swampfox

[swampfox]

I’ve got two trips planned in October. My wife and I are camping at Jones Gap State Park. All of the campsites are trailside primitive and almost all of them are right next to the Middle Saluda River. You can reserve the sites on-line
http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/Mountain_Bridge_Wa_Ch/jg/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=SC&parkId=10372&topTabIndex=CampingSpot
I like to setup a base camp and hike to several waterfalls in the area.

I’m also planning to do a section of the Foothills Trail with a couple of friends. We’ll start where the trail crosses Hwy 178 and hike west to the top of Laurel Fork Falls, hang out there for a day or two and hike back out.

[swampfox]

Hey Sue,
You might want to try this site.
You’ll find a large population of fellow hangers and they’re very helpful.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/?

[swampfox]

Here is a review of the Sipsey River Trail from Trails .com.

This was by far the best trip I have ever been on. The trees were elecrtic, all the colors of fall really stood out. We hiked in on trail # 206 through Kings cove, by Ship rock to the junction of Bee branch and the Sipsey Fork and camped there under a huge rock ledge. The next day we day hiked to the Big Tree area, we took the East Bee branch trail to it. The trails were in pretty good shape, there were still some downed trees on the later part of East Bee trail, but nothing real hard at all. Once we made it to the Big Tree there were probably 30-50 people coming and going. By far the most people I have ever seen in the Sipsey Wilderness on any given trip. It rained on us on the way in about 30 minutes to an hour but cleared up and that night it turned off cold, and the next night it was even colder. Be careful where you make camp here some campsites have been camped out and there isnt a lot of wood near them, but just look off of the beaten trail and camp where it looks like no one has been in a while and you will find plenty of wood. All along the canyon walls there are several rock ledges to camp under, this is where we usually like to make camp.

[swampfox]

I bought the Gregory Baltoro 70 on EBAY. Bid on a large and received a medium. Returned it and am waiting for the real one. I really liked the looks of it. It’s 4600 ci and 5+ pounds.

[swampfox]

BirdShooter wrote:

Excellent, let us know how it goes in a trip report:

Chattooga River Trail – Ellicott Rock

My trip report is here.

Fork Mountain Trail- Sloan’s Bridge to Burrell’s Ford

swampfox

[swampfox]

I currently have an Osprey circa 1994, that has been great, just heavy.
I’m planning to pull the trigger on a Gregory Baltoro 70 as soon as I catch one on sale.

[swampfox]

I don’t personally know anything about the Jack’s River Trail, but Fishing Georgia (Falcon Press) says that the trail crosses the river over 40 times, sometimes waist deep, so expect to get wet. You can buy the book here for about $2. http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/10804830/used/Fishing%20Georgia
Troops in the SC upstate practice for Philmont on the Foothills Trail. The western end from the fishhatchery to Oconee State Park is 22 miles. It’s a great 3 day-2 night hike. A group your size could camp at Burrell’s Ford and Lick Log.
BTW, I think this is an excellent use of the forum.
Good luck whatever you do.

Hike on!

[swampfox]

The Iranian Air Defense Radar (part of Iran’s military) requires all aircraft crossing Iranian territory to give them a 10 minute “heads up” that they plan to enter Iranian air space.
After making contact with the Iranians, the common procedure is for commercial aircraft to give them their call sign, transponder code, type of aircraft, point of origin and destination.
An aircraft flying from Europe to Dubai overheard this conversation on the emergency frequency 121.5 near Dubai. It went something like this …

Air Defense Radar … “Unknown aircraft at (location), you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.”

Unknown Aircraft … “This is a United States aircraft and I am in IRAQI airspace.”

Air Defense Radar … “You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace, we will launch interceptor aircraft!”

Unknown Aircraft … “This is a United States Marine FA-18 fighter jet. Send ’em up!”

Air Defense Radar …….

Be safe TTF

[swampfox]

I’m in the market.
My current backpack is an Osprey Silhouette, I believe it was made around 1996. It is a great 5400 cu. in. pack that can take a real beating. The only knock I have is that, empty, it weighs 9 lbs. and I’m not getting any younger.
Lately, I’ve been looking at the Gregory Baltoro 70. It is only 4400 cu. in., but weighs less that 6 lbs.
Anyone have experience with this one or have another recommendation?

[swampfox]

I generally select things like this based on other peoples feedback.
There is so much information available on the internet for anything you want to know.
I check the reviews by people that have purchased and used the items.
After doing that, I went with the JetBoil Backcountry gourmet set, which includes:
1 Cooking pot w/ Lid
1 Adjustable Burner w/ Push Button Ignition
1 Measuring Cup / Insulating bottom cover
1 Flux Fry Pan
1 Fry Pan Bottom / Plate
1 Pot Support and Stabilizer
1 Fork
1 Spoon
1 Spatula
I also bought the coffee press accessory
In hindsight, I would have just purchased the Jetboil with the coffee press accessory.

The Jetboil itself, I highly recommend. I can boil water in about 3 minutes and be drinking coffee 5 minutes after that.
I used the frying pan twice, everything stuck to it. I won’t use it again. The retractable fork, spoon, spatula seem so flimsy, I haven’t actually tried them and I wouldn’t go into the woods without something more rugged.
I’ve used the Jetboil with an Outback Oven. Cookies on a backpacking trip are great.
I would be interested in knowing what other people use or won’t use again.

[swampfox]

Trip Report is in.

Fork Mountain Trail- Sloan’s Bridge to Burrell’s Ford – October 25, 2008

[swampfox]

This may be a little farther south than you want but, I just got back from backpacking the Fork Mountain Trail and highly recommend it.
The trail starts at Sloans Bridge on the Foothills Trail and goes west to Ellicott Rock. Then we followed the Chatooga to Burrell’s Ford. You’ll cross into NC during the first part. There are several beautiful campsites when you get to the Chatooga. I’ll have a trip report in a couple of days.

[swampfox]

As several have said, the dog must be well-behaved.
I went hiking at Jones Gap with a friend who brought his yellow lab. She was so smart and well-behaved, it was a real treat to have her on the hike. She enjoyed being in the woods more than we did.

[swampfox]

Here is a quote from the link below.
http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/uwharrie/uwharrectrl.htm
“There are plenty of streams in the forest, but all drinking water should be treated with a water purification kit to prevent trail diarrhea. Ticks plague the forest and can be kept at bay with repellent or the new mesh clothing on the market. Always keep a watch for the trophy timber rattlesnakes and copperheads that live in these woods.”

http://ncnatural.com/NCUSFS/Uwharrie/trails.html
Uwharrie Trail / Dutchman’s Creek Trail
The Uwharrie Trail at the NC 24/27 parking lot, located approximately 9 miles west of Troy. The trail runs north for 20.5 miles to SR 1306, crossing SR 1146, Highway 109 and SR 1134. The Dutchman’s Creek Trail also starts at the NC 24/27 trailhead, and runs north for 9.5 miles, intersecting the Uwharrie Trail to form a figure eight. Camping is allowed anywhere along the trails except for trailheads, wildlife fields, or within 200 feet of the trail or creeks. There are three camping areas along the trail system: Wood Run Camp, Yates Place Camp, and West Morris Mountain Camp. Both the Uwharrie and Dutchman’s Creek trails are rated as more difficult.

For more information, contact: Uwharrie National Forest. Rt. 1, Box 237, Troy, NC 27371, (910) 576-6391, or The Uwharrie Trail Club, P.O. Box 2073, Asheboro, NC 27203.

[swampfox]

That is a great compromise. Let us know how it goes.

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