{"id":489,"date":"2011-01-19T15:14:38","date_gmt":"2011-01-19T20:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/?p=489"},"modified":"2011-01-19T15:14:38","modified_gmt":"2011-01-19T20:14:38","slug":"whitehouse-mountain-cliffs-wilderness-falls-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/trailstealth\/whitehouse-mountain-cliffs-wilderness-falls-and-more.html","title":{"rendered":"Whitehouse Mountain Cliffs, Wilderness Falls, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few words about ‘Bastard Bears’…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Bastard Bear\u2019 is a descriptive adjective (that can reasonably be confused as being a noun) I use to describe a particularly steep, or difficult hill-climb, or anything formidable and tough to manage, really, and has now recently been associated with a \u2018low trail gear\u2019 for climbing even.\u00a0 I remember the first time I ever heard the phrase being used; it was Dave (\u2018Nurse Without A Purse<\/a>\u2019) Bigard in May of 1991, while hiking the Georgia and Southern North Carolina section of the Appalachian Trail.<\/p>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View looking South from first 'white blaze' on Springer Mountain, Georgia<\/p><\/div>\n

Some background information:\u00a0 \u2018Rat Patrol\u2019 and I met Dave near Stover Creek Shelter<\/a> on our 1st day of 12 out on the trail.\u00a0 He went on to Hawk Mountain Shelter<\/a> that afternoon, while we camped in the soft pine needles next to the creek (before the big flood that swamped our tents).\u00a0 We accidentally caught up to him again the next evening after we had hiked 16 miles, mostly in the cold, pouring rain, the last 2 miles in the dark.\u00a0 Anyway, it was at the Gooch Gap Shelter<\/a> that we became friends with the \u2018Nurse Without A purse\u2019 (\u2018NWAP\u2019 for short) and another cool hiker\/adventurer named \u2018Dr. Faustus.\u2019\u00a0 While the shelter had been full the night before, and Rat and I camped out in the rain again\u2026the next morning I woke up with a pond inside my tent, and we both were still exhausted from the 16 miles the day before, so we decided to take an entire day off, trying to recuperate and dry out somewhat, watching it rain the entire day and night from inside the shelter.\u00a0 Dave and Gwen<\/a> (\u2018Dr. Faustus\u2019) had decided to stay at the shelter, also, and we soon became \u2018the gnarly family<\/a>\u2019, hiking the rest of the way to \u2018Rainbow Springs\u2019, NC, together.\u00a0 There are many stories I could tell you about that trip through Georgia, like how Dave carried \u2018a bear horn\u2019 and fired it off every night before retiring to his sleeping bag, or how I had 30 pounds of trail mix, or even how Dr. Faustus<\/a> kept us all entertained and inspired; every day was a new adventure, but to make a very long story a bit shorter, I will get back to the \u2018Bastard Bear\u2019 part of the story.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"The<\/a>

The 'Gnarly Family' at GA\/NC state line on the Appalachian Trail 1990<\/p><\/div>\n

I don\u2019t remember exactly where we were, perhaps we were climbing up \u2018Little Bald Knob\u2019, or \u2018Timber Ridge\u2019 out of \u2018Coleman Gap\u2019 on our way to \u2018Carter Gap\u2019 (where we camped that night), taking advantage of the short break in the rain, when we met up with a \u2018troubled youth group<\/a>\u2019 (‘The Cherokees’) and their counselors, while they were taking a break on the steep hillside.\u00a0 My feet were covered in blisters, so it was difficult for me to hike, but somehow I had kept up with Gwen and witnessed Rat and Dave climbing the hill\u2026as Dave approached the group of kids, he exclaimed something to the effect that \u2018This hill is a Bastard Bear!\u00a0 My ***hole is pouched out so far, you could cut lock washers!\u2019\u00a0 Several of the youth group broke out into laughter, of course, and one or two of them were laughing so hard that they fell over and were rolling around on the ground in the rocks and dirt on the trail.\u00a0 I probably would have fallen over, too, but that would have required effort, and I was in too much pain, apparently, and couldn\u2019t afford the extra energy it would have taken to get back up.\u00a0 Anyway, it was really funny, as you can imagine.\u00a0 I can still see the image of that boy rolling around on the ground laughing so hard he could barely breathe; it is so vivid in my mind that is somewhat surreal.\u00a0 Anyway, that is how the phrase \u2018Bastard Bear\u2019 became a descriptive adjective.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Whitehouse<\/a>

Whitehouse Mountain and Cliffs<\/p><\/div>\n

Whitehouse Mountain Cliffs…<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest adventure in the Rocky Fork area, to Whitehouse Mountain, was very exhilarating and spectacular, and even contained a few epic \u2018bastard bear\u2019 elements and \u2018extreme hiking\u2019 moments.\u00a0 Participating in the incredible hike, besides myself, were \u2018Rat Patrol<\/a>\u2019, Melissa<\/a>, and \u2018Dan-o<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0 We met up on a chilly Saturday morning and began our hike at the gate<\/a> in the Rocky Fork Recreation Area.\u00a0 Mel and Dan had never been there before, apparently, and were reasonably fascinated by the beautiful cascades<\/a> on the creek and the inspiring views of the Flint Mountain Cliffs<\/a> that are visible on your left as you walk the creek trail<\/a> up into the impressive network of ridges and valleys.\u00a0 The stream<\/a> was moving quite briskly this day, and there was snow and ice<\/a> along the banks of the stream and on the trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Cascades<\/a>

Cascades along Rocky Fork Creek<\/p><\/div>\n

Walking beside the Rocky Fork Creek is scenic and easy; the trail<\/a> is smooth and wide, but we soon turned off this valley trail, and began our hike up the unmaintained trail<\/a> that leads up and around \u2018Whitehouse Mountain\u2019 (I have no idea why it is named this, or even if this is the correct name, since there isn\u2019t any definition or designation for this knob on the topography maps\u2026) to the gap<\/a> behind the large knob.\u00a0 Rat and I had already scouted out this trail about a month ago when the autumn leaves were in \u2018bloom<\/a>\u2019, and had also already found the primitive trail<\/a> that leads to the red-blazed ridge-top.\u00a0 This was steep and slippery<\/a>, and we had to negotiate both snow and briers to get to the ridge-trail.\u00a0 The trail up to the top of the \u2018Whitehouse\u2019 knob is just as steep<\/a>, if not steeper, and rockier<\/a>, and Rat climbed slowly in what he called his \u2018granny gear\u2019, but we soon learned that there is a gear even lower than granny gear, whereas \u2018granny gear\u2019 supposedly incorporates both feet and a slow steady climbing technique for maximum traction, \u2018Bastard Bear Gear\u2019 combines both feet, both hands, both butt-cheeks, or any other body part that will assist in getting you up (or down) a snowy, steep hill.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Steep<\/a>

Steep Red-Blazed Ridge-Top<\/p><\/div>\n

The views from the top<\/a> were incredible, perhaps even better than the last time we were there, since all the trees had by now lost their leaves.\u00a0 As I said before, in the last blog, it is amazing just how much one can see from the top of the knob<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Whitehouse Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Whitehouse Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Whitehouse Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Whitehouse Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n

After taking a break and enjoying the mountain scenery, we decided to climb down<\/a> off the top of the knob to what Melissa described as \u2018the abyss\u2019<\/a>, where we found the tops<\/a> of the amazing cliffs<\/a> that overlook the Rocky Fork<\/a>.\u00a0 Having descended<\/a> the mountain perhaps 3 1\/2 10ths of a mile, and having negotiated pathless<\/a> boulder-piles<\/a> with scrub-trees and more briers, eventually \u2018stair-stepping<\/a>\u2019 down in giant steps<\/a> to the end of the world<\/a>, basically–at least as far as Whitehouse Mountain is concerned.\u00a0 It was very inspiring and breathtaking, perhaps even spiritual, walking out to the edge<\/a> of the cliffs for the first time ever; not just the feeling of \u2018vertigo\u2019 or \u2018humility\u2019, but an indescribable, ephemeral feeling that made me take a few moments to contemplate my existence.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Standing<\/a>

Standing Near the top of 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Sitting<\/a>

Sitting on the top of 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

Directly across from where we stood were the cliffs on Flint Mountain<\/a> (that we had walked under<\/a> earlier) and wayyy down below, after a sheer drop of a few hundred feet was the Rocky Fork Creek in the bottom of the valley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Flint<\/a>

Flint Mountain Cliffs as seen from 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

Rat had nicknamed these giant pillars of fractured rock \u2018Stonehenge\u2019 many years ago, perhaps when we first began exploring the Rocky Fork with the hiking club in 1988.\u00a0 The name indeed seems appropriate for these fascinating cliffs; while they are not only a \u2018phenomenon\u2019, like the British Island \u2018Stonehenge\u2019, but are a \u2018natural phenomenon\u2019 as well.\u00a0 To give the name even more meaning, a couple of weeks earlier, while hiking back from \u2018Long Branch Falls\u2019 in the late afternoon\/early evening, the Sun was setting in the Flint Gap, and I could see the tops of the \u2018Stonehenge\u2019–giant pillars of rock\u2014glowing in the sunlight<\/a>.\u00a0 It was a privilege for me to stand upon the fragile cliff-tops, and judging by their expression and amusement, I think that Rat, Dan-o and Melissa felt rather privileged, as well.\u00a0 It was the first time that I had hiked anywhere with Mel and Dan, and while it is difficult to imagine a better adventure, it was nice to have had them along, and look forward to hiking with them again sometime.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Pointy<\/a>

Pointy boulder on the edge of 'Stonehenge Cliffs'<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Vertigo<\/a>

Vertigo being near the edge of 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

The hike back<\/a> up the Whitehouse Knob<\/a> was \u2018extreme<\/a>\u2019, and there were a couple more \u2018bastard bear<\/a>\u2019 moments (without the \u2018lock washers, thankfully), both ascending and descending<\/a> the secluded, snow covered, slippery knob.\u00a0 I am quite sure that I wasn\u2019t the only one to receive deep scratches or bruises–what Melissa calls \u2018merit badges\u2019\u2014but for me, it was well worth a few cuts and abrasions, and I hope to return to the phenomenal cliffs someday.<\/p>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from the top of 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

\"View<\/a>

View from the top of 'Stonehenge'<\/p><\/div>\n

If the finding, and standing upon, the \u2018Sill Branch Overlook\/Cliffs<\/a>\u2019 was like \u2018walking on the moon\u2019, standing on \u2018Stonehenge<\/a>\u2019 was somewhat similar, if not even more-so, since they are even taller, and there are even more cliffs<\/a> across the valley to admire, as well.\u00a0 There is something primordial about these majestic giant pillars of fractured stone–beyond words and my ability to describe them, except, perhaps, to say \u2018\u2026what a bastard bear\u2019.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Middle<\/a>

Middle Wilderness Falls<\/p><\/div>\n

Wilderness Falls…<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a late November morning, I met up with my trail-hiking buddy, ‘Rat Patrol’, and his waterfall-seeking friend, Dave Aldridge<\/a>.\u00a0 We met Dave and one of his friends last January when Rat, Tyler, and I were hiking to the ‘Dick Creek Falls<\/a>‘ by way of the Rock Creek Recreation Area on Unaka Mountain (perhaps I mentioned this in a previous blog<\/a>).\u00a0 Dave and his friend, Lou<\/a>, were actually on their way back from these secluded waterfalls, which he found using his GPS device, and although we had a good idea where to find them, it was much easier just to simply follow Dave’s ‘star pattern’ boot-tread through the snow.\u00a0 We actually bumped into Dave and Lou again about a week later on our way to ‘Rock Creek Falls<\/a>‘–again they were on their way back, while we were on our way in to see them.\u00a0 Anyway, meeting Dave was very lucky, indeed, since he has been an avid waterfall hunter for quite some time now, visiting and photographing waterfalls around the world.\u00a0 While ‘Rat Patrol’ has been very enthusiastic about photographing waterfalls for his website, Rattreks.com<\/a>, Dave’s association has helped fuel that compulsion, and inspire Rat into new waterfall territories, even, and they have been on several waterfall-hunting trips together.\u00a0 However, I dare to say, that the association has been somewhat mutual, since Rat and myself know of many waterfalls that Dave (or darn near anyone) has yet to find.\u00a0 In fact, on this particular day, we took Dave to some ‘unchartered’ waterfalls in the Sampson Wilderness Area that relatively no one even knows about, much less visits.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Part<\/a>Lower part of Wilderness Falls<\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\n
\n
\"Lower<\/a>

Lower Wilderness Falls<\/p><\/div>\n

Before we took him to these secluded 150′ waterfalls, we walked up the ‘Longarm Creek Trail<\/a>‘ to show him the upper Longarm Falls<\/a>, which he had never seen before.\u00a0 I have been visiting these falls almost as long as I have lived in Tennessee.\u00a0 The day we were there, however, there wasn’t very much water flowing off the top, so it is difficult to fully appreciate their splendor, although we could respect their rugged appearance and significance, as they are at least 60-feet tall.\u00a0 Having seen these falls in flood stage several years ago, when they more resembled a river, and large rocks were being ejected from the top (I saw one rock kick off the falls, collide with a boulder at the base of the falls and split in two) I realize their potential, and respect and admire that latent power, regardless, but they do appear more impressive when larger amounts of water are flowing off the top, but that could be said for any waterfall.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Upper<\/a>

Upper Longarm Branch Falls<\/p><\/div>\n

The weather was unseasonably warm, and the trail was somewhat steep and rocky, but no one was in a hurry; we stopped occasionally to admire some of the attractive cascades<\/a> on the Longarm Branch<\/a>, or take a photo<\/a>, perhaps.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Cascades<\/a>

Cascades along Longarm Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Cascades<\/a>

Cascades along Longarm Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

On the way back from the upper Longarm Branch Falls, we decided to take Dave to some waterfalls I accidentally found a few years ago.\u00a0 I had walked by that particular hollow<\/a> with the waterfalls in it for 20 years, or more, perhaps, suspecting but never realizing that there was anything in that hollow worth looking at.\u00a0 The \u2018trail<\/a>\u2019 to the falls is quite primitive, and is essentially non-existent<\/a> when you get close to the base<\/a> of the largest waterfall\u2014the one I had nicknamed the \u2018Wilderness Falls<\/a>\u2019 over a year ago (since they didn\u2019t already have a name).\u00a0 Anyway, although the trail was rough, we did eventually pass the respectable lower falls<\/a> and then climbed the steep hillside<\/a> to view the enormous cliff face<\/a> with the creek descending off the top<\/a>.\u00a0 Again, there wasn\u2019t much water flowing that afternoon\u2014in fact , in the 7 or 8 times that I have visited these substantial waterfalls, that is the least amount of water I have ever seen dropping over the cliff\u2019s edge\u2014but nevertheless it was an impressive sight.\u00a0 Despite the extremely steep and formidable landscape (there isn\u2019t really a trail beyond the lower part of the falls) Dave<\/a> seemed to enjoy the extraordinary falls, and thanked us for sharing them with him.\u00a0 While we were there, we had Dave (a retired engineer) get a GPS reading from the base of the falls.\u00a0 With this reading, he submitted the information to the Forest Service, and now \u2018Wilderness Falls<\/a>\u2019 is on the Tennessee Landforms<\/a> waterfall map.\u00a0 It is the first time that I have gotten to name a waterfall, so I am pretty excited about that.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Sunset<\/a>

Sunset near Devil Fork Gap<\/p><\/div>\n

Devil’s Fork Gap\/Divide Mountain Hike…<\/strong><\/p>\n

I decided to go out for a Sunday afternoon hike in mid-November.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure where to go, but I eventually ended up hiking north out of Devil\u2019s Fork Gap.\u00a0 It had been several years since I had hiked through Sugarloaf Branch, and I noticed a few \u2018new to me\u2019 trail re-locations and switchbacks that I suppose made it somewhat easier.\u00a0 I actually almost missed a turn in the trail as I ascended up the hill because I am so accustomed to following the creek draw up to the gap at the top of the ridge.\u00a0 As it turns out, it really wouldn\u2019t have made very much difference, since the trail still goes through the gap, but I was interested in seeing what the \u2018new\u2019 trail was like.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Remnants<\/a>

Remnants of old homestead in Sugarloaf Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

After ascending the branch trail (with the new switchbacks) to the Sugarloaf Gap, I made my way out to the northern end of Divide Mountain, skirting around below the ridge-top to the large, interesting boulder with the small spring that originates just above it.\u00a0 I have heard someone call this seemingly misplaced boulder the \u2018fish rock<\/a>\u2019, and I suppose if you look upon it from just the right angle, perhaps it does somewhat resemble a large fish, but to me it looks more like a large fish with its head cut off.\u00a0 Regardless, it is nice to have names for such unusual, perhaps unique, boulders and such, because it can improve communication along the trail by giving names to otherwise inanimate places.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Fish<\/a>

Fish Rock<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Anyway, I studied the trail map through this area, and noticed some inaccuracy as to where the Appalachian Trail goes through that area, which was surprising.\u00a0 Also, apparently much of what I had hiked over is technically called \u2018Divide Mountain\u2019, even though \u2018Sugarloaf Mountain\u2019 is right in there as well, which I find rather confusing, and I am not even sure what to call that one ridge-line I hiked over.\u00a0 Anyway, I did go just a bit further around the point of the ridge, and got a view of Big Bald<\/a> in the distance\u2014understandably, Big Bald, elevation 5516\u2019, is visible from darn near anywhere in this region.\u00a0 It was getting late in the afternoon, and I began hiking back toward Devil\u2019s Fork Gap.\u00a0 The Sun began to set as I was trekking back down the Sugarloaf Branch part of the trail, and I was provided with some good views over toward Flint Mountain, since the softening sunlight helped with the quality of visibility.<\/p>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View of Flint Mountain from trail through Sugarloaf Branch <\/p><\/div>\n

I encountered a family, a mother and 3 children, on the last hill-climb of the day for me; they were walking down the hill toward the \u2018Boone Cove Road\u2019 that I had just crossed a few minutes before, and I suppose that they must live there somewhere.\u00a0 Although it is somewhat unusual to see such young children on the trail (one of them was only an infant and was being carried \u2018papoose style\u2019 by the mother), what was really unique was the \u2018russian-blue\u2019 cat that was walking with them, and ran down the trail toward me, as if in \u2018attack mode\u2019.\u00a0 At first I thought it was a small dog, in fact, and I was a bit shocked when I realized that it was actually a cat. You just don\u2019t see hiking guard-cats like that very often.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Gravesite<\/a>

Grave-site near Sugarloaf Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Sunset<\/a>

Sunset at Devil's Fork Gap<\/p><\/div>\n

Anyway, by the time I reached the top of the last ridge (another part of the elusive, transient \u2018Divide Mountain\u2019), the full moon was coming up over the ridges in the east, and from where I was, I was looking down to see it rising up above the mountains, which was astonishing in itself, but also, the Sun setting<\/a> on the other side of the ridge, in the southwest was very scenic\u2014I mean it was incredible, especially when Viking Mountain is serving as a backdrop to such beauty.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Fourth<\/a>

Fourth set of unlisted falls in Long Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

Long Branch Falls…<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was yet another hike in the Rocky Fork Recreation Area–a waterfall seeking journey on the \u2018Long Branch\u2019 creek<\/a>.\u00a0 It was a cool morning, but overall, the weather was really nice, and I met up with \u2018Rat Patrol<\/a>\u2019 and his son \u2018Tyler<\/a>\u2019 to find the falls.\u00a0 As many times as I have walked up the \u2018high road<\/a>\u2019 in the Rocky Fork, I had never adventured into the \u2018Long Branch\u2019, but passed it by many a time saying to myself, \u2018I wonder what\u2019s up in there<\/a>?\u2019\u00a0 As it turns out, there are some pretty nice waterfalls<\/a> and cascades<\/a> in that long valley.\u00a0 The water levels were pretty low on the day we hiked up through there, but I still enjoyed being out in the woods<\/a>, exploring new trails<\/a>, and climbing<\/a> new (to me) waterfalls.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Lower<\/a>

Lower Long Branch Falls<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Lower<\/a>

Lower Long Branch Falls #2<\/p><\/div>\n

The falls themselves, as I said, are quite \u2018nice\u2019, in fact on the day we hiked up there, all they really needed to be \u2018super-nice\u2019 was a lot more water flowing off the tops. The largest waterfall <\/a>was also the furthest away waterfall, and the most difficult<\/a> to get to, as well.\u00a0 Again, these falls would have been impressive with a bit of rain, but looked more like a large (30-foot tall), wet rock, with a bit of water trickling off the top.\u00a0 We found an old road bed<\/a>, now overgrown<\/a> in small pine trees, and after getting stung by a yellow jacket or two (Tyler<\/a> got stung, also), followed that old road bed back down toward the larger trail<\/a> we had left to find the upper Long Branch Falls.\u00a0 We had to drop down<\/a> off of this overgrown trail<\/a> at a ridge-point, and found another old road bed<\/a> below that one that led us out of the narrow draw that the falls are situated in.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Third<\/a>

Third Set of Unlisted Falls on Long Branch<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Upper<\/a>

Upper Long Branch Falls<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite being a bit disoriented and unbalanced<\/a> because of the bee sting, and perhaps the antihistamine that I took to combat the effects, we made it out of the Long Branch<\/a> without any problems, and hiked back through the Rocky Fork creek trail<\/a>.\u00a0 I mentioned this before, in the \u2018Whitehouse Mountain\u2019 part of the blog, but I was very fascinated by the Sun setting in Flint Gap<\/a>, and the way it illuminated the amazing \u2018Stonehenge\u2019 cliffs.\u00a0 It was an impressive solar–cliff alignment, to say the least.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Longarm<\/a>

Longarm Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n

Longarm Ridge…<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is only one other hike to mention, the steep \u2018bastard bear-like\u2019 hill-climb<\/a> up the northern end of Longarm Ridge.\u00a0 This is a particularly desolate part of the world, and judging by the complete lack of a trail<\/a> on top of the narrow ridge-top<\/a>, I don\u2019t even think the animals travel over this part of the ridge, except maybe a few birds.\u00a0 While, I am always intrigued by the cumulative sound of the roaring Devil\u2019s Fork creeks, which can be heard quite clearly while climbing the northern end of Longarm Ridge, this \u2018trail\u2019 is basically just a \u2018bushwhack<\/a>\u2019.\u00a0 The only reason to be up on top of this end of the Longarm Ridge, that I can think of, is to study the surrounding landscapes<\/a>, particularly the \u2018Big Pine Ridge and Devil\u2019s Fork Valleys\u2019 part of Rich Mountain.\u00a0 One can also get a good view of the ridges of Sampson Mountain<\/a> from there, as well.<\/p>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

'Trail' on top of Longarm Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Longarm Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n

\"View<\/a>

View from Longarm Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n

More adventures later\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.Boulderman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12-16-2010<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few words about ‘Bastard Bears’… \u2018Bastard Bear\u2019 is a descriptive adjective (that can reasonably be confused as being a noun) I use to describe a particularly steep, or difficult hill-climb, or anything formidable and tough to manage, really, and has now recently been associated with a \u2018low trail gear\u2019 for climbing even.\u00a0 I remember […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=489"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":531,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/489\/revisions\/531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trailstealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}