The NEW Post Your Campsite/gear/knife/hiking/anything Outdoorsy Pic Thread!

[La_Maleta_Azul]

I took my mini grip on a hiking trip in Colorado last July:

Mt Elbert Ascent

Great Sand Dunes Natl Park

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

HM, those pics are absolutely stunning. I've never done multiple-day hikes like that, mostly dayhikes or maybe with one overnighter. Seems like a cool idea to do and I've been thinking about it, but in most countries here it's forbidden to put up camp anyplace else than a camping/trailer park... I love the panoramic views. Surreal area, for sure. So vast, too. Really amazing man, thanks for sharing.

Maleta, those pics are véry nice too. Lot's of contrast in only three pics. From grassy fields to snowy peaks to a desert landscape. I like it!

I'll put up some pics from my trip to the Berchtesgaden area in Germany ITT one of these days, but it's tough as nails to filter out the pics worth showing. I've got several pics for instance from the Dachau concentration camp, but I'm not sure if they are appropriate here.

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Ok, here's a small selection of pics from my trip to the Berchtesgaden area in Bayern, southern Germany with my girlfriend. 'Small' might be an understatement, but we'll see where it goes.
Some of the pics are from hiking trips in the area, others are more cultural or historical, but I've kept it 'Outdoors'.

First things first. We started off with some pretty bad weather and only had sunshine for 2 days. Most of the pics here will be of the last two days. You'll see some grayish cloudy pics too, but they were from the beginning of the holiday.

To show off the contrast, here are two pics from a vantage point on the Obersalzberg (where Hitler had built a large complex around his villa, the Berghof, all of which is destroyed except for a Tea House which is better known as the Eagle's Nest).

How the panoramic view over the Berchtesgaden valley was in the first couple of days:

Whereas this is what it looked like on the final day of our trip:

Quite the contrast, indeed.

Anyway, one of the first stops of our trip was the Dachau concentration camp. I'm not going to say a lot about it. Pictures can't do it justice. I still don't know how I feel about that place. It's not a feeling I can relate to other past experiences. I don't think I could describe it with words either. You just have to go there to experience it, I guess...

Let's move on to some happier experiences, shall we.
Here's a large and véry nice symmetrical garden in the middle of Salzburg, an Austrian city. The most famous resident was probably Mozart.

Some random environment shots as well as some knife pics...

This is the Watzmann peak, the highest peak in the close environment. It's 2713 metres in height.

The last two days we had a lot of fun since the weather became so nice. First of all, we took a boatride on the Königssee to the other side of that lake. That's where we started one of the most beautiful hikes we made. It had everything. Mountains, water, green stuff everywhere, waterfalls. Here are some pics...

For those who love moss, rocks and trees...

And finally, on the last day, we made a trip to the Eagle's Nest. It was a tea house donated to Hitler by the nazi party. He often discussed policies there with diplomats and the like. He sure knew how to make an impression on those he'd want to convince of something. Just serve them tea with a world class view...

It's on the top of that hill.

Some views from the Eagle's Nest on the Berchtesgadener Alps and surroundings...

In the end, it was quite the trip. First time I drove that far (1240+ miles to and back again) but it was well worth it. Loved every minute of it. We're definitely going back in order to explore the area a bit more thorough since we only had 5 days in the region. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

 

[La_Maleta_Azul]

HM, those pics are absolutely stunning. I've never done multiple-day hikes like that, mostly dayhikes or maybe with one overnighter. Seems like a cool idea to do and I've been thinking about it, but in most countries here it's forbidden to put up camp anyplace else than a camping/trailer park... I love the panoramic views. Surreal area, for sure. So vast, too. Really amazing man, thanks for sharing.

Maleta, those pics are véry nice too. Lot's of contrast in only three pics. From grassy fields to snowy peaks to a desert landscape. I like it!

I'll put up some pics from my trip to the Berchtesgaden area in Germany ITT one of these days, but it's tough as nails to filter out the pics worth showing. I've got several pics for instance from the Dachau concentration camp, but I'm not sure if they are appropriate here.

Thanks! We drove ~700 miles in total from Denver to Taos and back - you pass through at least 5 totally unique landscapes on your way down to NM. BTW, those pics from Germany are amazing. I've always wanted to go to the Bavarian Alps.

 

[HikingMano]

La Maleta Azul, awesome! 14ers and dunes, must have been a great trip. That picture of the dunes in Great Sand Dunes NP makes it look so velvety! Welcome and hope to see more from you :thumbup:


GS, you're welcome buddy. It sounds like you need to find you some countries near enough to you that allow backpacking. My knowledge of Europe is zilch, but I'm sure there must be wilderness spots for you to hit up.

Now, onto your Berchtesgaden trip, wow! :thumbup: Before the happier stuff, is that a sculpture in your last picture of Dachau, in front of the building? I bet your visit must have been pretty somber and reflective.

As for the rest, I'm glad you were given at least a couple of sunny days to enjoy the area in all its sunlit glory. The Königssee and the subsequent hike look absolutely wonderful! My kinda place for sure, with the waterfalls and lake and greenery. Just stunning with those steep mountain sides coming right down to the lakes. Great job capturing the essence! Love the still water in the first pic. And the Eagle's Nest views! Wow, aerie for sure; it really is spectacularly situated. Does the tea house still serve tea? Looks like it might, from all the tables with umbrellas set up outside. I love the tiny paraglider in the first pic of the Berchtesgadener Alps, and the mountain in that last pic is quite craggy and impressive. It looks like there may be a little trail up it; how far could one get up that knife ridge? Doesn't look like one could make it to the summit, but it'd still be awesome to wander around up the ridge.

Great stuff, man, and I'm glad you and the GF enjoyed your time there! Over 1k' miles sure is a drive, but as you said, certainly looks like it was worthwhile :thumbup:

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Thanks! We drove ~700 miles in total from Denver to Taos and back - you pass through at least 5 totally unique landscapes on your way down to NM. BTW, those pics from Germany are amazing. I've always wanted to go to the Bavarian Alps.

It was worth the drive, once again: great pics. And hey, thanks ;-)

GS, you're welcome buddy. It sounds like you need to find you some countries near enough to you that allow backpacking. My knowledge of Europe is zilch, but I'm sure there must be wilderness spots for you to hit up.

Now, onto your Berchtesgaden trip, wow! :thumbup: Before the happier stuff, is that a sculpture in your last picture of Dachau, in front of the building? I bet your visit must have been pretty somber and reflective.

Yeah it's allowed here and there but I still have to figure out how to travel the long distances in between the locations where you are allowed to set up camp. Some distances just cannot be travelled in a day...

Indeed it is a commemorative sculpture of some kind. We didn't really figure it out, but we thought it was supposed to picture skinny bodies of the dead, tangled into each other...

As for the rest, I'm glad you were given at least a couple of sunny days to enjoy the area in all its sunlit glory. The Königssee and the subsequent hike look absolutely wonderful! My kinda place for sure, with the waterfalls and lake and greenery. Just stunning with those steep mountain sides coming right down to the lakes. Great job capturing the essence! Love the still water in the first pic. And the Eagle's Nest views! Wow, aerie for sure; it really is spectacularly situated. Does the tea house still serve tea? Looks like it might, from all the tables with umbrellas set up outside. I love the tiny paraglider in the first pic of the Berchtesgadener Alps, and the mountain in that last pic is quite craggy and impressive. It looks like there may be a little trail up it; how far could one get up that knife ridge? Doesn't look like one could make it to the summit, but it'd still be awesome to wander around up the ridge.

Great stuff, man, and I'm glad you and the GF enjoyed your time there! Over 1k' miles sure is a drive, but as you said, certainly looks like it was worthwhile :thumbup:

It was indeed a wonderful experience. I don't think you're allowed to hike on that ridgeline of the Kehlstein mountain. Where I was standing was a wooden barricade with a straight drop down of a few metres. Maybe it's a remnant of some of the past construction works on the mountain... The tea house does serve tea, but not only that. It's a restaurant now which serves hot meals as well. I can assure you that it's breathtaking to have a nice warm dinner with that panoramic view. I'll let the picture do the talking

Thanks for the nice words HM!

 

[HikingMano]

Yeah it's allowed here and there but I still have to figure out how to travel the long distances in between the locations where you are allowed to set up camp. Some distances just cannot be travelled in a day...

Indeed it is a commemorative sculpture of some kind. We didn't really figure it out, but we thought it was supposed to picture skinny bodies of the dead, tangled into each other...

I hear you on the driving thing, it's always a problem. The sculpture, that's what I thought it depicted...morbid but a truthful reminder.

[...]I can assure you that it's breathtaking to have a nice warm dinner with that panoramic view. I'll let the picture do the talking [...]

I bet! Nice!

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Dusky Pygmy Rattler. Tons of these around the dropzone. Relocated this one.

A thousand years ago I kept a mated pair of those. Tiny, but holy cow! what a wallop they pack. Nothing to trifle with, that's for sure. The most beautiful gold eyes - like a molten gold crayon (do they still have that color now...?).

 

[lambertiana]

Galeocerdoshark - Great pics. I especially like Königssee, I need to get there some day.

 

[OwenM]

Last week I called off a dayhike due to sunshine, and got my bike out for the first time since February. Did Oak Mountain State Park's Lake trail in both directions, plus their Family trail, and a little rougher section called Rattlesnake Ridge. Enough for a cycling fitness check-sore at the "sit bones". I have a pair of shorts with a padded liner for cycling on the way, but have not tried any protection of that sort to date.
Starting Rattlesnake Ridge.

From the family trail.

Inlet on the lake.

Panaroma from the dam. I'd be either riding my bike around that, or paddling my kayak there right now if I didn't have housework and laundry to catch up on
There's a marina for canoes, paddleboats, and paddleboards that they rent, picnic areas, bathhouses, and a beach section across the way.

This week it got cool enough that I could use more than a sleeping bag liner. I was not high on my Klymit Inertia X-Lite Recon pad when I was primarily back sleeping but also thrashing around a lot last year, but I've been comfortably side sleeping lately, and it's working great for that.

Hiked the Bear Creek Backcountry loop trails at Cloudland Canyon State Park in GA this week. I had not done this section of trails before, and they close it whenever it rains, so I've had several aborted plans to hike there this year.
Hike descends into the gorge...

..to Bear Creek,

which it briefly follows.

There is a cool undercut section of the cliffline where the trail crosses the creek.

Crappy pic, but it has a green-carpeted row of benches you can sit on.

Afterwards, the trail ascends the other side of the gorge, whose depth you will soon have a greater appreciation for

The plateau above is not flat, but more rolling terrain. Just a walk in the woods.

Returning via the "front" side of the loop puts you along the main canyon known as Sitton's Gulch, with the near side of the sideways Y the canyon forms being from Bear Creek. There are actually very few viewpoints due to it being heavily wooded right to the edge of the canyon.

On the return, I stopped by a wildlife viewing area that the trail goes right by. I heard geese earlier in the morning, but by then the only wildlife available for viewing was a preponderance of mosquitoes...

Finished the 9.something mile backcountry loops with the 2 mile loop that I camped on the night before(which has campsites spread along it, and is a nice walk) by 11am, and headed over to the parks main attraction, the Waterfall Trail.
I had barely started it, was actually behind either some rental things or a ranger's residence, when I was almost pounced on by the second most fearsome creature in the South(next to the ALaconda), a ring-tailed bobtiger. Apparently it had recently fed, probably on the previous hiker to come this way, and seemed mostly concerned with rolling around and stretching it's full belly. As I carefully made my way around it, it fixed me with a "I dare you to come back tomorrow when I'm hungry again" glare before I continued on.

 

[OwenM]

Whew...it was a relief to get on the gazillion step walkways down into the gorge, and get on my way to Cherokee Falls, though the midday sun was a bit overbearing for the photos.

Soon after that, Hemlock Falls:

I think they should include the next couple of unnamed falls that are just off the Sitton's Gulch trail below the two main waterfalls, because they're pretty nice, too, though much smaller.

View down the canyon on the way out, with the sun thankfully behind me:

And a leaf...

 

[redsquid2]

Regarding protecting the sit bones: If you can tough it out and develop calluses, that works, but that doesn't work for me, because I am prone to nerve damage.

One day last year, I did 30 miles , on city streets. That was a long ride for me. The pain was excruciating. The next time I got on my bike, it was evident that I had suffered nerve damage.

I have a better saddle now. The pain isn't quite as bad, but it is non-existent when I wear padded shorts.

 

[OwenM]

Didn't need padding when I was riding regularly for exercise last year. It was painful, and required breaks between the first few rides, but I quickly became accustomed.
I wanted those shorts, though. Mountain biking is not my top priority, so I want to be able to go do what I want, when I want, without having to suffer unnecessarily!
Doing it for pleasure, after all

 

[HikingMano]

Good stuff Owen! Quite a change from your recent TRs, these pics from a sunny outing I get pain too from the bike seat, when I do anything over 15 miles or so. Don't go nearly often enough to toughen up. I used to use a padded seat cover, and it helps a little, but not a cure...

Love the fearsome feline, btw!

 

[OwenM]

Pretty sure that's a cross between a bobcat and a tiger. Fearsome for sure!

 

[lambertiana]

Owen - Nice pics, I especially like these two

..to Bear Creek,

 

[OwenM]

Thanks, John! I was glad some came out decent.

Struggling again with the replacement camera. Vibration reduction messing up or something. Suddenly a large percentage are coming out very fuzzy. First replacement was defective, and now this one may have to go back...

 

[OwenM]

These first are from my parents and I going to the Greenbriar area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday, and taking a walk there.
It rained throughout Wednesday and that night, and I went back to hike to Ramsey Cascades on Thursday.

 

[OwenM]

I originally intended to carry a 150' rope with rappel gear, plus water shoes and wetsocks, planning to continue above the falls to Upper Ramsey Cascades, and then rappel the falls on the way back. Had some stomach problems in the morning, and didn't even start the hike until almost noon, so I just took my smaller daypack and ditched the additional plans. I did climb around to the top of the falls, and explore a couple different trails of use. Made really quick work of the hike itself considering it's 4 miles one way, with ~2400ft of elevation gain according to the trail profile. I probably killed nearly an hour between playing around plus stopping to talk to several groups of hikers, and was back to my car in 4hr 10min. The trip back went really fast, being almost all downhill. Besides, we had to play some more putt-putt golf...

From the bridge just past the TH.

I'd thought that the hike itself was along the water, and expected continuous views of it, but especially for the first couple of miles, the view is like this a lot of the time.

But it's not like that the whole way!

The trail.

The trail.

The falls-Ramsey Cascades. ~100ft tall, though it doesn't look it.

Cascade immediately above the falls.

Looking out across the top of the falls. There's a reason they're called the Smoky Mountains

 

[OwenM]

Made more stops for pics on the way out.
The trail again.

The log bridges give the best views.

Done!