Black Mountain Crest Trail Trip July 4th weekend

“thanks!! I posted a newbie post. :)”

“if you ever have a question about the smokies or any of the mountains in GA and NC post your question on that site and you'll get taken care of.”

“The Black Mtn campground is pretty cool but it will be packed July 4th weekend, always is. If it is, dont worry. Take off up the river road and there are several campsites along the road. That road leads all the way up to the BRP. Make sure to visit the damn just a few hundred yards down from the campground for a quick dip and bath. It is great to jump off.”

“Well, what I am thinking is, the 4th is a Sunday so maybe we will be lucky and can get a site. Yeah, last time I was there I passed by those sites.”

“would be togo down to Carolina Hemlocks. Down hwy 80 towards Celo”

“yeah, keep that one in mind too.”

“you're starting to get responses over there.”

“bump”

“ity bump bump”

“hey man, I got confirmation on my NC project today. So I'll come up for this trip and then stay in NC for about 6 weeks in July and Aug!

so what else can we hike in VA or NC this summer?

Wanna come down to Joyce Kilmer or something?”

“roam, you are changing your trips as much as your trail name...so I belive it when I see you there. LOL


now we need scorchy...”

“I didn't change the trip, I'm still going!

Its even easier/closer now.

now your foncused gemini!”

“that's great news Roam. Can we talk Scorch into ditch'n the mutant dogs and coming with us?”

“we can try!”

“hey, how'd you like that alternative to mudswimmer i threw up there?

Big Muddy”

“lol, I think I am going to use it. It looks like alot of people have multiple signs in. I retired nashvillehiker. I need to put mudswimmer as well.”

“I thought I'd bring this thread to the surface for the newbies.

It's getting closer to trip time. I'm getting excited. I'll start posting some specifics on this trip soon.”

“whew, i fully expected to see a kletn post about Tony Randall's favorite peak being Black Mountain or something.”

“I plan to attend, and will bring Tony Randall with me!”

“is that true that Tony Randall liked Mt. Mitchell and the Black Mtn range? I did not know this.”

“poor kid's so gullible...”

“wasn't Elvis' favorate mountain Mt. Craig?”

“anyone know of any good places to car camp in and around Mt. Mitchell. There is Black mountain campground where we will finish the backpack. I would imagine that we will be there by 3pm sunday afternoon. Being July 4th weekend spots may fill up fast and it's first come first serve. I think there are places along the parkway and also there are some places on the road that goes up to the parkway from the campground. We'll find something.”

“i posted that question to crosscut, i think he's hiked and been around that area a lot, maybe he'll have some advice.”

“the dirt road that leads to black mtn campground from the parkway end towards the campground has several camp sites all signed, there is a small pullout where the MTS pases over NC-128 that which takes you to mitchell where you can camp. it is a state highway and not inside the park or the parkway boundary. You can not camp within the parkway itself unless you do so at parkway designated campgrounds of which there arent any in that area. I'd suggest either the road to mitchell or the forest service road to black mtn cmpgrnd....hope this helps some”

“helps very much. Thank you”

“There is also Carolina Hemlocks campground. That is on the otherside of the golf course from Black Mtn Camp ground. One of the two should have sites for Sunday night. I think we will be able to find a place to car camp 7/3 no prob. Burnville is not far away either so we can go there for beer and food!”

“< voice="homer" > mmmmmmmmmmmm beeeeerrrrrr < /voice >”

“I updated the trip page.

We will backpack the entire Black Mountain Crest trail to Mt Mitchell summit and then from Mt. Mitchell we will take the Mitchell trail down off of the mountain to Black Mountain camp ground. These are very difficult trails. The Crest Trail has been regarded as one of the hardest in the U.S. and is possibly the hardest in the East, definitely in the south.

Despite the stenuous nature of the hike it is quite rewarding. From trail head to trailhead you will have crossed many of the highest peaks in the Appalachians and the east. Those of you looking to bag the southern sixers will want to do this one as this trail takes you across 9 of them. Another great advantage is the high elevation that much of the hike crosses. July in NC is hot as hell but it rarely gets above 70 degrees along the top of this ridge.

The elevation gain and loss is more than 7,000 feet over 18 miles of trail and is rarely ever on flat easy ground.

I have hiked the trail from Black Mtn Campground to Deep Gap several times but have not hiked past Deep Gap yet. From what I have heard, the trail near Celo Knob and Winter Star is somewhat of a bushwack.

Dangers include closeness to cliffedges and sheer drop offs, high threat of lightning strikes and alien abductions (jk). The area also has a healthy bear population.

We will meet at the Bowlens Creek trail head early Saturday (7/3/04) morning and end in Black Mountain Campground the afternoon of Sunday (7/4/04). Sunday night we will car camp in Black Mountain Campground (if you want to).

The route is firm. Start at Bowlens Creek trailhead and end at Black Mountain Camp Ground. Unfortunately the trail leaves the crest of the Black Mountains on Mt. Mitchell and does not continue south to Potato Knob above the Blue Ridge parkway.

We will camp Saturday night in Deep Gap. This is roughly 5700 feet above sea level and it gets quite cool there during the night even on the hottest summer days. It can snow on this mountain ridge any day of the year.

The night of Sunday, July 4th we will car camp either in Black Mtn Campground or Carolina Hemlocks nearby.

It will be a fun hike and a great time. I hope everyone that is interested can make it. Email me or post in the forums associated with this trip should you have any questions.

I will email updates or post them in the forum.

Informational links:
http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/webcam/webcam.html
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http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/
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Pictures I have taken on past trips to this area:
http://community.webshots.com/album/123943353WgCQLZ
http://community.webshots.com/album/124039701UzbFFc”

“Will it be buggy there?”

“generally not at that elevation, but it could be in certain areas, depending on dampness and other factors.”

“I'm wondering if a netless tent/shelter would do.”

“I don't remember the bugs being too bad when I was there last July. I think in Deep Gap there were some but it wasn't bad at all.”

“Deep Gap is a good place to catch a sunset.”

“It would probably be fine MarkO, we dont' have the black flies like they do up north, the worst is usally gnats, they don't bite just cloud around your head, and at 5,000 feet or so there aren't hardly bugs at all. The only place I'd worry a little might be in the campground Sunday night. Bring some deet or something.”

“yeah, bugs will be bad in camp Sunday night. We will be camping along the South Toe River. We should bring a bug incinerator. The elevation there is about 3,000.”

“I"m thinking of trying my new Mountain Hardwear Kiva.

Its that five-sided teepee thang with room enough for four.......they say.

Five points would be nice so I can practice my witchcraft.”

“MArkO

Ya got that teepee thang huh? Very cool. How much does it weigh? If it's gets hot we could call it the sweat lodge.”

“I got it on Ebay for $160 delivered......NEW

It weighs 4# 11 oz with the pole.

Not sure how much it weighs with the Swede.”

“that sounds pretty nice MarkO”

“The weather page for Mt. Mitchell is down right now. I try to monitor it every day.

http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/momi/home.html”

“There is a ranger station just south of NC 128 on the Blue Ridge parkway. It has a great view and a big parking lot. I was thinking that it would be a good place to meet and from there we could move the cars around. Leave one at Bowlens Creek, leave a two at Black Mountain Campground and leave the rest at Mt. Mitchell. That's what I'm thinking right now. I think leaving a car or two at Mt. Mtichell will be a good idea in case something goes wrong.”

“just found out that I am a 100% on this one. For sure! yeah!!”

“awesome!!! I can't wait for this trip”

“woo hooo!

Good deal Gemini!

I'm looking forward to this one, gonna order me a couple more maps.

hmmm, i may just paper my bedroom with topos.... I could recrate western NC with them...

Good idea about cars EarthNSky.”

“yeah I have to put the map up of the Mt Mitchell area.”

“I hung my black mountain map up in my apartment the other night. I have so many trail maps hanging on the walls of my apartment. Then I highlight the trails that I have done to top it off. lol”

“haha - I've got all 4 quads of the Dolly Sods area on my bedroom wall right now.”

“Found this just now, nice pics and descriptions,

Black Mtn Crest Pics and Info”

“this one includes directions and parking info...

More Info”