March 29, 2008

Arch Blitz

All Pictures are the property of Greg Whitis and may not be reproduced, copied, etc without written permission!!!!!!!!!

Sixteen people braved this trip.  Our intentions were to get in 10 Natural Arches in one day. We left early, got back late and was one arch short.  Since the majority of the people on this trip had never visited Dick Gap Overlook we traveled there instead of going to the tenth arch.

We traveled 57 miles and hiked approximately 5 miles.

Some people may never travel with me again.  Cool Off Arch was quite a challenge.  I had not been there for about 2.5 years; there were a great number of downed trees, laurel thickets, briars, and 2 slick areas to negotiate.  It is less than 300 feet off the road but is very challenging to see.

It holds remnants of days gone by, the moonshine era. There is still the ring of rocks where the still set and old 1/2 gallon fruit jars.

Bear Claw/Bear

Big Sink/Long Cliff (not an arch, just an interesting place)

Cool Off

Gobblers

Hickory Knob

Koger

Rattlers

Sampsons Pillar

Sun Roof