North Carolina Bike Trip

5/9 - 5/12/22 (2 nights on the trail)

2022 Bag Nights: 3

Bikepacking with Will, Chris and Jesse

All cell phone photos

Started at Oscar Blues in Brevard

Almost ready

We stopped for a couple more at Upcountry on our way out of town

And then up FR 471 (~1300' up and over)

Next day, down to Davidson Rd to Headwaters Rd with a stop to check out Slick Rock Falls

Only seen Sweetshrub in Big South Fork

A glimpse of Looking Glass Rock

I don't see a lot of Flame Azaleas

Then up to the Pink Beds and across Yellow Gap Rd.

Took a short hike to check out the view from the Pilot Cove Loop. Well, it was supposed to be short, but we missed a turn and ended up hiking the whole loop. So we ended up hiking about 3ish miles vs 1 mile. 

The view was worth it

And then evidently I was too tired to take anymore photos for the rest of the trip. We camped that night next to the North Mills River and then rode Wash Creek Rd to Bent Creek Rd where we had left a car. And then to an AirBNB near Asheville for the night. 

Big South Fork Bike Trip

Middle Fork Equestrian Trailhead

Big South Fork

11/15 - 11/17/21 (2 nights)

2021 Bag Nights: 39

CalTopo says about 65 miles and ~5000' of elevation

Will and I had been talking about doing a bikepacking trip and ended up deciding that Big South Fork looked like a good idea.

All cellphone photos since I wasn't sure how to carry my real camera and I didn't think Will would want to wait.

Black House Mountain Road

Over-engineered toilet on the side of the road

Store 14 Cutoff Road

Entering the Daniel Boone on Parkers Mountain Road (I don't know why I took a pic of his butt with the sign)

Parkers Mountain Road

Looking East, I wish the light was better

Another overlook, looking West

Another overlook, looking South

Camp along Rock Creek (just down the road from Great Meadows Campground). 

Almost full moon rising and a nice campfire

Next morning, a beautiful day, but still no sun.

One-lane bridge over Rock Creek

Footbridge over Rock Creek

Tree growing in/through a concrete pipe

We stashed the bikes and hiked the short distance to Koger Arch for lunch

Looking down at Blue Heron

Interesting pair of bugs, I assume they are mating

I liked the informal carving on this tombstone

Roadside arch, not sure of the name

We took a side trail and found a hunter's camp with a huge stack of firewood under a tarp and some benches, great place to spend the night.

Almost full moon

A planet, probably Jupiter

Sunrise through the trees

We took a side trail that was labeled as a wagon road on the map, we figured if a wagon could do it, so could we. Parts were very nice and parts were rocky and steep, no idea how a wagon would manage.

We got to the trailhead and an older couple was unloading their wagon but they said they weren't going down that trail and were going to stick to the gravel roads. 

We loaded up, had a celebratory beer in the parking lot and then headed back home. A great trip.