Quote Originally Posted by TNshadetree View Post
What makes me worry is the Gabes Mtn adds insult to injury by climbing 200ft out of CS34 only to lose 800ft you have to gain back up Maddron Bald with 2,150ft to climb.
At some point you have to come to the realization that the trail (what ever trail you might be thinking about) is what it is.
In the case of Maddron Bald Loop, it doesn't matter that the trail decends 800ft, the question is can you manage the 2,150 foot climb?

I sort of had to keep reminding myself of this simple fact (the trail is what it is) hiking DOWN Sugarland Mtn trail last weekend. For a hike that ended 4,000' lower than it started, I sure hiked UP hill a whole lot.