Black Mountain Crest Trail Trip July 4th weekend

“Will it be buggy?”

“shouldn't be too buggy. I don't remember bugs being a problem there last year. There were little gnats in Deep Gap but that it is all I remember. I'm bringing the deet though just in case.”

“My son (18) and daughter (15) are strongly interested in coming on this death march.

strat's thinking of coming? YeeHaa!! MoooHaHaHaHa!!!”

“I use a 20 deg bag everywhere I go, but I was thinkin about just a fleece sack, mainly for weight, gotta check on that this week.”

“I think that travelling light, real light will be the thing to do on this trip.

What's the water availability situation on this trip?”

“There is water in Deep Gap where we camp and then there is water on the top of Mt. Mitchell. Also water in Black Mtn Camp Ground. So we should be pretty good on water.

I was thinking of getting a fleece sack for this trip. My brother used one last July in Deep Gap and he said he was ok. Weight is the reason I want to have one for this trip too. I want to be pretty light on this trip.”

“If the campgrounds look to be full, there is also the option of spending the night at Commisary Ridge on the Fourth.”

“lol, hopefully it wont come to that.”

“There are some private campgrounds on NC 80, south of the Parkway (towards Marion). There may also be some on NC 80 north of the Parkway, towards Celo and Burnsville, but I'm not sure.

Regarding ropes, you should be okay in the direction you are headed. The one tricky spot I encountered north of Winter Star would be UPHILL for your trip.

We may end up in your vicinity after all. The kids and I are thinking about starting at Bolens Ck later Saturday AM (behind you) and spending the night either at Celo Knob or S of Gibbs Mtn at a grassy open area near Long Ridge, then retracing our route the next day.”

“well if you're bored, head on down to our camp in Deep Gap.”

“you know I've noticed at least three places in Western NC named "Deep Gap", i wonder how many more there are?

anybody counted? lol”

“the Black's Deep Gap isn't even that deep. It's like a 1000 foot climb down from Potato Hill and is still pretty high up there at 5500 feet. Feels like forever when you are hiking though and you just want to get into camp and crash.”

“Hey man, just found out that i'll be in Greensboro, NC the week preceeding the trip too. If your coming down on I-85 we could meet in Greensboro and carpool into Mt. Mitchell.

lemme know if you wanna try that.”

“I am officially in.”

“Great Bison!

hey, same carpool thing goes for you, your coming from the same area as Earthboy aren't you?”

“Yeah Roam but I'll be leaving earlier. There's no way I'm leaving here after 5 pm on Friday. I'd be surprised If EarthNsky makes it out to 81 before 9 or 10 pm. I want to actually get down there and get some sleep before the hike.”

“yeah I can do that. I will probably be in Greenboro late friday but that sounds like a good idea.

awesome Bison. I'm going straight down 301 towards Richmond and then getting on I-85.
I'm going to try and get around DC on the south east side.”

“I may try and leave a little early too. Early for me is 4 though.”

“Bison, are you going down I-81? If you get down there early enough, there is alot to check out. You could technically go down Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway the entire way. I bet that would be really neat.”

“I'm gonna stick to the interstate I probably won't there till about 10 PM as it is.”

“The Parkway the whole down would take all day.”

“It would probably take more than 1 day.”

“Since we're calling this hike the "Ballbreaker" should I bring my cup and jockstrap?”

“no comment”

“lol

if you come down 81 you wont go thru greensboro, well you might, depends on where you get off the interstate at.

i'd like to get in there at a semi reasonable hour too and get a little sleep as well, preferably not in my car.

The place is prolly about three hours, maybe a little less from Greensboro.”

“They say the hardest part of the trail is the part from Bolens Creek to Deep Gap and that is the part I haven't completed yet. It's good that the first day's hiking will only be about 7 miles. A majority of the ele. gain is in the first day. Does anyone coming on this trip have a GSP device? I am guessing that there is about 5-6000 feet of gain the first day.”

“"GSP" device? Hmmmm. what can we come up with here?”

“Gigantic Syrup Producer”

“GPS uh duh Rob”

“Galactic Soup Producer”

“Uh oh - We're gonna get a mile up the trail and suddenly Nash is gonna be leading us up some 5000 ft. in 2 miles climb.”

“where is roam? is he already gone for the weekend??”

“It starts out as a gentle walk along Bolens Creek and then 3800 up to Celo Knob in about 3 miles.”

“And what sucks is, I smoke when I drive, 7 hour drive, that could be 2 packs. Halfway up that climb my lungs are liable to climb out of my throat and head back down the mountain, I better tie them down ahead of time.”

“I think we get a knife edge to hike on near the horse rock though. That is pretty cool. I haven't hiked on a knife edge before.”

“I got some of that Gigantic Pea Soup I can bring. Normally carry it with me so when I get lost it can backtrack.

Anything greater than about 1000' per mile is STEEP! This'll get our hearts pumping.”

“good. It will come in good use since the trail is not so good in between Celo and Winterstar. Plus we can measure the elevation gain.”

“Girl Smelling Proboscis”

“good one Bison!”

“No pain no elevation gain!!! I've got a good topo map from The Outpost in Burnsville. GPS is on the wish list. Hey Bison , you'd better slap the patch for this one Bro.”

“I bet we all crash pretty early Saturday night. Maybe we will be able to see some firework displays in Asheville. I am pretty sure there are views in Deep Gap, if not we can hike up Deer Mtn and see.”

“Sounds good to me. My mother in-law says the same about BM campground, first come first serve. Do you think that semi-cold weather gear is in store for trip?”

“I would come prepared for cold weather. I am bringing pants that zip down into shorts, a tshirt and longsleeve thermal shirt. Right now on Mt Mitchell it is 47 degrees and it is not even 7pm there. I was warm while I was hiking but when you stop you get cold fast. The wind really zips in the exposed areas. Especially on the summit of Craig. I am bring windproof rain gear as well. Also bring gators because we will be doing some bushwacking. I highly recommend trekking poles.

When I hiked it last july 4th it was 60 degrees. The park ranger told me that they see snow fall in July sometimes.

After being on top of Washington, you can tell that the two peaks are rivals.”

“It got pretty cold during the night. My brother slept in a fleece bag and said he was cold. It was really cold when we got up the next morning.”

“I think we will find campsites for sunday night no problem. I expect the big camping night will be Saturday night and we will be in Deep Gap. I'm sure Deep Gap will be pretty full too. There are lots of places to camp there though. I'm pretty sure we can build a fire too. Deep Gap is in Pisgah Nat Forest. We don't get into state Park until Cattail Peak.”

“Bugs will be bad in Black Mountain Camp Ground. I filled my water up in the bathroom there last September before heading up the Mitchell trail and I almost got eaten alive by squitos.”

“Damn a squito!!!”

“So maybe the fleece bag isn't such a good idea after all. I've always used my 20 degree year round anyhow, just leave it open if its hot.

The 1 pound weight was looking attractive though. Might still do it with long underwears. I'd prolly carry those anyhow to have for a layer. Poly weighs nothin.”

“i never hike mitchell without a warm bag. always am prepared if I climb mitchell.”

“I hear you Roam. Every thing I've read about Mt. Mitchell says it climates and eco. is like traveling 1000 miles north. Yes I said 1000. It's very unpredctable, wind and temp.”