I had time to kill tonight, so I re-read all of your posts in this series (so far) and followed you along in three different maps plus Google Earth. Now I have a pretty good feel for what you endured. Definitely different from hiking out here in the West.
The challenges are certainly very different. I've hiked out West some (a long, long time ago). The elevations are much higher, which is hard to deal with for someone used to living closer to sea level. But, the views are plentiful and its DRY! Here in the East it is often like hiking through a green tunnel and every chance for a view is a gift. The Foothills Trail was especially challenging because of so much rain! Otherwise, it would have been a much different story.
Beautiful photos Erik. Love the image of Virginia Hawkins Falls, and those of the mountain range, clouds and light after the storm. Bad weather makes for good photographs! Can't wait for Day 5.
What limited me with the photos from Sassafras is having to shoot from the platform. It left me without having anything in the foreground in these pictures, so I used my long lens and lens compression to my advantage. If I got down from the platform, I lost the angle and the mountains were blocked by trees. I'm happy with them, though! And yes, from now on I'm looking forward to bad weather, haha!!
"Standing in the presence of the divine..." well, you successfully got me to tear up. Partly because you wrote it beautifully, and partly because it called to mind a few of my own similar moments on my hike. That outlook sounds awesome. As always, the photos are stunning. Did I tell you I'm (pretty much) going to do a Foothills Trail thru? I'll be hitting you up for info!!
Ok, that is hands down the best compliment I've ever had! You're awesome!
I really recommend the Foothills Trail, if you can do it. I hope I haven't made it sound too difficult, because it is an excellent trail! Let me know what you need. I'll help in any way that I can!
Thanks so much!! I'll definitely be reaching out as October gets closer...there's no way I'm going south in the height of summer!! And nah, you haven't made it sound *too hard*. You've made it sound like Your Hike, and that's why it's awesome to read. Write on, fellow hiker trash!
I had time to kill tonight, so I re-read all of your posts in this series (so far) and followed you along in three different maps plus Google Earth. Now I have a pretty good feel for what you endured. Definitely different from hiking out here in the West.
The challenges are certainly very different. I've hiked out West some (a long, long time ago). The elevations are much higher, which is hard to deal with for someone used to living closer to sea level. But, the views are plentiful and its DRY! Here in the East it is often like hiking through a green tunnel and every chance for a view is a gift. The Foothills Trail was especially challenging because of so much rain! Otherwise, it would have been a much different story.
Beautiful photos Erik. Love the image of Virginia Hawkins Falls, and those of the mountain range, clouds and light after the storm. Bad weather makes for good photographs! Can't wait for Day 5.
What limited me with the photos from Sassafras is having to shoot from the platform. It left me without having anything in the foreground in these pictures, so I used my long lens and lens compression to my advantage. If I got down from the platform, I lost the angle and the mountains were blocked by trees. I'm happy with them, though! And yes, from now on I'm looking forward to bad weather, haha!!
"Standing in the presence of the divine..." well, you successfully got me to tear up. Partly because you wrote it beautifully, and partly because it called to mind a few of my own similar moments on my hike. That outlook sounds awesome. As always, the photos are stunning. Did I tell you I'm (pretty much) going to do a Foothills Trail thru? I'll be hitting you up for info!!
Ok, that is hands down the best compliment I've ever had! You're awesome!
I really recommend the Foothills Trail, if you can do it. I hope I haven't made it sound too difficult, because it is an excellent trail! Let me know what you need. I'll help in any way that I can!
Thanks so much!! I'll definitely be reaching out as October gets closer...there's no way I'm going south in the height of summer!! And nah, you haven't made it sound *too hard*. You've made it sound like Your Hike, and that's why it's awesome to read. Write on, fellow hiker trash!
Ooo! October should be a wonderful time! Hopefully before then I'll have finished the film of my trip that I'm editing! 🤣
That film sounds awesome!!