Cotty wrote: >On 23/12/06, Mark Roberts, discombobulated, unleashed: > >>This one requires a tough hour-long hike (and (*no* fear of heights!): >>http://www.robertstech.com/pages/gfm_21.htm > >Yes please. Put me down for one of those Mark !
For anyone else interested, on the Saturday afternoon of the GFM Nature Photography Weekend I am going to lead an unofficial hike to Attic Window Peak on the mountain. Open to anyone who's interested in coming. Frank's done it with me in the past so it can't be that difficult ;-) Grandfather Mountain consists of a fairly long ridge with four distinct peaks. Linville Peak, the lowest of the four, is the one at the end of the road up the mountain. You drive there to get onto the Grandfather Mountain trail, which follows the ridge to the other three peaks. The first half mile is moderate in difficulty but after that it gets fairly tough: There are sections that would require ropes, harnesses and technical climbing experience if it weren't for the ladders bolted to the rock face. Not for people who are out of shape or who have any fear of heights. The first peak you come, about a mile out on the trail, is MacRae Peak. 3rd highest peak on the mountain. The peak itself is a house-sized boulder which is accessed via one of the aforementioned ladders. You can bypass the peak itself and continue on the trail if you like. The climb up to the top of the peak is a bit scary but the view is spectacular (http://www.robertstech.com/pages/gfm_21.htm) About half a mile farther on is Attic Window Peak. Still tough going on the trail: Some exposed ladder climbing and a spot where you have to shimmy through a crack between a cliff face and a large-building-sized boulder. Might be worrying if you get claustrophobic. The last part of the trail up to Attic Window is through a chute full of rocks/boulders of varying sizes (http://www.robertstech.com/pages/gfm_13.htm - looking down from the top... in appalling weather). Definitely upper class-4 scrambling. As you climb up through this chute there is a cave on your left that goes all the way through (about 20 ft) where you can sit on a shelf on the side of another cliff face. Frank and I did that and got some great shots. This is the destination of my Saturday afternoon excursion. On the Thursday night before the weekend officially begins, I hike out all the way to Calloway Peak, the fourth and highest peak on the mountain, and camp out for the night to get sunset and sunrise photos. This is a good mile past Attic Window and really quite strenuous when carrying a backpack loaded with tent, sleeping bag, camera gear and other supplies, but it's worth it :) Anyone who'll be there on Thursday and is willing and able to make the trip is welcome to come along. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
