Linville Gorge Wilderness - Is That All Ya Got Loop - Pisgah NF NC | 3-day Backpacking Report
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- This is the full length trip report with natural sounds and on-trail commentary from a 3-day backpacking adventure that Joey, Michael and I took to the Linville Gorge Wilderness in December 2020. Highlights included the NC Wall, Linville River, Shortoff, Chimneys, Table Rock and more.
We hiked the 'Is That All Ya Got' Loop that covers ~22 miles along the west rim and east riverbank with 2 crossings of the Linville River. Night 1 was spent along the Linville River and night 2 was on Shortoff. Our 2 water crossings were at Spence Ridge and the MST.
Highlight Video set to music:
• Linville Gorge Wildern...
Thoughts on the new temperature data presentation? Better than last month (Stone Mountain)? Worse? Is it legible and understandable?
I really like the temperature data. Don't think I've ever seen anything like that on backpacking videos. It's a nice feature.
I like this guy I’ve watched some of his other videos
Glad to hear that you're liking the videos Aaron!
I hiked ITAYG the very beginning of October 2017. However, I hiked clockwise to avoid the steep climb up the gap before the Chimneys. I had the same weather except a little warmer. I know the LGW like the back of my hand; over 120 nights. You videography is very good. I watched your Cranberry Wilderness video last night. Heading there in 3 weeks. Edit: yes the Leadmine trail is now official and less gnarly. The old leadmine was a beast in both directions!
stayed at the very same sites you did, only in reverse order.
Over 120 nights in the Gorge is impressive, you definitely must know it very well Michael! The Gorge trail system always seems to be evolving it is one of the great things about that area and all the love it receives
Great minds think alike on the sites!
Welcome to my home. Enjoyed the video of your adventure!
Good to hear from you Jerry!
BTW excellent presentation guys ! Carefully put together.
Thanks Robert. If you see areas that could use improvement please don't hesitate to let me know.
Looked like a great trip. I can't imagine you guys weren't exhausted the whole time, and I'm surprised the Lead Mine trail had you go back up the West Rim then down again. All the work is worth it, though. The view from Shortoff is probably one of my favorites of all time. Great temperatures for early December.
I like the temperature data presentation; I think it's clear and understandable. It's good that you didn't run into too many people. A friend of mine in NC has gone twice since the pandemic for car camping on the West Rim and had to bail out the first time because of no spots, and said the second time someone rolled in 10 feet from him and set up camp. I wanted to camp a night on Hawksbill before I moved, but decided not to go when I heard about the crowds.
We definitely were exhausted the whole time. The thing about Leadmine that got us was it starts out nice and flat and then flips 180 in a matter of steps. They are adding a new connector trail between Rock Jock & Pinch-In that will allow for an even longer foray up the West Rim by a variation of the ITAYG Loop (Is That Really All Ya Got). Sure is tough to beat that view of the Gorge.
I'm not surprised to hear that the car camping spots are in high demand. Way too much traffic on Hawksbill for me to want to camp there as well. I guess the Gorge is my place to go when it is going to rain or be cold because that's the only time I know there won't be a ton of people there.
Loved this trip video! This loop is on my list. 💕🙏Thank you so much for including footage and a little explanation of the river crossing. Lots of folks I've asked about the crossing do a lot more fear mongering than than helping 🤦♀️
Thanks for watching! This is a great loop to hike for sure. The river crossing can be easy or hard depending how high the water is flowing: www.lgmaps.org/?page_id=3483
@@LayneComfort What an awesome resource 👍 I'm gonna bookmark that for sure.
@@SeagrasstoSassafras If you click around on that site you can also find the linvillegorge.net Trail Maps. These are the most accurate maps for the area and they include campsites, water sources and unofficial trails. Feel free to reach out if you run into any questions while planning your trip to the Gorge
@@LayneComfort PERFECT. Thank you again. I will definitely let you know if any questions come up.
I have crossed the Linville River at least fifty times in the last 7 years; success every time. Lucky? yep. Skilled? yep. Prepared? always. Check water levels before hiking? ALWAYS!!!!
What a beautiful view towards the end!
Yes indeed Rebecca! We had great views on the last day including from the Chimneys and on top of Table Rock
Nice video. Adding this area to my upcoming hiking agenda.
Linville is a beautiful and rugged area. Make sure you have the Linville Gorge map download for the free Avenza app to navigate and keep an eye on the river level if you’re gonna attempt a crossing
@@LayneComfort I have Avenza on my phone. Thanks!
Cool trip. The area looks very familiar. The fullscreen temp graph overlay is a win.
No Devil's Hole this time around. Are we going to see a Cumberland Island video from Mad Max Hiking?
@@LayneComfort That's probably a good thing. I've heard other places say their 1 mile is equivalent to 2, but at Linville, it's actually true. Yes, very soon about Cumberland Island - just waiting for the stars to align and YT to finish processing.
I concur on the temp graphics. Looking forward to some Mad Max content
@@joweebaker6204 JB! I think that's the coldest I've seen you at 17:30! (colder than sub-freezing snow hiking in shorts near Hot Springs). Guessing the water crossing was the culprit.
@@AKA0987 no kidding man I still think my feet were getting blood back to em
looks like a fun loop!
This one is a rowdy route for sure!
Looks good!
Thanks James!
I was up there on shortoff that Monday backpacking.
We must’ve just missed you by a day
Me and my friend want to do an challenging one night backpacking trip. This is our first time do you have any suggestions on a good trail in NC?
For your first backpacking trip I would recommend checking out one of our State Parks. They are ideal for beginners due to the well-marked trails, established campsites and options to bail out if something goes wrong.
I love both South Mountains (czcams.com/video/-ZpXkBFt8vQ/video.html) and Stone Mountain (czcams.com/video/Q-l5h1twFXk/video.html).
a decent overnighter. gonna hike part of the foothills. start at walhalla fish hatchery road, maybe 100 yards down the road is the parking area. go towards burrells ford using the foothills trail(dont take the connector trail). check out king creek falls (its dope af, trust me!). then head north along the chattooga river trail up to FORK mountain trial (you will pass EAST FORK trail, keep going to FORK mountain trial) and i camp at indian camp branch creek/stream. next day go to sloan bridge, have lunch/snack and jump back on the foothills and head back to fish hatchery road.
fork mountain trial is somewhat difficult. thats why i push to indian camp branch creek before the end of the day. but it will be a long day first day. 2nd day, i can be back at the car before 11am
Love this loop. I try to run it at least twice a year. Like the way you present the temp. Thumbs up. Maybe I missed it, but where did you start?
“SpeedyLizard” is an apt name for one who runs the Gorge. We started at the Spence Ridge trailhead
Remember that ITAYG is the siamese twin of the GRAND LOOP which circumnavigated the entire Gorge - 39 miles.
This northern half is called the Northern Loop..but it is cut thru bushes on mostly level ground and there are few views.
Ot is so complex that few make it thru without backtracking.
Reccommend doing the Northern Loop by itself and not as part of the Grand.
Also reccommend that the LEDGE section on the west side of Hawksbill be taken as a seperate hike. It is rough and dangerous Nd should NOT be backpacked.
I haven’t explored those northern trails yet. We have done the Ledge Trail (with packs) and I agree that it is much safer without. Ledge is a legitimately dangerous trail. I’m thinkin my next visit to the Gorge will have to include the new Rock Jock to Pinch-In connector when that is open.
@@LayneComfort
Good luck if you try that Nortbern Loop.
It is a chain series of trails. Starting at the Blue Ridge parkway parking g lot they are :
0) plunge Basin
1)Yorricks or alternatively Gulf Contour
2 Gulf Ridge
3 GR-3065 conn
4 Hill 3065
5 Red north
7 Brushy Ridge (BRT)
I refer to all these ^ collectively as the North East Quad
8 Red south
9 Devils Cliff
10 Jonas Ridge
11 Hawlksbill
12 Ledge
13 Ledge Spence Conn
14 Spence Ridge
15 LGT
16 Pine Gap
17 Marion WRight
18 National Park Service trails
19 Footbridge river crossing
20 parking lot.
I'm not satisfied with the current maps on this area and no great effort has been made to correct them, so what you find on the maps may be a little different thAn what you see here. Few hikers make it thru the NEQ without getting lost.
Good luck.
N
What was the free map app you mentioned? Thank you!
Bandit - the app is “Avenza Maps” and the map download is “Linville Gorge Wilderness”
Avenza is an absolute necessity when in the Gorge. It's the only digi map that works everytime. I have All trails Pro, and backcountry navigator pro. Both are garbage for the Gorge. Avenza map was made by locals who have lived there and worked on trails for decades.
Hey Layne, really enjoying your videos! What kind of hammock and tarp setup are you using?
Thank you TwoFeet. I use a Simply Light Designs Trail Lair Hammock & Trail Haven Tarp
What kind of underquilt?
Right back to Simply Light Designs with the Trail Winder 20!