I can't not reply.
From south to north:

Cheoah Bald
Max Patch
Big Bald
McAfee Knob - Tinker Cliffs
Annapolis Rocks
Fahnstock State Park
Mt. Moosilauke
Mt. Washington - Mt. Madison
Old Speck
Katahdin

springerfever
02-23-2004, 15:00
Glad to see Mt. Cammerer included in a list. Coming out of the Smokies, headed north, before the descent into Davenport Gap, it is a sidetrail not to be missed.
Spectacular 360 view in an "old" style octagonal fire tower. beautiful !!

grizzly03
02-23-2004, 19:55
There are so many awesome spots..but here's a partial list of my hot spots in the last two states: (North to South):

view from summit of Katahdin
Katahdin from Abol Bridge
Katahdin from Pemadumcook Lake
Barren cliffs
the Bigelow Range
pond at Crocker Cirque
Saddleback Mtn.
Goose Eye Mtn looking towards NH
Mahoosuc Arm looking towards NH
Carter Dome's view of Presidentials
anywhere in Presidentials (Washington, Madison, Eisenhower, Jefferson in particular)
Thoreau Falls
Zealand Falls
Zeacliff
South Twin
the Lafayette Range
Lonesome Lake
Kinsman
Moosilauke
Smarts Mtn.
--------
My entire AT list would be pages long! There were just so many great spots on the trail. Every couple of days you came across another great spot over five and a half months.

Grizzly