Thread 2818581

Why fly when gorgeous hills exist close to millions?

37.041741, -82.8857 - pic related

the closest parking is ~
37.045348, -82.874958

closeup down the spine

JD Vance's parents grew up somewhere here.

>>2818581 (OP)
In many ways, the Appalachians are more beautiful than the Colorado Rockies - though the Rockies offer more expansive vistas due to the arid treeless river basins. The forest diversity is soooo much higher in the Appalachians. However, there is far more scattered human habitation in those eastern mountains, versus vast regions of uninhabited wilderness out here. Poke around in some of those hollows, and people are not going take too kindly to you.

>>2818588
>offer more expansive vistas
you can see up to maybe 70 miles on a clear day if you have enough prominence in the east

Is that Nada Tunnel in Red River Gorge? I'm not sure if you can see there from here, but this is certainly looking in that direction.

>Poke around in some of those hollows, and people are not going take too kindly to you.
just gotta be nice and not get aggressive back if they do
I'm just there to explore, I don't mean any harm.

>>2818581 (OP)
Because hills exist everywhere. They're boring, especially if you live near them and see them every day.
I travel for the culture.

>>2818596
there's little museums and stores along the way

>>2818588
No. No they aren't. Just stop. No one think Appalachia is 1/10th as pretty as the Rockies.

>>2818624
>how could you visit a place that doesn't have brown prostitutes!!!

>>2818669
agreed, it's way prettier than the rockies

this overlook has a trash can and a picnic table!

>>2818904
It kinda would be fun if they had like an arcade game or a slide or something random but fun at the top of the mountain. I feel like mountain folk aren't really trying their hardest to attract tourists.

>>2818669
The Rockies have wide-open vistas that mog anything in the Appalachians, true. However, the land is much drier and more desolate-looking out here, and after seven years in Colorado, I've grown a little tired of the aridity (my highland valley only averages 9.75 inches of precipitation per year). Walking on foot through the eastern forests feels like a wonderland of life sometimes. Walking in the Rockies is more a wearisome slog across miles of barrenness and sparse forests, with only the wet meadows and riparian areas verdant with greenery.
>>2818596
No two hills are the same, and hilly regions have a strong influence on human habitation far more so than flat regions (where people can build anywhere and in any direction they please). Hills also mean springs and clear burbling brooks, far more pleasant than the miry sloughs of the flatlands.

Warm spring-fed creek in the Virginia Appalachians

>>2818914
would be cool to find any sort of outdoor hot spring in appalachia

>>2818916
Unfortunately, the public bathhouses in Warm Springs, VA have been closed.

>>2819269
that's really sad to hear - is there no alternative?

>>2818669
This is subjective. The Rockies are more than twice the height and imposing. They’re more challenging to hike. They look more raw and exposed and skeletal, especially if snow is on them. They make nice back drops to photos with pine trees and streams and lakes. The Appalachians are covered with nature which makes them more beautiful and scenic but hardcore campers won’t agree because they’re easy to climb and people build houses on their peaks. Takes away that adventure element or something like that. Most of these outdoorsy camper types are the ones who despise actual campers too and favor tents so who cares what they think. Tent campers aren’t even human. I like both for different reasons. I prefer the Arizona mountains to the rockies for looking so alien

Just came back from Western PA. Super underrated area with comfy scenery. Idk why they put fries on salad though

>>2819480
NW or SW pa? What did you see?

>>2819461
thanks for sharing

>>2819581
SW. I was in Gettysburg, which is really nice, and I thought I'd take the opportunity to go see FallingWater. Along the way I also stopped at Buchanan State Park/forest which was neat, and on the way back I tried to see the abandoned PA turnpike. I drove on a one way gravel road in a really spooky forest, but I only saw a deteriorated road. There's a famous tunnel with graffiti I wanted to see, but the place the gps took me had a sign reading "trespassers will be prosecuted", so I bailed. I'm sure there's another entrance, but I had no time to find it (or parking)
I regrettably didn't see Pittsburgh, but it was getting late, and I knew most things would be close when I got there. I'll definitely return sometime though

>>2819731
Gettysburg is not SW PA lol - and I find it overrated - the visitors center is weird, security like an airport and everything costs money. The observation tower is nice and free and well constructed.
>I also stopped at Buchanan State Park/forest
forbes state forest has a blue hole you can swim in - it's so clean there's trout in the hole and the color of the water is exceptional + you can drive right to it and there's a nearby waterfall you can drive right to (cole run falls)

nearer to pittsburgh there's some overlooks
one above the conemaugh river that's kinda annoying to get to (park at sgl gate - plenty of parking, hike up the hill to the abandoned resort/game cabin, then take the forest road to a little pulloff on your left, sit your butt down, slide down the hill to a narrow overlook)

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC68E

its called oaks point, just outside blairsville pa

there's also an overlook of the youghiogheny river - casparis overlook, that's also on state game lands, this one requires about a mile on a fairly rough dirt road and a water crossing of a creek by car (though I think you can just park on the far side of the crossing and hike from there if you don't want to chance it) - i didn't see any no trespassing signs despite it technically being on private property - and then you park below the old limestone quarry and from there it's a short easy hike to a good view - I'm convinced there's a view on the other side of the river but I haven't found it yet

there's also a driveable overlook above Johnstown
snyder vista

I had good pierogis recently in Pittsburgh @ Polska Laska - you can tell they are homemade
anyways there's lots to see in PA - that's just a few things in SW PA, NW PA has a whole bunch of other stuff, in addition to waterfalls

>>2819838
>Gettysburg is not SW PA lol
I know, I'm just saying I was there and that's why I took the opportunity to travel further west

>>2819853
oh

>>2818593
Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail near Waynesboro, VA
IIRC
>I'm just there to explore
And everything along Coochie Hollow Rd is private property. Move along, stranger. Go explore somewhere else.
>>2819315
This creek was flowing right next to the highway and had a nice rock pool. Surprisingly, the water was warm.

>>2819480
Central PA ridge and valley country has its scenic spots. I broke down on a rural back road after my van's fuel pump seized up and got helped by a local landowner, as there was no cell service. The shop in Everett was run by some very old-fashioned and honest people. They ordered a replacement fuel pump, installed it and had me back on the road by 5 PM. Labor charge was $80/hour, which even in 2021 was rock-bottom for a mechanic's shop. The 20 mile tow cost $120. This experience left me with a very positive impression of rural Pennsylvanians. So old-fashioned, they all wear wire-rimmed glasses still.

>>2820013
plateau is nicer - there's no real views around Breezewood - despite the terrain, given that basically everyone has to come through there you'd think they would develop something into a scenic overlook

You're supposed to get a permit to camp in PA state forests...but hardly anyone visits outside of hunting season.

>>2820015
I feel like the rule is that car camping sites require a permit and 5 dollars a night now but hike-in sites don't unless they are on specific trails that do require that. The real redpill is camping on SGL cuz there's SO much SGL land.

>but hardly anyone visits outside of hunting season
UNTRUE
I do! But I don't camp.

Renovo, PA - in the valley of the Susquehanna River
The houses are so old-fashioned in Pennsylvania towns. If you're sick of generic suburban McMansion sprawl, it feels good to explore such quaint places.

>>2820018
I've stayed there twice. I think the hill on your left has a view but its on private property and I haven't reached out to the owner (who I'm sure would say no anyways).

There's some great views near Renovo including Boggs Ridge (west and east)

I think Renovo has a foliage festival I wanna say the second weekend in October.

I enjoyed both the overlook of the "Pennsylvania Grand Canyon" and a long walk along the old rail trail that runs through it. Some cute teenies on bicycles gave me a big smile and a cheery hi in passing. Random, innocent acts of kindness from teenage country girls gives you hope that America isn't as doomed and ruined as they want you to think.

>>2820022
hmm I know I've probably been to that overlook but I can't figure out which one that is. Otter View doesn't have a tree stuck in it.
Did you hike the Turkey path down to the rail trail from the top of the gorge, or re-park down at the bottom? I've never hiked down to the bottom and then back up.

I've seen like 20+ overlooks of Pine Creek and there's more I haven't gotten to.

>>2820021
That June day was absolutely amazing. 75 F, no humidity, full sun, everything green as can be. I headed up to Ole Bull State Park and met some friendly locals (the guy was wearing wire-rimmed glasses), took a bath in the lovely cold river and then a hot shower in the campground before moseying on. There was definitely a lot more to explore in the area, which has some interesting topography (2500' plateaus cut by deep ravines).

>>2820028
OH is that
>>2820022
the view from the overlok at ole bull?
I've never done that cuz it looks to be obstructed.
>There was definitely a lot more to explore in the area
yeah there's views for days + the adjacent endless mountains region has tons of stuff

>>2820027
I headed down to the bottom first.
Both times heading through that part of north-central PA, I picked up a friendly old guy hitching a ride. It's basically the 1970s up there. Hardly a sign of modernity in sight, apart from the new-model cars.

>>2820029
That was at Colton Point State Park.

Late spring in the Appalachians is amazing. The humidity arrives, making you sweat under a hot sun, then clouds boil up ominously before thunderstorms of tremendous power sweep across the ridges, blasting everything with torrential rain and hail. The next morning, the sun rises on a bluebird day that is as clean and cool and fresh as anywhere on God's green earth. All the songbirds are singing to their heart's content. It's almost impossible not to feel liberation of the spirit when wandering the backroads of Appalachia in late spring.

>>2820032
the west rim trail was way too fucking scary for me to get close to - it's like right on the edge

>>2820032
Is that the one that has a view next to it? I think I've been there.
There's also a different view if you go the back way above douthat state park to the overlooks (without having to get to them from the bottom)

>>2820033
>god

>>2820018
I just can't imagine what you would do in a town like this? That's not my idea of a summer vacation. You ever been to Dubrovnik?

>>2820271
there's dozens of parks and overlooks within an hour's drive
like it's basically a nexus of public land

>>2820271
Renovo is a fine place for a vacation!

>>2820272
You can't trick me. I used to work in Pennsylvania. I've seen every corner of that state. The only thing that's worth doing in the whole state are the 3 little ski resorts liberty, roundtop and blue knob.

>>2820492
>Renovo
It looks like the city from Silent Hill. It would be great for shooting a horror movie.

>>2819269
No they haven’t, where the fuck did you hear that?
https://omnihomesteadexperiences.com/#/spaBooking/eventcalendar/Location333

>>2820514
You don't go to Renovo for Renovo (unless you are there for the foliage festival, which frankly this thread is making me want to), you go because it's ground zero for steep hollers and has some amazing hiking nearby.

>>2820576
No, I get that the PAID indoor pools are open, but there's no like free OUTDOOR hot springs you can just wander into.
I saw some comments on Google Maps suggesting a more clandestine outdoor hot spring might be available...

>>2820271
That's no place for a Real Traveler. It's too full of privileged vacationers engaging in the mindless consoomerism of modern travel.
>paypig to visit tourist trap
>post pictures of scenery on socials
>make others jealous, so they paypig to visit tourist trap
>post pictures of scenery on socials
>rinse and repeat ten thousand times
Appalachia is the kind of place you travel to if you desire real authentic interactions with the unique characters who make up the heart and soul of America. If you want to be tourist #53273 enjoying a cookie-cutter escapist experience, instantly forgotten as soon as you board the taxi for the airport, then yeah, pick any old beach resort town and have at it.
>>2820576
My bad. They were closed and heavily posted against trespassing when I passed through in June 2021. It looks like the property was bought out by OMNI. $35-40 per person, reservations required, time limit 50 minutes. Kind of a ripoff, but the runoff has to go somewhere, and when I visited, you could stop at the roadside pullout and take a bath in a rock pool built in the creek directly downstream of the facility. (Same as in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.)

>>2820675
there's gotta be somewhere you can have a free outdoor hot springs experience in appalachia

>>2820675
You cope any way you need to. But you can get the best $1 doughnuts in Dubrovnik you'll ever eat. You go to the grocery and buy a 6 pack for $5 or a bottle of local wine for $3. You can cliff jump off the castle walls for free, drink your wine and beer, eat your doughnuts. Swim into some sea caves in crystal clear blue water. The ferry to Lokrum Island is $7. You can get a big ass pizza at Mamma's for $13. Sure, you can spend money if you want to and eat some fancy dinners and drink $20 cocktails in the underground cave bar, but you also can do it on a very reasonable budget. Either way, it definitely blows Renovo Pennsylvania out of the water :) You should expand your horizons.

I love hills.

>>2820804
I've never been attracted to coastlines like the average normie. Nor do I care to pay the surcharge for lodging that such places always demand. A room that costs $30 in Poland is going to cost $90+ there.

Donuts are crap, there's fifty different baked goods which are better than a ring of nutritionless batter fried in sneed oil and covered in sugary goop. This freshly baked pastry made with Pomeranian blueberries, for instance. Still warm when I bought it in Olsztyn. Even Poland is a little too nice and upscale for me, desu.

You seem to lack an understanding of how Americans travel. They don't go to one place and stay for a week. They go on a roadtrip and stay in a different place every night. Renovo would be a town you stop over for a few hours, then move on to the next park or wilderness area. That part of Pennsylvania is all about the rustic backwoods life, not the luxury cosmopolitan European holiday experience.

>>2821093
Krumpe's donuts are worth the 40 minutes of you life it will take to get off of I-70 and maneuver through the strange and sad world of Hagerstown MD into an alley where there will very likely be a line from 7-11pm (when they are open) but the donuts are worth it (bring cash for a discounted price).

>>2821093
No, I completely agree. Renovo is a terrible place for a nice vacation.

>>2821095
I used to go to Hagerstown a lot to see punk and hardcore bands a club called the 180 degree club. Hagerstown is rough.

>>2821243
Renovo is just where you stay to explore the hills.

>>2821243
>Hagerstown is rough.
the only reasons to be there are the Ledo's Pizza and the Krumpe's (both are nearbyish to one another and you can get in your pizza and donut cravings in one fell swoop)

>>2821245
Maryland has a lot of great food. Square pizzas, blue crabs, pit beef, thrasher's fries. There's a lot of good BBQ places on the side of the road. Have you ever had those buffalo wings they make with old bay and honey?

>>2821368
square pizza meaning detroit pizza? that's not a md thing
but i will say I had a good crab pizza in cumberland at Alfredo's (I think), and the pizza at White Rabbit Gastropub in Frederick is Detroit-style and yummy, but the chicken parm sub is even better.
>pit beef
its usually dry when I get it just had bad luck
>thrasher's
that's just a beach thing
>There's a lot of good BBQ places on the side of the road
eh have not had the best luck with this
I guess I did find an ok pit ham place by the side of the road but maryland can be kinda ghetto
I will say there's some interesting hiking along gunpowder falls and little gunpowder falls and the nearby area - liberty dam

>>2821368
Being a poorfag vagabond traveling solo, most of the great food in America was far beyond my budget, apart from the occasional treat (and even then, discounted shartmart bakery items were primarily what passed for treats in my early days of travel).

>>2821395
>square pizza meaning detroit pizza?
Wrong
>that's just a beach thing
wrong

>>2821436
oh?

>>2821415
at least you are traveling, it's nice eating at local restaurants but getting to see places is more important