LOST in Linville Gorge

LOST = Lower Original Scramblers Trail
Thanks to PHOC member Marshall Weatherman for leading this scramble on the west side of the gorge. Armed with a GPS full of data from http://www.linvillegorge.net/ , Marshall led us on a route among the walls and canyons below Rock Jock and between Conley Cove and Pinch In. The route did at times have the semblance of a trail. I believe it may have been the route Bob Underwood cut through this area many years ago. My Seagrove buddy, Mike Chisholm also did some work on this trail. Apparently, Bob constructed this trail without the Forest Service's knowledge and once it became known, it became an official trail. The original route was just too rough for folks so Rock Jock was re-routed in most areas to a higher elevation.

We parked on the Kistler Highway just north of the Pinch In trailhead. Rock Jock Trail leaves the road here and winds its way through the charred remains of a vast forest fire area. Very few trees survived this intense fire. Scrubby brush, galax and mosses and grass is about it for vegetation now. We stopped at a spot where the red fire retardant, dropped from the air, was burnt into the rock. Blowdowns slowed us in a few spots but because there were so few trees still standing, this area is probably in much better condition than other trails right now.

Finally at a nondescript point along the trail, Marshall announced we we're leaving the trail. Now the real work began. Every step had to be thought out and carefully placed. Every few steps, I would search for a route through the next 20 or 30 feet and then proceed. Our first stop was a cave. We were able to stand and walk in about 100 feet before it narrowed. Pushing on, we scrambled down a chute and then through a keyhole and finally out on a point which made a great lunch stop which I believe was Little Seneca Point.


There was a steep scramble up from here to Zen Point before another descent to Razor's Edge. The climb out of Razors Edge was long and steep but finally we were back on the Rock Jock Trail and headed back. We retraced our steps over and around the blowdowns. It was on the final ascent to the road where I cracked, only able to walk a few feet at a time. The sight of the cars was welcome. I swallowed the last of my water and gradually made the transition from whipped, bruised and scratched scrambler to a more civilized state, ready for re-entry to the world.

More Photos of this hike.