Dec 27 - 29, 2006. Wed to Fri - sun, sun and sun, mixed with bright stars and moon - from Big East Fork (HWY 276 above the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC) west along the Valley Trail TOWARDS Shining Rock, and back. Our Route
Day 1 - The Daniel's Cove crossing was impassible and the valley trail beyond was badly grown over. We bushwhacked upstream and parallel to the trail above the "Laurel-Line" then rock-hopped across, then to high ground to find a tight and nearly habitable campsite for the 1st night.
Day 2 included breakfast in a more open HW forest, then more climbing to intersect the Ridge Trail. Lunch on top, then along and down the Ridge and a mossy Boulder Field, built a bridge to re-cross Daniels Cove, and had a fine, flat, level, chilly night.
Day 3 was day-hiking along unmarked but very pleasant logging trails - visited the trout hatchery and bagged a bunch of waterfalls.
Did we have fun? Depends on your definition of fun. Did it work out the way we planned? No. Did we enjoy the views, see some interesting points of nature and learn stuff? Definately. Will we try it again? Probably.
