February '08 Hikes (with apologies for truncated reports, as the notes on the hikes made the day or so after each were lost in e-ternity or someplace and these are being recollected much later).

February 2. Old Hotel Trail to Appalachian Trail over Cold Mountain and to north crest of Tar Jacket Ridge and back to Cow Camp Gap. 7.5 miles. A different twist on a favorite hike, as we walked the Old Hotel to the AT and then to the beautifully open mile-long summit area of Cold Mountain for lunch (just barely warm enough to be out and unprotected from the wind), and then walked on across the Forest Road at Cow Camp Gap and on to the far crest of Tar Jacket Ridge before turning back.

February 9. Crabtree Falls Trail to the Appalachian Trail to the northern crest of The Priest and back. 10.2 miles. A new hike for us, and a rewarding one both for the walk along the river to the top of the falls, and then on up--lots of climbing--to the AT to the far crest of The Priest for lunch on the outcropping. A pure version of our favorite hike structure: get ALL the climbing done before lunch and then get to go down all the way back.

February 16. Apple Orchard Falls Trail to Appalachian Trail south to Black Rock, back on AT to Cornelius Creek Trail and down. 8.6 miles. We returned to our first hike in celebration of the now-four-year hiking odyssey and did the loop in a slightly different fashion, and accompanied by son Adam. Apple Orchard Falls had significantly more volume on this day than it had on our last visit--back in the summer, when you didn't have to raise your voice to talk when standing beneath it. This loop offers a little bit of everything: the falls, the AT, strong climbs, stream crossings, a viewpoint, and a shelter nearby in case it's cold or rainy.

February 23. Andy Lane Trail to Appalachian Trail to Tinker Cliffs and back. 7.2 miles. Another old favorite up to the great views west. At lunch, we considered the little curiosity, as we always do, of how indistinct McAfee Knob is from here, whereas from McAfee, Tinker Cliffs is usually starkly visible. The reason is of course as simple as the day is long, especially as you squint a little looking south toward McAfee.

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