Evan: Life in the Outdoors

It was a good sunny day today so Autumn and I decided to hike in Malhamdale. There are various circular routes available in the area to enjoy. Visit www.malhamdale.com for some .pdf’s to download of selected walks in Malham. Having never been in the area before we decided to hike "Walk 1". This particular hike takes you to Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and Malham Cove. Most of this path is well made path some of which is paved with stone slabs. We walked the route backwards to what the guide said. So we headed off toward Janet’s Foss first which is a nice little waterfall. Then is was onto Gordale Scar which has been carved out by glaciers in the last ice age. The hike thus far to Gordale Scar is fairly flat and easy going. At Gordale Scar we double backed and headed off towards Malham Cove, but you have the option of scrambling up the side of the waterfall and following the footpath which eventually leads to Malham Tarn. Unfortunatly we didn’t have the time to hike up that way today though we have put it on our list of things to do! From Gordale to Malham Cove the path is uphill for about 1/2-3/4 of a mile. You will reach Malham Cove from the top and see a spectacualr view over Malhamdale. There are steps on the otherside of the cove to take down to the bottom which heads back into Malham Village.

Facts: OL Explorer Map 2, Start/finish: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority car park in Malham (SD900627), Distance: 4.5 miles on walk 1, Further info: www.malhamdale.com

Few years back a friend and I hiked through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, USA. I’ve never logged that hike anywhere and I figure here is as good as place as any.

We hiked on the Appalachian Trail which bisect the national park running on the border of Tenness and North Carolina. Seventy miles of the 2,158 mile (3,473 kilometer) Appalachian Trail cut through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, entering southward at Fontana Dam and exiting northward near Davenport Gap . The trail remains among the crestline of the Great Smoky Mountains throughout this portion of its length, passing just behind the observation tower at Clingmans Dome, the highest point anywhere along the trail (at 6,625 feet [2,019 meters]). Shelters are placed approximately equidistant of one another, at locations roughly equivalent to one day of backpacking from one shelter to the next. While spending the night there is free, unless determined to be thru-hiking (which the national park determines as anyone starting a minimum of fifty miles [eighty kilometers] and ending at least as far outside of the park) it requires a permit obtainable through the park service to stay in the shelters.

Enjoy the photos!