All posts tagged as SouthEast Trip

18 Nov

SouthEastern Trip Reports Posted: Made 5 of 5 Summits!

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 18, 2014 / 0 Comments

Our 2014 Southeast Highpoint Trip was a complete success making all 5 summits on schedule and Susan are now on a plane headed back to Houston. There were some unexpected challenges and pleasant surprises and we forged some great memories this week. All 5 trip reports and photo galleries have been posted, and you will find links to them below in reverse order.

#5 Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina
Sassafras  was so ugly I’m a little embarrassed about standing on top of  it. Reminds me of the time I took a homely girl to prom. The surprise was finding that I actually liked her, and so it was with Sassafras. This was the final highpoint of the trip and we completed this one on Monday November 17th. You will find the Sassafras Mountain Trip Report here.

Sassafras Mtn South Carolina Levitation Edited

 

#4 Clingmans Dome, Tennessee
Clingmans Dome was a very cool highpoint with a great drive up through the Smokey Mountains.  The wind at the tower was strong enough to knock you off your feet if you didn’t keep a wide stance. We completed Clingmans on Sunday November 16th and you will find the Clingmans Dome Trip Report here.

Clingmans Dome TN Tower Descent Rail

 

#3 Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina
Mitchell lies just off of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway which winds over and around the mountaintops and even passes through them via tunnels carved from stone. We almost could not get there due to some freezing in the mountain passes, but managed to find our way via a network of rural back roads. The only thing unusual about the highpoint itself was the dead body at the top. We completed this one on Saturday November 15th and you will find the Mt Mitchell Trip Report here.

Mt Mitchell NC Icy Tunnel

 

#2 Mt. Rogers, Virginia
This 9 hour adventure and had everything from wild ponies to snowstorms. This was Susan’s most challenging climb to date, and she grumbled a little, well actually a lot, but she dug deep and we made the summit on Thursday November 13th. You will find the complete Mt Rogers Trip Report here.

Mt Rogers Pony Stallion

 

#1 Black Mountain, Kentucky
We nailed this easy drive up straight from the airport on Wednesday November 12th. We had a navigational glitch that sent us to the wrong Black Mountain and cost us 2 hours,  but we got there and I, (Susan stayed in the car as it was cold and raining) completed Black Mountain the state highpoint of Kentucky and you will find the complete Black Mountain Trip Report here

Black Mountain, Kentucky Towers

17 Nov

Black Mountain, Kentucky Trip Report Posted

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 17, 2014 / 0 Comments

On Wednesday November 12th Susan and I completed Black Mountain the state highpoint of Kentucky. This is highpoint #22 of 50 for me and the 1st of the 5 state highpoints of our 2014 SouthEast Trip.

Black Mountain Links:
Trip Report
Photo Gallery
Blog Posts
Google Map

You will find, status, photo galleries and trip reports for all of my adventures on the Highpoints Page.

15 Nov

Mt. Rogers Trip Report Posted

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 15, 2014 / 0 Comments

On Thursday November 13th, 2014, Susan and I completed Mt. Rogers the highest mountain in Virginia. This climb was made during our 2014 SouthEastern Trip and It was the most challenging climb Susan had done with me, and the weather conditions were less than ideal. Nonetheless it was a great climb and you will find the trip report and other resources below.

Mt. Rogers Trip Report
Mt. Rogers Photo Gallery
Mt. Rogers Blog Posts

You will find, status, photo galleries and trip reports for all of my adventures on the Highpoints Page.

13 Nov

Back at the Mt Rogers Trailhead!

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Back at the trailhead w no permanent disfigurement. In the car w heater blasting, feasting on lunch meats &cheeses.

I’m very proud of my wife. What a great day!

13 Nov

Conditions Less Than Ideal

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

It’s foggy, windy, still snowing and the mercury has fallen into the teens. We are low on food/water & downclimbing rocky terrain in the dark. And we have 1 headlamp. Everything is awesome!

13 Nov

Snow Day!

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Temperature still falling, now 22 and now it’s snowing. I love the mountains!

Susan is soldiering on, but I can tell she is really tired because she stopped complaining.

13 Nov

Standing on the Mt Rogers Summit!

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Susan dug deep and we made summit! Windy, cold and dropping, also misting which is creating ice layer on our gear. Headed down now, not much daylight left

13 Nov

Secret Weapon Deployed

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Susan wanted to turn back earlier, but she is feeling better after I deployed my secret weapon; caffeine infused honey.

We are climbing through some very cool rock formations now.

13 Nov

Susan is NOT Happy

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

It is getting considerably colder the climbing is getting tougher.

Susan is not happy (understatement) she is talking about turning back. If she does, I’ll take her back down at least to the ponies and then come back up on my own.

13 Nov

Wild Ponies!

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

PONIES! We just hiked through a herd of rotund little wild ponies of all colors.

Temp in the 30s and foggy but so far a nice gradual climb. Susan is doing great

13 Nov

Leaving Mt Rogers Trailhead Now

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 13, 2014 / 0 Comments

Susan was not sure if she would attempt the 8 mile Mt Rogers, VA with me, but has decided to go for it!

Leaving the trailhead now & will be hiking all day

11 Nov

SouthEastern Trip: 5 State Highpoints in 7 Days

In State Highpoints by Robert Danger Byrd / November 11, 2014 / 1 Comment

After the success of our Northeast Trip in September where we tackled 8 State Highpoints in 17 Days, I was able to talk Susan into another similar, although slightly less ambitions trip to the Southeastern states. We leave November 12th (Three days after returning from my Cuba Mission Trip) and will return on the 18th. Here is a Google Map Link showing the path between each state highpoint.

Here is the list:
#1 Black Mountain, Kentucky https://goo.gl/maps/O6yKV
#2 Mt. Rogers, Virginia https://goo.gl/maps/ozGl8
#3 Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina https://goo.gl/maps/Z1VXD
#4 Clingmans Dome, Tennessee https://goo.gl/maps/KJMDe
#5 Sassafras, South Carolina https://goo.gl/maps/0dIRj

These are easy ones except for Mt. Rodgers Virginia which is an 8 mile climb that will likely take 8-10 hours. Susan is not sure she wants to attempt this one, but I am encouraging her to go for it. The weather looks good with temps ranging from the 40s down into the teens, so it should be perfect hiking weather. We will spend a couple of days in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Tennessee which is one of our favorite places in America.

I’ll carry the satellite beacon as usual, so you can track our progress while driving and hiking. iPhone tracking will also be active.