A Grand Loop - Linville Gorge ... Day 7 4K

Third backpacking trip of 2024 .. April 13 - 19, 2024
included w Mom, Sally, and myself
Day 7 ... April 19, 2024
After a great night's rest - we get up to see the sunrise and early morning over the Gorge before packing up camp. We'd had plans to make coffee and just enjoy the morning - but with rain threatening us from the west we decided to pack up camp instead. Hitting the trail and enjoying the downhill to the river-we finally come to one of the last hurdles of the trip ... crossing the Linville River! Honestly, we weren't sure if we'd be able to. The max recommended safe crossing is when the river is at 200cfs and it was running at 180cfs when I°d checked it that morning. We were prepared to walk around the long way-more than doubling the mileage to the car. However, I left the decision to mom - she decided to test the waters to see if she was going to be comfortable going across.
For the full story go to my Facebook page or the blog...
Things to note ... I'm still processing that we actually completed this. This was a massive mental effort as well as a physical one. Nothing is easy in the gorge - you work hard but the reward is absolutely worth it. I'm grateful to have gotten to share this experience with my mom and that she actually enjoyed it too! I honestly was worried that I was getting ourselves in over our heads and that it'd just be a miserable sufferfest! Now, I won't lie and say there wasn't any suffering or pain -there was. But there were also views, sunrises, sunsets, laughter, and just wonderful memories. As far as the trails taken - there was quite a bit of poison ivy down by the river/trail. Schoonover Crossover was a great little shortcut over to Faulkner Flats. Id highly recommend Faulkner Flats over the MST for going back up to Wolf Pit. As of this writing - the property owners have decided to (for now continue letting access to Wolf Pit trailhead as long as people don't break the rules and respect boundaries! So, please respect the property owners and if Wolf Pit is full - go explore another area of the Gorge -there's plenty to see and who knows you might even find your own favorite spot! As for the Grand Loop - personally it was a fantastic experience but do come prepared both mentally & physically - because it demands both!

[@randypeterson4146]

Big congratulations on finishing your loop...I really enjoyed watching and it left you with memories for a lifetime 🥾🥾🐾🐾

[@roselee_explores]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it ... and thank you for checking on us while we were out there - we definitely appreciated it :)

[@randypeterson4146]

​@@roselee_exploresYou guys are very welcome...