Stone Mountain State Park April 2011

Well, it's been a while since my last Blog post, and many hikes have been taken since, so I will post up a few randoms for a few trips that have taken place in the past year.  Over the past year, We made a few trips to Linville Gorge and Stone Mountain State Park. Linville Gorge has to be my Favorite location so far.

Here are some photos from a Trip to Stone Mountain State Park that Mason and I took in April of 2011.  We set out on this trip on the heels of a week at Disney.  After the crowds in the "Greatest Place on Earth" a few days in the back woods of Wilkesboro County was very welcome.  The highlight of this trip was in it's beginning.  Mason and I stopped off in a small farm in High Point, to pick out an 8 week old puppy from a litter of 8 chocolate labs.  Later named Astro, we pulled him from his home, drove an hour to the trail head, then put him through 20 miles on the trail, of which he cried the entire way.  Astro stuck with us though, despite being homesick.  He slept in the tent and NO MESSES!!! yay.

Our biggest hike was up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to have lunch at Devils Garden Overlook.  The Dogwoods and Rhododendrons were blooming everywhere. 

Salamander found during our hike to Devil's Garden Overlook.

Astro and his buddy Mason are happy with this camp site.

My 2 little buddies on the trail

On our way to Devils Garden Overlook

Devils Garden Overlook is along the Mountains to the Sea Trail

US National Park Service Boundary Marker.  I believe this is where the State Park ends.

Some Wild Flowers on the trail.

The trail floor was grassy in spots.  looks nice.

An old rusted out barrel just off the trail.  No telling how it got there or how long it's been there.

In the morning there was some fog.  in the afternoon, the same location looked totally different.

Near the top, close to Devils Garden Overlook.

Another US National Park Service maker.

Made it!  Nice views from both sides of the parkway.  Here we are looking towards the South.

Here, we are looking to the North from Devils Garden Overlook.  My favorite picture, with the dogwood in full bloom.

These flowers were blooming everywhere.. stinky.

 

Takeaways:

-  Astro is his name.  I was pushing for Barney, but Mason insisted on Astro, after the Houston Astro's.  I later confided with Mason about the Jetson's, which he had not seen before.
-  The trail to Devils Garden overlook was pretty steep.  I'm not sure of the elevation gain, but it took us about 3 hours to go 5 miles.
-  Campsite D is nice, because it's the last one and secluded on a ridge top, but also the furthest from a water source.  OK for 1 or 2 people, but any more than that will require some extra water runs.
-  The Nemo Meta 2P is big enough for Mason, me and Astro to be comfortable.
-  I brought a new sleeping bag.  A Montbell Down Spiral.  It's most comfortable.  My new fav!