But whatever you guys do, do not let Doug and Nicko talk you in to going GeoCacheing.
Mark Roberts wrote: > 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
