Climbing out of Hot Springs at daybreak.

"The twins" Casy and Megen. We leaped-frogged throughout the day.

Little Laurel Shelter

Big Firescald Knob late evening.

Setting up camp in the dark.

Shelton Graves

Daybreak

Strange

Someone lost their coat and boots. What :)

Friendly south-bounders.

Uncle Johnnys Hostel

Curley Maple Gap Shelter

An old style, no longer used.

Climbing Unaka Mtn.

Red spruce

Sutton Brown (left) and the legendary Bob Peoples.

Watauga Lake

Vandeventer Shelter

I bivouaced here in 2009. Stopped hiking at 1:00 am, and lad out my Net-Tent, crawled in and went to sleep. I don't do such things very often, but it's nice to know I can if needed.

Some kind of air plant that grows in the trees. Grows in clumps and not fastened to the tree. A strong wind will blow it to the ground. Very uncommon, and grows only in certain areas. Does not survive if taken elsewhere.

Beautiful hardwood blowdown, cut by a chainsaw to clear the trail.

Nick Grindstaff Monument

91 and Cross Mt Rd

Hiking in a cold rain.

Damascus, VA

The Place