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Elkins45 cub
Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Northern KY
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:16 pm Post subject: KY trail with most elevation change? |
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I know this isn't a ST related question (or maybe it is). I'm trying to get ready for a trip to the Grand Canyon and I would like to test myself with some serious uphill/downhill hikes. What trails in KY or nearby have the most elevation change?
I was thinking maybe somewhere around Cumberland Gap, or maybe Pine Mountain?
TIA for any input |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:39 am Post subject: |
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I would nominate access roads to Pine Mt. (trail), i.e. road walk from Whitesburg up to the trail, road walk up to Pine Mt. State Park lodge from Pineville, Bad Branch trail to Pine Mt, access road to Kingdom Come St. Park,....any access to Pine Mt. will probably get you the greatest elevation change similar in grade to GC and in an area that's kind of geared toward outdoor foot travel. There are other places in EKy. that would be fantastic but coal companies seem to be reomoving them rather quickly. _________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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flatfeet cub
Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Lexington, KY
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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I would agree, the Cumberland Gap or Pine Mountain area would give you the most continuous elevation change. Another idea might be the Rough Trail in the RR Gorge. Each elevation change is only 300-400 feet, but you go from the ridge to the gorge probably 4 times in a 7 mile stretch. Hence the name Rough. |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Right on Feet! The rough trail is about ten miles and appears to be specifically constructed to work the quads, glutes and lungs and take you through some spectaclar cove hardwood and hemlock heaven. Also, I just looked at the Cumberland Gap site and saw that there is a ridge trail, Ewing trail, 3 miles with a little over 1600 ft. elevation gain. I've never been there...can anybody give a description? _________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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I'm trying to get ready for a trip to the Grand Canyon Quote: |
Hey Elkins, which trip are you planning in the Canyon? |
_________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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Traildust merciless pace
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 1092 Location: Burtonville, Ky
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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weeanme
Back to the Grand???? Spring I hope! _________________ Check us out at sheltoweetrace.twitter.com and on facebook in the hiking groups under The Sheltowee Trace. Sign up and join the discussion. Become a member of The Sheltowee Trace Association and help us maintain and grow the Trace. |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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O.K. Mr. Dust, so you smoked me out. I hit the quote button incorrectly and wound up quoting myself asking a question of the original poster. I wanted Elkins to tell us about his GC trip. It takes no effort for me to confuse a situation quickly. _________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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Elkins45 cub
Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Northern KY
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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weeanme wrote: | O.K. Mr. Dust, so you smoked me out. I hit the quote button incorrectly and wound up quoting myself asking a question of the original poster. I wanted Elkins to tell us about his GC trip. It takes no effort for me to confuse a situation quickly. |
Nothing exotic. Just a descent from the South Rim on the South Kaibab, camping at the Bright Angel campground then ascending the Bright Angel trail with a night at Indian Gardens on the way up. I imagine the climb from Indian Gardens to the rim is going to be quite the challenge to my knees and I'm trying to get a sense of if I'm going to be up to the challenge before I have to start committing funds. |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Elkins,
I would say going down S. Kaibab is going to be harder on the knees than going up. Hiking pole will help so will taking your time. Good pick on the route by the way. What time of year? _________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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Elkins45 cub
Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Northern KY
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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weeanme wrote: | Elkins,
I would say going down S. Kaibab is going to be harder on the knees than going up. Hiking pole will help so will taking your time. Good pick on the route by the way. What time of year? |
Late spring. |
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weeanme in the stride
Joined: 02 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent! You will have a great time. I hope you take the trip you will not regret it. When you leave Bright Angel early in the morning you will have all day to hike 10 miles. You will have a fine shady rest at Indian Gardens, water up, and in a couple of miles the trail starts turning into a carnival as you get closer to the rim because the lodge people are venturing down a bit from the rim. Its a fun way to come up out of the canyon, seeing all those bermuda shorts and 3lb Nikon cameras. _________________ weeanme Olympia, Ky |
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flatfeet cub
Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 9 Location: Lexington, KY
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Weeanme,
I've done the Ewing Trail once. Its switchbacks all the way up and continuous elevation gain. A good workout for sure, but there is a nice payoff with the White Rocks lookout at the top. You can see south all the way to the Smokies and you can see a little bit to the northwest to KY. |
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deragoku cub
Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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I hope your trip, you will not regret it. Early in the morning, when you leave an angel of light, you will have all day long 10 miles on foot. _________________ PS Vita Accessories |
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