Today I enjoyed the outdoors. I chose to carry......

Southerner up North said:
No idea if you have visited RMNP, but from my short time there, as awesome as the photos are, they do not do justice to the in person greatness of the area. It is a place a person needs to see to full appreciate.
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Only when I was young with my parents maybe 76 or 77. My Dad like to take trips and we did a two week trip "out west" from Louisville. We did some car camping and hotels. Honestly the thing I remember the most was getting to drive his 73 Grand Prix, 400, 4bl, dual exh. I was 16 or 17. We, wife, daughter and me, lived in Washington state for about a year and a half. We visited Olympic National Park several times early 90s. Hurricane Ridge was a favorite of ours. I would guess it was similar to the Rockies? We traveled through the Cascades when we moved from Washington to CT. We are pretty tied down here, with an older dog, three birds, and fish. I would like to travel but it would be hard right now. My wife, daughter and me made a few two-week trips across the US from Norfolk to San Francisco and from Washington to CT for military duty station changes. We did both a southern route and a northern route and stayed in a small travel trailer. We got to see a lot, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the Bad Lands, Red Rock Canyon, Sequoia National Park stand out. And of course "Wall Drug"! I can see the wife and I making some trips one day.
 
WisBorn said:
Now for the important question red or black licorice for a hiking snack?
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Tough call, but I take both...
Nuke8401 said:
We visited Olympic National Park several times early 90s. Hurricane Ridge was a favorite of ours. I would guess it was similar to the Rockies?
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Some of my stomping grounds.
DSCN0821.JPG Olympic National Park 001.JPG Olympic National Park 018.JPG Olympic National Park 014.JPG
 
Nuke8401 said:
Only when I was young with my parents maybe 76 or 77. My Dad like to take trips and we did a two week trip "out west" from Louisville. We did some car camping and hotels. Honestly the thing I remember the most was getting to drive his 73 Grand Prix, 400, 4bl, dual exh. I was 16 or 17. We, wife, daughter and me, lived in Washington state for about a year and a half. We visited Olympic National Park several times early 90s. Hurricane Ridge was a favorite of ours. I would guess it was similar to the Rockies? We traveled through the Cascades when we moved from Washington to CT. We are pretty tied down here, with an older dog, three birds, and fish. I would like to travel but it would be hard right now. My wife, daughter and me made a few two-week trips across the US from Norfolk to San Francisco and from Washington to CT for military duty station changes. We did both a southern route and a northern route and stayed in a small travel trailer. We got to see a lot, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, the Bad Lands, Red Rock Canyon, Sequoia National Park stand out. And of course "Wall Drug"! I can see the wife and I making some trips one day.
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I can certainly see remembering driving that vehicle. Rushmore and the Bad Lands are great places.
 
WisBorn said:
And lizards and frogs taste like chicken! I'm not eating them either :rofl: carry a gun and eat mammals.... I like fish also :thumbup:
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I figured as much time as you spent in Florida you would eat frog legs. You don't like frogs, lizards or snakes so guess alligator is off the menu as well
 
Southerner up North said:
I currently draw the line at grubs
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Went through the old "jungle environment survival training" in the P.I. back in the day. Initially, we all said we'd never be that hungry. We were. And yes, I've never understood those that say rattlesnake tastes like chicken, not my experience. Maybe 'cause it was a rattler that spent too much time in the swamp?

This thread always reminds me that we live in a spectacularly beautiful country and I don't spend near enough time outdoors. And I have eaten a lot of frog legs, too.
 
Old Dog said:
Went through the old "jungle environment survival training" in the P.I. back in the day. Initially, we all said we'd never be that hungry. We were. And yes, I've never understood those that say rattlesnake tastes like chicken, not my experience. Maybe 'cause it was a rattler that spent too much time in the swamp?

This thread always reminds me that we live in a spectacularly beautiful country and I don't spend near enough time outdoors. And I have eaten a lot of frog legs, too.
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Environment does have a lot to do with appearance and taste of food. Dark swamp water usually produces darker colored panfish.
Your last two sentences are so true. This country has so much scenic diversity it is unbelievable. I know I do not spend near enough time outdoors.
 
@Southerner up North makes a good point. As a deer hunter I have found that venison has a different taste based on what they eat and where they live. A deer eating sage in the west tastes different than a deer in Iowa or Illinois munching on corn, versus a cranberry eater in Wisconsin.
As far as eating Walleyes or rattlesnake ?o_O
 
As far as enjoying the outdoors I carried red licorice for my snack yesterday and the day before. (I like both red and black)
20230410_133938.jpg

We hiked Andrews Bald which starts by Clingmans Dome.
20230410_132710.jpg 20230410_122145.jpg 20230410_114304.jpg
I have to recommend driving to Clingmans Dome even if you aren't able to hike up to the Dome. The views from the parking lot are beautiful on a clear day.
20230410_181618.jpg

My carry choice still my XDM compact. It is surprising that a pistol that big can disappear in the right kind of pants pocket!
 
460Shooter said:
I told my family if I ever disappear I'll be in the country around Zion Canyon, sitting in the rocks somewhere, eating crickets and snakes.
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My wife knows somewhere in the Rockies around Montana or the everglades.
WisBorn said:
@Southerner up North makes a good point. As a deer hunter I have found that venison has a different taste based on what they eat and where they live. A deer eating sage in the west tastes different than a deer in Iowa or Illinois munching on corn, versus a cranberry eater in Wisconsin.
As far as eating Walleyes or rattlesnake ?o_O
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Fresh cold water walleyes when properly prepared,(caught, filleted and fired within a few minutes) is as good as any fancy steakhouse prime rib and I love prime rib.
WisBorn said:
As far as enjoying the outdoors I carried red licorice for my snack yesterday and the day before. (I like both red and black)
View attachment 1145583

We hiked Andrews Bald which starts by Clingmans Dome.
View attachment 1145584 View attachment 1145585 View attachment 1145586
I have to recommend driving to Clingmans Dome even if you aren't able to hike up to the Dome. The views from the parking lot are beautiful on a clear day.
View attachment 1145587

My carry choice still my XDM compact. It is surprising that a pistol that big can disappear in the right kind of pants pocket!
Click to expand...
Beautiful country you are hiking in
 
I carried my Dan Wesson Vigil, 1911 lightweight Commander in 45. I took my normal walk this afternoon. It was sunny and warm. The trees and plants here are just beginning to bud and bloom. Mountain Laurel is the state flower here and there is plenty on our and the surrounding property. We have about as much briar as laurel. I call them Bull Briars, not sure if that’s what they are. I always have bug spray with me. We only have gnats now, but the biting flies and tics will be out soon. My wife stole my Nikon Trailblazer binos so I scrounged these $10 Simmons I've have for years. They aren't worth the ten bucks I paid for them! I try to take a different path each time and find something I haven’t seen before. I think it's the deer making the trails through the briars and laurel. This morning I looked out the kitchen window and got a picture from our back deck of two hens going through the yard. They have been active the past two weeks. There is usually a Tom with them. I took the Vigil to the range yesterday and shot some middle of the road handloads through it to see how the sights were. I had to take a picture of the first shot since I’ll never do that again lol. 8 rounds supported at 25 yards at a 3” dot. I am happy with how it shoots for sure. I shot some plates also.
Get out and find something new!
David
IMG_0887.jpg IMG_0888.jpg IMG_0889.jpg IMG_0890.jpg IMG_0891.jpg IMG_0892.jpg IMG_0893.jpg IMG_0883.jpg IMG_0884.jpg IMG_9115small.jpg
 
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WisBorn said:
As far as enjoying the outdoors I carried red licorice for my snack yesterday and the day before. (I like both red and black)
View attachment 1145583

We hiked Andrews Bald which starts by Clingmans Dome.
View attachment 1145584 View attachment 1145585 View attachment 1145586
I have to recommend driving to Clingmans Dome even if you aren't able to hike up to the Dome. The views from the parking lot are beautiful on a clear day.
View attachment 1145587

My carry choice still my XDM compact. It is surprising that a pistol that big can disappear in the right kind of pants pocket!
Click to expand...
Beautiful country!
 
I left the Smoky Mountains yesterday morning and drove the 850 miles back home to Wisconsin. My travels for the next month will be in state before returning to GSMNP May 12th.
I plan on practicing and getting comfortable with my Kimber R7 Mako and shoot my LCPII as cargo short season is coming quickly to WI. Just a couple of last pictures. I didn't meet up with my THR friend as planned. He had some family matters to deal with.
20230412_093459.jpg 20230412_103352.jpg

I did go hunting for the Easter Bunny while on vacation. I just wanted to thank him for the hiking snack. I love black jelly beans :)
20230412_104356.jpg

I hope all of you get outside this week. Don't forget your carry, share your experience and pictures.
Most of all be safe!!!!
 
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WisBorn said:
I left the Smoky Mountains yesterday morning and drove the 850 miles back home to Wisconsin. My travels for the next month will be in state before returning to GSMNP May 12th.
I plan on practicing and getting comfortable with my Kimber R7 Mako and shoot my LCPII as cargo short season is coming quickly to WI. Just a couple of last pictures. I didn't meet up with my THR friend as planned. He had some family matters to deal with.
View attachment 1145940 View attachment 1145941

I did go hunting for the Easter Bunny while on vacation. I just wanted to thank him for the hiking snack. I love black jelly beans :)
View attachment 1145942

I hope all of you get outside this week. Don't forget your carry, share your experience and pictures.
Most of all be safe!!!!
Click to expand...
Looks like you had a great trip in some beautiful country. I visited there several times with my buddies when I lived in Louisville, late 70s early 80s. I remember one trail we always hiked, "The Chimneys"?, seemed like it was straight up!
Nice pictures!
 
Nuke8401 said:
Looks like you had a great trip in some beautiful country. I visited there several times with my buddies when I lived in Louisville, late 70s early 80s. I remember one trail we always hiked, "The Chimneys"?, seemed like it was straight up!
Nice pictures!
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The Chimneys Top Trail has been recently changed due to a fire back in 2016. I don't think you can go up to the top now due to the standing dead trees. The is hike still beautiful from what I have heard. I plan on doing it this summer....
The last time I hiked it was many years ago.
 
WisBorn said:
I left the Smoky Mountains yesterday morning and drove the 850 miles back home to Wisconsin. My travels for the next month will be in state before returning to GSMNP May 12th.
I plan on practicing and getting comfortable with my Kimber R7 Mako and shoot my LCPII as cargo short season is coming quickly to WI. Just a couple of last pictures. I didn't meet up with my THR friend as planned. He had some family matters to deal with.
View attachment 1145940 View attachment 1145941

I did go hunting for the Easter Bunny while on vacation. I just wanted to thank him for the hiking snack. I love black jelly beans :)
View attachment 1145942

I hope all of you get outside this week. Don't forget your carry, share your experience and pictures.
Most of all be safe!!!!
Click to expand...
Great photos. Looks like a good trip. Be safe around the home territory
 
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