GSMNP-the Chimneys our second visit

January 2009 on what I think was our 3rd date or so we went to Gatlinburg the weekend before my birthday and hiked the Chimneys, it was icy and we didn't attempt the rock scramble at the end, but yesterday (Aug 28) the weather was inviting and so we drove up the 3 hours or so drive to do the hike. While it is only 2 miles to the end where the Chimneys formation is, it is a rough, steep and scenic 2 miles with several bridge crossings of rushing mountain streams. We start with a couple of photos of us at the beginning of the trail on one of the bridges. Archie really enjoys cheesy photos so I oblige and take them. The one where he is kneeling is a little joke we have about "go on save yourself its too late for me" when we are on some really long taxing hike. The next photo here is looking DOWN from halfway up the rock scramble to get to the summit. You can get about halfway up and then there is a point where climbing up exposes you to a fall in either direction of several hundred feet. Now there are foot and handholds but we had to stop there a few minutes, have lunch and watch some younger folks navigate the problem before we felt like attempting it. We also had a spectacular view so took a photo of that too, had to be kind of careful though because the ridge is so narrow and you are so high up that I didn't want to look around too much and get freaked out. Other than banging up my left knee, we ascended to the top from that point with no problems then a nice young man at the top took photos of us sitting on the summit and I took one of Archie's traditional Superman pose ( I declined to pose as Wonderwoman standing up there) and I began to worry about getting down this wicked series of slanted tilted rock steps that are about 60 degrees tilted so I found another way down ( near the old path up on the right side) and climbed down. DON'T is all I can say, while we made it unscathed except some elbow banging the last photo here that looks steep is looking straight up from the bottom of how we climbed down. At one point over halfway down this climb I swear I wanted to have a meltdown but I talked myself out of it because there was nobody gonna rescue me but me at that point. It was a great adventure but I won't do that again. It did give me more confidence that I'll attempt the last section of Angels Landing when we are in Zion National Park on vacation in September.

wahoo! Tarzan's 6th Coursing Championship

"Tarzan" finished his LCM2 on August 8 2010 at the age of 9 years and 3 months. He is now known officially as DC Avalon Jungle Fever MC,CDX,LCX,RAE2, LCM2,V-FCH, TT, CGC . Tarzan was the FIRST RAE titled Borzoi (there have been others since but he will always be the first ). He won the Borzoi Club of America National Triathlon in 2005 and 2009 placed 4th in 2006 and 2007 (did not go to the national in 2008) and placed 2nd in 2010. He has also won the Borzoi Club of America's annual versatility award (AVA) twice, was High in Trial at the BCOA national trial in 2005 from Open B, and is in the Borzoi Club of America lifetime versatility hall of fame. Anything that Paula or I pointed him at he said well if it will make you happy I'll give it a go. It brought tears to both of our eyes this last weekend to see him run with so much enthusiasm. Here are some photos taken by Jennifer Batson at the trial if you'd like to see him, he's the heavily spotted tri colored dog in the pictures. Thanks Jennifer! Thanks to everyone who has said kind words about him too from the bottom of my heart and my friend Paula's too. He is pretty special to us.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31056435&op=1&view=all&subj=100000167844984&id=81901837#!/album.php?aid=2028811&id=81901837

Davis Mountain Pennsylvania our 14th state high point

PA is proud of its high point as was WV (come on MD get some pride in yours! and make it easier to find) . It was later in the day, there was an actual breeze and it was cool amazingly so we didn't have to get the girls out of the van to walk over and take the photos and climb the observation tower for this one. It was only an hour and a half or two from MDs. Lots of exhibits on top of the observation tower too.

13th High point Backbone Mt. MD

So a couple of hours after the WV high point at Spruce Knob we found ourselves at Backbone Mt MD in absolutely nowhere. It was not easy to find or well marked, nor easy to find a parking place for. We had to hike about a mile into a national forest there all uphill to get to the marker. The dogs liked getting out of the van and thank goodness it was a completely shaded walk because it was HOT. So number 13 out of the way ( number 2 for the day) on July 23, 2010.

12th Spruce Knob, WV 4863 feet

On July 23, 2010 Archie and managed what he likes to call a "Trifecta" of high points (WV,MD and PA) on our way to Littlestown for a lure coursing event. The two Borzoi who went with us are Afanasii Belozor Surreptitious SC (the brownish one) and DC Avalon Victoria Cross SC (the black and grey one). It was very hot so when we got out of the van the girls also got out and got to hit the high points. This first one is Spruce Knob WV and we drove to the top, got the girls out and actually got to walk them up the observation tower to the top of it. The first photo is one of the many views from the top of the tower, if you go you must walk to the top of the tower and take photos, it is lovely.

Tory in the foreground and Genie in the back.

Hiking and high pointing partner extraordinaire Archie Doby.

OK so that behind us we headed for the MD high point not very far away but Jeeze Louise was it a beeyatch to find and no fancy pics to be had from there either.