DESTINATION Old Smokey Mountain - KOFA 1 Photoset
2023-02-04 | | -
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| Hiking | 5.25 Miles |
1,379 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.25 Miles | 4 Hrs 56 Mns | | 1.61 mph |
| 1,379 ft AEG | 1 Hour 40 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | It's been a few years since I helped Joe break his 18-year KofA drought with a quick trip up Old Smokey. The rugged ridge features some of the best up close views of this range and the final push to the summit is a joyously spicy climb that deserves another visit or three. Extra bonus: this doesn't meet any of the internet-list-chasers criteria, so it is generally visited only by people who enjoy hiking it just because it looks like it might be fun with no regard to elevation, prominence, isolation, its location on a map, or which other people have done it. As such there were only a couple of new names in the register since last time, and it still needs a replacement container.
Distant views were a bit hazy but otherwise it was a perfect weather day with light winds and temps in the 60s. It's a bit early for spring flowers though there was some scattered brittlebush, not much else. No sheep sightings today, though signs of their presence are ubiquitous and their paths are key to making the route easier.
Nearing the end of our loop we passed two motorcycles in the wash a good stretch beyond the wilderness boundary. Their bikes were not desert happy dirtbikes but bigger heavy touring bikes and they were 50 miles into their day and ready to be done with sandy wash roads. They were none-too-happy when I explained that the connection to KofA Queen was no longer a passable route, even on motorcycles, and they would have to head back the way they came. They were well equipped with maps so it was blatantly obvious they knew there was no open road connection and had planned to poach the wilderness stretch. Sorry, not sorry. People suck. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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