Fall color Panthertown Valley backpack and adventure hikes

Come join me in what many guidebooks call the 'Yosemite of the East'. The Panthertown Valley is a bowled valley with Mountains in the middle; but more importantly surrounded by them as well--making it a lost world onto its own.

It should be-Good Lord willing- bathed in beautiful fall colors-wind, rain, weather and nature, before this adventure will control how nice the colors are. It has plant species found nowhere else east of the Mississippi because of its isolation.

Someone unknown to me (a maintenance society of somesort-maybe forest service) has made improvements in the last couple of years, waterbaring many of the rutted trails, rerouting some of them, and building good new bridges at main watercrossings--but I have the latest map to get around and have been here, at my favorite place to hike, almost countless times.

After the easy walk with backpacks down into the valley, past the Salt Rock overlook-a great place to view the surrounding mountains and mountains of the valley, we will make our way down the middle fork in the valley to our nice flat campsite with tons of room to spread out our tents. It is only 1 1/2 miles total to our campsite location.
Saturdays hike looks to be about 8 miles in length, but has a least 1000' in elevation gain to the top of Cold Mountain; which should provide fantastic views of the valley from the eastern side. Be advised I have not done this trail as yet, and it will be an adventure for all of us, but I've never failed to find any of the trails shown on the Panthertown map, as all including the smallest trails are easy to follow. AS and OPTION as dicussed with another person already on the trip, I will give a map to any who dont feel they can do the harder trip, and suggest an easy enough route where there is little chance of being lost. This hike will be easier in rating and probably shorter than harder hike listed above. My friend Lee Harris found the beginning of the Cold Mountain trail, the last time we did this trip; but it was too late in the day to complete the trail.
From the top of Cold Mtn. we'll make our way down the shoulders of Shelton Pisgah Mountain and back to the valley floor, where we will explore and see a couple of waterfalls on the Tuckasegee River I've seen before; before returning to camp. The strenuous uphills will require all who participate this time to be in excellent shape. For any that cant deal with the trail up to Cold Mtn. I can offer hanging out in the valley close to camp, swimming if temperature is suitable for the same in the Sandbar pool, or hang around in camp and read a book. I want everyone to enjoy the trip and this beautiful valley; and hope most signing up can do the tougher hike with gorgeous veiws that it will offer from the top of Cold Mountain. Please have daypack/hydration pack of choice for long dayhike after we set up our campsites

There are many waterfalls in the valley, and the trails all remain unblazed-the largest are easy to follow-the smaller ones require previous knowledge to get around; which I have with most of these trails.

This a wild and beautiful and serenely quiet place with fantastic darkness and stargazing at night. We will have the usual wine and cheese party on Saturday evening to celebrate each others company and the days hike and adventure. Sundays hike may be shorter, but will have challenging elevation gains and terrain as well-probably 6 miles before returning to camp, breaking down and leaving this astounding and beautiful valley, and the challenging hike back out to our cars.

Be prepared to be astounded at the beauty, serenity and wild isolation of this imcomparable valley, and my absolute favorite place to hike in the Southeast. Any that have joined me in the past several times I've done this with the AOC, know what I mean.