Im pretty familiar with the offerings in the western part of the state, I was just hoping to find something closer to her house in Durham. Now for a long story.
I LOVE Linville Gorge. Last winter (around new years), me and 2 of my buddies went up there and hiked a non-existent loop. We started at the base of Table rock. We got there late in the afternoon on the first day, hauled butt down past the Chimneys to the top of Shortoff mountain and camped there for the night. The next day we dropped down the south side of Shortoff, and then cut off into the woods to reach the river and connect up to the trail that runs along the river. It was about 2 miles total, with about a mile of it navigating the most difficultly passable terrain I have encountered in my entire life. It was a mix of trees broken off about 3-4feet high, but still intact, mixed with 5-8year old pine saplings, and a ton of briars. The fallen trees were low enough that you couldn't duck under them, and rotten enough that walking on them was dangerous because the bark would detach and slip. It took us about 2.5hrs to do the first mile. When we finally came out to what was apparently the trail, it was very difficult to follow due to the flooding the year before. We finally stopped for lunch at the first river crossing, upon which we discovered I was sick and had a nice fever (explaining why I didn't sleep the night before). After crossing the river, we went about 2 more hours, which I think was about 2 miles. We camped the night by the river, and then got up the next morning with the intention of hiking about 2 miles to the second river crossing, then another mile up the gorge side of Table Rock to come out at the parking lot. Our plan was a bit spoiled when we were unable to cross the river because it was winter and the water was high. We made several attempts, and definitely got our feet wet. We ended up hiking back down a mile or so and then about 3 miles up a bunch of switchbacks to come out on old NC105 and find enough cell signal (thank God) to call my parents and have them come pick us up.
