Blue and Gore Bushwhack 12/23/06

[docross]

4 intrepid whackers, myself, HikerDoc, Ed K and Mitch braved steady rain and 6 inches of slushy snow above 3000' to bag these two NH HH. An 8 mile hike, completed in 6 hours.

View the GPS track in the Blue and Gore Album:
http://community.webshots.com/user/docross2243

Thanks to HikerDoc for his skillful leadership.

 

[Nate]

Docross, thanks for the posting. In general, when people do these two peaks in summer conditions, do they usually head in from the west or east? I ask because I noticed that you went from the west, but on the map, it looks like coming from the Nash Stream Road offers a shorter route. Is one side of this ridge considered much thicker than the other?

 

[docross]

Blue and Gore bushwhack

Docross, thanks for the posting. In general, when people do these two peaks in summer conditions, do they usually head in from the west or east? I ask because I noticed that you went from the west, but on the map, it looks like coming from the Nash Stream Road offers a shorter route. Is one side of this ridge considered much thicker than the other?

I defer to people with more experience: RoySwkr and HikerDoc. Our route was not particularly thick, about average for a 'whack, few blowdowns. Easier than the 'whack to Kelsey.
Nash Stream Road is not an option in the winter, of course.

 

[RoySwkr]

I have only hiked Blue/Bunnell in the winter, using a route similar to this but adding Pleasant W of Blue. You may be able to drive in much farther in summer but this may be gated now that NC owns it. I keep thinking they'll build a trail.

I've climbed Gore along with Fitch/No 3 in fall from Nash Stream, some big trees & some scrub. For a summer trip I'd try Sugarloaf-West-Gore-B/B from Nash Stream preferably with car spot. Tom Sawyer & friends climbed these + 2 3k in winter in a day from the W but I declined to go.