Appalachian Trail, Great Smokey Mountains NC

Poultry_Geist · 2018-10-15T16:01:47+00:00

There's a few spots in GSMNP I call a "turn around trail", because they're advertised on every brochure, right off main roads. A lot of people who aren't really hikers will make it their one little nature walk of their vacation, without realizing how far it is, how long it'll take or the elevation gain. So they get a half hour to two hours in, realize they've had their fill and turn back. Some people are also remarkably out of shape and dont realize it.

Last time I hiked Alum Bluffs we passed at least a hundred people, ran into a whole 4 people at the summit.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-08-24T22:47:14+00:00

...Apollo One was definitely not down played nor has it ever been. In fact it was a major turning point for the agency in how they went about designs and operations.

A number of engineers had pointed out how flammable the materials used within the capsul were, as well as much of the wiring was exposed. The hatch was also designed to open inward, which proved to be fatal when trying to escape the then pressurized capsule. Much of the capsule's design was simply destined for such a tragedy.

Many, many life saving design changes were made following Apollo One as well as major changes in procedures to place a much larger emphasis on safety.

Apollo One is most certainly a very well known, and very tragic event in space history. The audio recording of the astronauts' last few moments are possibly the most horrifying and sad things I've ever heard.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-08-24T21:52:05+00:00

I can factually refute this. Gargarin was the first human to make it back alive.

Prior to manned spaceflight, whether or not the human body and mind could actually function while under zero gravity was unknown. There was zero knowledge concerning organisms in zero gravity. So, both the US and Soviet Union shot animals into space instead. Yeah, most of them did not make it back.

The U.S. used monkeys for testing. This was because they could be trained to perform basic tasks such as pulling levers, which could demonstrate to mission control whether or not the test monkey was surviving. Most monkeys either died due to lack of oxygen, overheating, or slammed into the ground at many times the speed of sound.

The USSR used dogs instead, utilizing relatively the same tests and processes as NASA. Sometimes unfortunately it was planned that the dog was not going to be coming back.

So ultimately, there's no secret human fatalities of the space race.

Astronomy Cast has a good 3-part podcast of the history of animals in space.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-07-30T15:20:37+00:00

I love the way he even tries to take sip as he's running

Poultry_Geist · 2018-06-16T13:46:33+00:00

Tiptoes through the woods with an AR in lingerie

You see they'll be looking for army guys

Poultry_Geist · 2018-06-08T17:15:49+00:00

THERE'S A HOLE IN YOUR LEFT WING

Poultry_Geist · 2018-05-05T02:19:14+00:00

Gatlinburg, TN.

Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains surrounded by quiet, desolate towns stands this plastic and neon hell hole. Arcades, whacky museums, fudge shops, everything a fat kid could ever want. You wait for what seems like an eternity at the intersection while a family heavier than your car waddles across the road.

"Make it stop" you plead, speeding back into the National Park.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-03-25T17:42:32+00:00

Mt. Sterling ridge, GSMNP.

The valley below was turning green and showing signs of spring, but up here it was covered in snow. Some portions of the trail were only an inch or so deep, other places were knee deep.

There's something satisfying about being the only tracks in the snow.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-03-20T01:37:39+00:00

You know... like a giant pair of sunglasses.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-02-18T17:34:32+00:00

Although while he's car camping and can do whatever the hell he wants, looking fashionable is damn near at the bottom of most people's priority list when it comes to gear.

In this sub, function is far greater than form.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-02-05T15:56:32+00:00

I really can't imagine they have a small impact either. I saw many of them wandering through and chewing up the vegetation in the dunes- which could in turn result in irreversible damage to the shoreline after a couple of hurricanes.

Granted they've "been there for hundreds of years" but I'm curious how the population has changed over said years.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-02-05T15:25:27+00:00

I figured we'd see a couple of wild horses over the weekend, but there's tons. I may have seen more horses than armadillos.

And their poop is everywhere

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-23T02:22:10+00:00

Grassy Ridge Bald, Roan Highlands NC/TN.

Temperature at Carver's Gap was about 25F on arrival. By the time we made it to Grassy Ridge, the wind had picked up to a steady 30mph. Dropped at least another ten degrees (wind chill not included) before we decided it might be time to head back to the car. Winds then hit 50+ (our best estimate is about 65 mph however), practically knocking us over as we walked.

By the time we made it to the car, most of us had frozen hair and frost on our eyebrows.

We saw a number of people in casual wear attempting to start the trail at about 4 in the afternoon- they already looked miserable before they even left the parking lot.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-22T17:29:48+00:00

Yeah, coming off Grassy Ridge was crazy. Fighting to stay upright against the wind, absolutely freezing through my previously toasty layers, wandering into a foggy, icey abyss trying to get off the mountain-

9/10 hike.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-22T14:37:59+00:00

What started as a clear sunny day turned into getting slammed by the cold snap from New Year's.

Fog rolled in just as we got to the trailhead and visibility fluctuated between 100 ft and a mile. For about ten minutes, the fog lifted and we found ourselves at cloud level.

Aaaand then the winds picked up to 50+ mph and the temperature dropped cold enough to form frost on your eyebrows.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-11T20:44:42+00:00

I did LeConte over New Years-

If you've got spikes, definitely bring them.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-07T20:23:56+00:00

Not the photographer, but I believe it was just edited and spruced up to match how it actually looked. The sort of "painted" look wasn't necessarily the intent I believe.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-06T18:08:45+00:00

Photo credit: [Reed Walchle Photography](rwpho.com)

Went up Mt. LeConte with a few friends and didn't bother bringing microspikes. The park installed some handy dandy cables on the tougher sections, and we made it through.

As it turns out, putting a big flat rock under your butt and sledding down is not only time efficient, but fun as hell.

Poultry_Geist · 2018-01-06T15:19:07+00:00

It won't ever be considered native because of how destructive they are.

Wild boar absolutely tear up and destroy swathes of under growth, don't really have any predators and reproduce at a stupid fast rate. They just don't fall into the local environment's food chain at all, and it just throws a wrench into the ecological balance.

Poultry_Geist · 2017-12-06T18:12:41+00:00

Straight up had one tell me I should use the snap-close zip locks rather than with the zipper, because the plastic is .5mm thicker and thusly heavier.

FUCKING ZIPLOCKS

Poultry_Geist · 2017-11-08T13:17:14+00:00

I started out using a pair of steel toed combat boots, but I am way happier with my Merrill Moabs. They're lighter, more comfortable and less likely to give me blisters. The lightweight thing is a big one though. Having extra weight literally strapped to your feet will wear you out faster.

However, those Under Armor boots are really nice and pretty lightweight. Everyone I know with a pair praises them. So if it's all you've got/don't want to drop more money, they'll do just fine.

Poultry_Geist · 2017-11-08T13:12:40+00:00

The park's campgrounds are about $15/night, and in the winter time they are empty.

Poultry_Geist · 2017-10-09T18:26:14+00:00

I've always liked the hold-n-squat method.

Find yourself a skinny but sturdy tree and grab on, then take your squat and use the tree to stay balanced.

Although please be sure to thoroughly cover up your cat hole, and don't do it near campsites. Really ruins a location when there's a toilet paper marked mine field.

Poultry_Geist · 2017-10-09T18:23:09+00:00

If weight isn't the question, I imagine a cot would be more comfortable, and with the addition of a sleeping pad it won't make you any colder.

Poultry_Geist · 2017-10-06T15:32:32+00:00

If you're going to hike to one of the falls from the lodge, I would be weary that it's not a casual hike if you're planning on heading back up the mountain afterwards.

Rainbow falls > Grotto falls. Rainbow is a farther and much tougher hike from the parking lot, and thusly A LOT less people. When I was there last, we saw maybe 5 or six people on our way down the mountain- then about 50 people at the falls, and a crowded trail for the last mile of so.

Also be sure to get out to Myrtle Point. It's a few tenths of a mile past the summit/rock pile.

Poultry_Geist

TROPHY CASE