Black Mountain Crest Trail Trip July 4th weekend

“I'll be at the Ranger station at 730. That is the easiest place to meet because it is a small parking area and not crowded with tourists.”

“We could be there earlier than 9:00 AM for shuttling, yada yada.....”

“what kind of vehicle will you be in?”

“OK, where's the ranger station?

Burnsville?”

“We might do a motel Friday night close by.”

“Ranger station is at the entrance to Mt. Mitchell state park on NC 128 a few miles north off of the Blue Ridge parkway.”

“it's about 2 miles south of the Mt. Mitchell summit. I think we should leave cars at the summit (mid 2nd day hike), Black Mtn campground (end of hike) and Bolens Creek (beginning of hike). I never organized the shuttling of cars around so I'm not sure the best way to handle it. I guess it would be best if we all met at the same place Saturday morning if possible.”

“Earth - I figure I'll drive to whereever we decided to meet up and sleep in my car there.”

“that's what I am doing.

Let's do this. Let's skip meeting at Mt. Mitchell State Park Ranger Station. Let's meet at Black Mtn Campground and then pile in two or three vehs to Bolens Creek. The lot at the Campground is lighted and is decently sized. Pisgah has a ranger station there too. Let's meet there between 730 and 8.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“that's fine with me. as long as this is the final plan now....is it????

been at this campgroud before but forgot how to get there....”

“Someone (blalock)may want to post better directions than these.

from Burnsville, East on 19, turn right on to NC 80 and then right onto 472. If I remember correctly, you see 472 just after passing Mt. Mitchell Golf Course.

472 starts out paved but turns to gravel. It forks 1 or 2 times, when it forks always stay to the right. You'll see the parking lot. It's a lighted area with Forest Service sign and will be to your left. The entrance to the Campground (gated) will be to your right and will cross the bridge over the South Toe River.

you can also come down from the parkway on 472 but it is steep and is all gravel.

I am going to sleep in the parking lot at the trailhead when I get there. I'll prolly roll in around 1230am Sat Morning.”

“I think it will save us a lot of time and confusion by cutting out Mt. Mitchell meeting place.”

“The directions from Burnsville is for sure the best route. You follow Hwy.80 sign off of Hwy.19, after approx. 1.5 m. turn right @ Micaville, follow 80 until you see golf course on right, take next right directly after course, 100 ft. stop sign ,right and follow signs to campground. If you go through a town named Busick you've gone to far!!!”

“thanks Blalock”

“thanks, I already checking it out in case I won't make it to a computer after the coming up weekend.

just don't change anything on me if you dont' see me online anymore. okay?....

btw: where is roam??”

“One other thing, I do'nt know who would like a beer, glass of wine, ect. at the campground Sunday night, after the hardest hike known on the east coast, but you had better bring it with you!!! DRY is not the word for this place. Good grocrey store w/ everything else 15 min. away.”

“I think Roam is bagging some sixers around cold mtn right now.”

“is the closest place in Burnsville? I was thinking that it would be pretty tasty to make some steaks Sunday night.”

“Long time lurker (over a year probably).

The trip sounds like it's going to be awesome! I wish I could head out with you all but I’m going to be at a wedding in Chicago.

Live in Ft. Lauderdale now, but my wife and I are building a little mountain place in Little Switzerland with a view of Mt. Mitchell.

All this talk is making me jones for the Pisgah trails again. Going up the week before the wedding so I can get in a couple trails.

I’ll be thinking of you all when I’m in Illinois (at least its going to be at Starved Rock – may be able to get in some hiking there too).

Have fun all.”

“welcome pisgah packrat. Hey enjoy Chicago. Many more trips to mitchell in the very near future. :)”

“Thanks Gemini

Grew up in Chicago so it's a home comming of sorts.

I'm hoping to spend the summers up in Little Switzerland so I'm sure I will run in to some of you if only by accident. :)”

“I'll be coming thru Asheville on I-40. Had planned to overnight there and take the BRP to Mt. Mitchell and meet there. Meeting at Black Mtn Campground, will I be better off to overnight at Marion and come up 80 to the campground?”

“I like this plan!”

“streamlined process.”

“Couchtater -

Imo Marion would be much easier.”

“Marion would be a great stay, careful comming up 80! Very curvy road, allow yourself plenty of time. There is several motels in Burnsville also, that would put you much closer to trailhead, but both are fine.”

“I count about 12 people going on this trip. Maybe some from the wild country forum will go too. We'll be a decent sized group out there on the trail.”

“Is there a particular map people are using for this hike. My Pisgah map does not cover it. I was at my outfitters store and they had nothing. Well, they did have a book with two paragraphs about the hike we are doing. Not worth $26.

I am problably going to print my own from my Mapsend.”

“I have the old blue black mountain map that I bought last year. I can try and scan it and email it. It's kinda big and I have some notes written on it.”

“That would be cool for the emai. I might try and buy some of that map paper and print my own. I have been wanting the check out the quality of that paper and see if it can hold up.”

“The name of a map that REI carries is called "The South Toe Valley". There are 3 USG topo maps that cover the entire trail, they are Celo, Mt.Mitchell, Burnsville. I purchaced a map that a local outdoor shop in Burnsville had that contains all 3 topos. The # to Main St. outpost is (828)682-1206.”

“Sunday night there are fireworks @MM golfcourse. Are worth seeing, also for all of you " Suvior" fans, Gabe, the hiker from episode 2 or 3 is the bartender at the clubhouse. Says he would like to join us, but has to work.”

“I have the South Toe River vakkey map. I will email it to you and anyone who needs it by the weekend. MM Golf Course won't be too far away. I bet it doesn't get that crowded. does it?”

“Blalock -

Do you live near Burnsville?

I love the Main Street Outpost. Prices are a bit high, but I love the local stuff.”

“I'm going to have gloves with me. I wear biking gloves. There are alot of rock scrambles and places where you have to climb up with roots. Plus with the bushwack, I recommend having them. REI has biking gloves for $14.99 I think.”

“earthnsky...can you email me the map too? Thanks :)

I have a mitchell map somewhere, now if I would find it that would be nice eh?”

“I should be able to email them by the weekend. I have to find a place to scan it. Who needs the map?”

“I do, I do!!

Will it be printable from e-mail?”

“Why don't you send it to everyone? Those that don't need it can delete.”

“good plan/idea tater. 2socks is going to be there but is going to meet us on Celo Knob. He is starting from Mitchell on Friday. He expects to meet us around noonish Saturday on Celo Knob.”

“I need it too. I'm gonna check at an outfitter here in GSO but i dunno if they'll have anything.”

“are you camping with us on Saturday?”

“I'll go to kinkos and scan it in and email it to everyone. It has my notes on it from previous hikes though.”

“Yeah, email me the map too.”

“guess you got my email....ill be at deep gap fri nite and walk from there sat morning to celo and pick you guys up...if you are gonna camp at deep gap sat nite ill be there also...dont get to wrapped up in extra gear you think you mite need because of off trail....its not that bad and i found it not really needed.”

“I'm not bring any extra gear. I just think gloves are a good idea. When I wear gloves I don't get blisters.”

“No, unfourtantly in live in Atlanta, but my in-laws have a house on the golfcourse. I do'nt know of any other shops except for Black Dome in Ashville. Congrats on your house in L.S. Jot down my e-mail and drop a line when your in the area.”

“thanks for the email 2socks. I didn't get a chance to write back yet. But look forward to joining you in the blacks. What is the project that you are currently working on if you don't mind me asking?”