Trail? What Trail????? Mt. Mitchell TR

“Mt. Mitchell Ball Buster TT Trip July 03/ July 04th 2004
Oh wow… what a week! First Dolly Sods last weekend, then I hiked the Smokys, then right after the Smoky’s I met up with EarthNSky, Roam Around, Bison,
Bigpoppa, Topherac, 2socks, Blalock and his wife.

We met Saturday morning on the Black Mtn. Campground. I actually was there already Friday, but like expected there wasn’t any camp site left. The Camp hosts been nice enough to let me camp behind their camper though.

Pretty much had an early night. I didn’t hike but 2 miles that day. I wanted at least one day rest before the big Ball Buster hike. Had a blister already anyway from my Smoky vacation. Didn’t want to push it any further. I made a small fire and after that I hit the sack.

I woke up pretty early Saturday morning. Packed my sht together, that's when I heard someone yell “slacker”…

There was Bison and Topherac walking up to my campsite. I got ready and we all walked/ drove down to the meeting area. Not much longer and everyone else arrived. I was a little sad to hear that JO and MarkO weren’t able to make it. Would’ve been nice to show them “my territory”. What happend?

We all car pooled to the Trailhead, which was way out nowhere. I am actually surprised we really found it.

AND…our adventure begun…

And an adventure it was. I let the others finish the TR.
Couldn't wait to post a link to the pictures though. Some of them turned out excellent:
Mt. Mitchell Ball Buster”

“oh...I forgot to mention YnamiYnami. He was there too!”

“nice pics Gem.”

“Nice pictues. What was the temp in the evenings? Yall looked pretty bundled up around camp.”

“Looks like ya'll got a little wet!”

“I got home this morning 3:30am. I am sooo tired. Hiking that trail from Bolens Creek to Mt Mitchell is the hardest thing I ever hiked. It was awesome though.”

“wet? did we?? LOL, yeah we got pretty soaked. I wish we would have pictures from the time where actually no one felt like taking a picture though.

EarthNSky, glad you made it home okay.”

“Y2 is home too. I could easily hibernate today.”

“I'm working on my photos and and then will do my trip report. My cell phone is a casualty of war.”

“Yup that was a really tough hike, I'm all scratched up and sore a little. Y2's arms look like he went on a self mutilation trip.

It was good though.

The first climb of 3,000 feet up to Celo wore us all out and then the bushwhacks to the summits of Celo and Gibbs took a little more.

We got dumped on with rain going up to Gibbs and then we rockclimbed about 15 - 20 feet to make the actual summit - in the rain!

The trail was so overgrown to Winterstar that you might as well say it was a bushwhack too. Plus when we went off-trail around a huge rock outcrop we were really lucky noone got hurt - in spite of EarthNsky trying to fall off another cliff.

Camped at 5,700 feet in Deep Gap and the air temps dropped pretty good, not sure what the temp was, it was nice and warm in the tent though.

Sunday morning was awesome - the clouds were all settled in the valley below us about 1,000 feet with the higher ridges poking through - it was beautiful with the bright sun rising.

Sunday's hike was physically tough but the trail was actually a trail. We didn't have to bushwhack any summits either.

Funniest thing was when Gemini cusses "Dees trail eez KAPUTT!!!"

We all cussed the trail a couple of times on Saturday. It really was full contact backpacking, using hands, knees, elbows and feet to clamber and climb over the giant boulders that made the trail. Parts of it were straight up a rock wall.

It was fun though! Actually, I think I'd do it again, but not for a little while. I bet it'd be nice in the spring.”

“I'll get my pics up later today too. boy, I slept good last night!”

“I'm a strong maybe if this gets done in the spring.”

“The five mile climb to the (almost) summit of Celo is a true lung buster - it started out pretty normal and then got really steep and it kept going and going and going... It was pretty well graded until the last mile or so - started out on a forest service road.”

“It was awesome!!! I definatelly would do it again, like roam not right now though...need a little bit time to heal.

I am still going running today. :) I feel GREAT!!!!! I am a little sore though.”

“I'm gonna slack on the running today, well, maybe this evening I'll do one. I pretty much walked out a lot of the sorness just going to breakfast this am though.

My knee feels pretty good too - no damage apparantly.”

“...I definatelly would do it again...
Gemini


You realize this means we are insane don't you?”

“Oh, forgot to mention that topherac gets the gutbuster award - he made the climb up Celo with a funky stomach and most of us didn't even know it till we got to camp and wondered why he was lying in his tent the whole time we fixed dinner and ate and such.

Plus the man drove all the way from Grand Rapids MI for the trip!”

“lol, you mean you didn't know we are?? Honestly...think about it.

Glad your knee is okay.

I don't think I walked enough yet. I bet I feel better after running.

I came home and washed all the gear, then layed in the tub for a while. Man that bed felt good last night.”

“The maid sorta freaked out on my tent hung over the shower curtain in my room this morning. I was still there when she came in.

Not sure what she's gonna think if she sees the boots - didn't clean them up at all yet. lol

Good thing the gators are in a bag!”

“7/2
I picked Y2 up at the New Carrolton Metro station at 515 Friday and we hit the road. Got snarled in the famous DC traffic for more than hour and stopped for dinner and finally made our way to Richmond, Va and then into NC. At around midnight we got to Roam Around's place in Greensboro, NC and we stayed up until 1am-ish talking and looking over maps. Set the alarm clock for 345am and went to bed.

7/3
got up and hit the road around 415 and headed west on I-40 towards the mountains. I had mapquest directions into Burnsville, NC and the directions mislead us up over a winding mountain road that twisted and turned and seemed to climb forever before dumping us on to US 19. Subsequently, this navigational mishap made us a few minutes late. We got to the trailhead at about 745 and everyone was already there waiting. "Earth we were taking bets whether or not you over slept."

We geared up, a few of us pumped water in the South Toe River. Mrs. Blalock's mom who lives at the foot of the Blacks on the Mitchell Golf course delivered us to the trail head (thank you), with an exception of a third of the group that went in Bison's Blazer.

The trailhead is tricky to find, it's on Bolens Creek Road off of NC 197 and then back a forest service/private road called something like Water Sourse Lane. There are three driveways and it is the one in the middle. Anyway, it took us a while to find it. Getting all the way back to the trailhead really requires a 4x vehicle. Bison was able to park at the cemetery. At this point I realized my waer bladder leaked and everything in my pack was wet and I was out of water. Blalock said he had an extra nalgene and let me borrow it (thank you).

The top halves of the mountains were visibly in the clouds. The forecast was for rain. At this point we were about 3000 feet above sea level. So began our
ascent on the Blacks and initially Celo Knob (6327). It's roughly a 3300 foot climb in about 4 miles to Celo. It was extremily humid. In some places it is a gradual climb and in other places it's quite steep. Once the summit of Celo was in view, it was a welcome site.

The trees were really stunted and deformed from the wind and there were more bushes than trees. The trail does cross the summit so Bison, Roam and I bushwhacked up to it, photo'd the survey marker, noted the surroundings and bushwhacked back down to the group. As we were coming down Gemini and Y2 were going up. We went through a stand of balsams, Gemini and Y2 went through some thick brush and Y2's arms looked like he was in a cat fight afterwards.

After that, we all chilled out below Celo Knob summit. Views of the valley below could not be seen, the scenery was still really awesome. You could see down the ridge line towards horse rock which is a cool looking peak. I was out of water and Topherac let me have some of his (coolade), thanks.

As we were sitting their we heard someone yell. "hey, I've been waiting for you, come over here." It was Cottonsocks, otherwise known as stick. Roam quickly advised that we were lunching and for him to come over to us.

From there, Stick led the charge north on the crest and it was pretty much a bushwack all the way to Deep Gap as the trail was grown over and all but non-existent.

Still all the views of the valleys could not be seen through the clouds but the scenery was still awesome. We bagged Gibbs Mtn (6220), also not on the trail and was a bushwack through dense balsams and then a climb up onto a big rock. While on the summit of Gibbs, it started to pour down rain and it was a cold rain. Everyone quickly put on rain gear and covered their packs and we moved forward. By the time we got to the knife edge the rain had stopped but everyone was drenched. The fact that the trail is over grown with low brush even got us more wet by walking through it. The knife edge was awesome. I've never been on one before. It was not as dramatic as Khatadin or many other famous knife edges but it was still really cool. I wasn't able to get a photo of it.

We marched on towards Winterstar. Stick lost the trail on a subpeak and we climbed up a pretty steep slope through dense growth to back on to it. I think it was there where I almost fell down another cliff. This time I had a root to grab on to and then Topherac pulled me back up (thank you). I stepped on ground that gave from underneath me and down I went. It happened so fast. It's scary to feel you feet dangling while your hanging on a root. It was pretty funny moment though because no one got hurt.

The quote of the trip came shortly after when Gemini quipped "Zeeee trail eeez capooot!!!" We all laughed so hard.

We kept on crossing false summit after false summit on the way to Winterstar. Thinking, this has to be it, turn a corner and see a higher summit climb and repeat the process. Finally Winterstar was in front of us and it was a really steep climb up about 300-400 feet. The trail crosses right over WinterStar (6203) so we bagged it. from there it was over Deer Mtn and then down into Deep Gap.

Thank goodness, we reached camp. 13 miles and around 5000 in steep elevation gain. We were all wet and tired. We set up camp and talked until it got dark. The sun actually came out, but at times the sky looked angry, but never opened up. We watched fire works from below and then went to bed.”

“Dangid!!

I'm sorry I missed this one. >8^[

Gemini, I love the photo....."Yeah, we got soaked"

You kissed a few summits, huh?”

“7/4
We all started waking up around 7am. During the night you could hear the wind pounding above the gap. When I got out of the tent, it felt alot colder than the day before and it was pretty windy. Still the sun was out, although slightly overcast. Still, an improvement in weather conditions. It's rare to get good weather conditions on this mountain. They say it rains 8 outta 10 days, snows in July and often times logs huricane force winds. With that said, it probably has the worst weather in the southeast.

We all got up, chilled out and ate breakfast. No one was in a rush to pack up. We knew we still had a brutal march left. Around 9 we were all packed.

Mr. and Mrs. Blalock opted to go down the Colberts Ridge trail from Deep Gap. Topherac and Bigpoppa plus dog (Soley sp?) went with. We said our good byes and went in opposite directions.

The 800 foot climb in less than a mile out of Deep Gap to Potato Hill (6440) was steep and rough. The trail went right over the summit making it an easy bag.

Views were great of the peaks to the north and overcast valleys below. It was hard to stop though, because you got cold fast. Cottonsocks (stick) stopped at Potato, he had to find some survey markers. We went on ahead.

Down and then up over Cattail Peak (6600) didn't bag it because it doesn't count towards the Southern sixers. For all intensive purposes we bagged it.

Down and then up over Balsam Cone (6611). The trail crosses right over the summit. It's steep deep drop into Big Tom Gap and then a really steep 600 foot climb up to Big Tom (6583). We chilled out on the big rock there and then made the easier climb to Craig (6647). When got out onto Craig, the wind was really blowing and you could feel how cold it was. It is an open bald. They have signs asking you to stay on the trail, not to disturb the fragile vegitation. We took pictures. The views were great. There was a crew doing trail mainenance. We joked with them, telling them they need to head out towards Winterstar and get cracking. They said that they were with the state park and not the forest service.

It's a rock scramble down off of Craig into Mitchell Gap and then a short steep climb to the Mitchell parking lot.

Then you climb the stairs to the summit of Mt Mitchell (6683) and you are higher than anywhere else in the east. It was pretty cold on the summit. We climbed the tower (Bison actually ran) where it was even colder. I saw alot of tourests wearing shorts and tshirts freezing their a$$es off. It was kinda funny. The temp. reading at the summit was 55 degrees, but with the brisk wind it felt alot colder. So we went back down to the visitor center, got cokes and snacks at the snack bar. Coke never tasted so good. Slim Jim was "dangdid" good too. Took s few more photos. We thought about fetching a ride off of the mountain but then we began the descent of 3600 feet in 5 miles to Black Mtn Camp ground and back to the cars. There was a short rain on the way down and the lower we got the more hotter and humid it became. It was good to be back at the cars. Bison and Y2 got there first. Bison trucked on the waydown. Gemini and I were moving pretty good too and Bison siad he was there more than 45 minutes waiting for us.

Dry clothes rule at the end of a long hard pull.

That was extreme backpacking and definitely the hardest trip I have been on yet. I used my whole body, including my head. It was fun and I'd definitely do it again. I'd even start in Bolens Creek again.

I hope everyone had fun. It was good meeting the Blalocks, Topherack, Couchtater, Big Poppa and dog, Cottonsocks and Gemini. It was great getting on the trail again with Bison, Roam and Y2. Good company. Look forward to many more miles on the trail with y'all.

Hope toph is feeling better. Couchtater is on his way to bag the Utah highpoint, King's peak.

Bison said in the parking lot at the campground that every hike from here on out will seem easy now after the hardest hike of our lives. It was a blast though. I've never been so dirty. lol”

“you would have loved this trip. Sorry we missed you and J0. This trail is waitng for you.

On the way down Mitchell, someone wrote "Bruce" across the trail. I though "can't be Pennsy". It wasn't but wouldn't have suurprised me.”

“that was 2socks not cottonsocks there Earth....”

“Wow!

I like hardcore marches.....it hurts sooo good!

If I'm ever going to bag some of those Southern Sixers I will have to get crackin'.”

“yeah, 2socks”

“My pictures are up!!!”

“http://community.webshots.com/album/159624196vGHUCe

I still have to caption them.”

“your pics are really great Roam. Makes me wish that we had 10 more miles of ridge line to hike and climb”

“Looked like a great trip, really nice pics y'all. Gemini has really turned into one hardcore hiking chic, keep up the great work! You sure were puckering your lips on this trip alot Gemini, did any of the peaks kiss ya back!??”

“nice pics gem. It was an outstanding trip. Thanks to everyone who came along. Great group. good people.”

“Thanks Earth, you got some shots that I didn't - i like those flag trees. Glad I don't live up on top like they do. I'd look funnier than normal if I was all to one side like that.

Now, onto the Plotts!”

“looks like a blast... looks like you all got SOAKED though!”

“I hope i helped out a little...I am sorry about the off-trail venture....you gotta admit that the trail was bad enough and the rain just forced that vegetation over to the point that it was hard to make out...sun was bad for me and i'm sorry i couldnt keep up...i realize that you folks had an itenerary and hope the gang going to the campground for cars made it before that rain really hit....i did stop at cattail peak and bushed to the real summit where i found the survey mark i was looking for...was home by 7...had fun”

“drenched to the bone.

no problem 2socks. It was great meeting you. Thanks for all your help. The off trail part was fun.”

“Bison hasn't checked in yet. Wonder if the newbies will post.”

“I got in about 11 this morning. Dropped Bison off at his car at the trailhead, then grabbed a burger on my way thru Burnsville. I gave up the drive in Newport, made a mess of the room cleaning up! Boy did that bed sleep good though.

That was a great trip, definitely best done in the early spring. My first TT trip, thanks all for your support. Look forward to many more.”

“"I made it back last night. I finally looked at my legs and arms. They are as bad as everyone elses. It was a great trip.

I will hike with that group anytime. Just have to keep Socks pointed on the right trail."
Bigpoppa
02:56:14 PM
07/05/04

lol

your dog is an awesome trail dog.
How was the hike down off of the mountain on Colberts ridge?

Tater, it was great hiking with you.

I left on critical detail out of my report. On the way back, after stopping for some Black Mountain profile photos. What a massive profile? It towers over the valley. Anyhow, Y2 and I were really hungry and we both wanted to gorge ourselves with food. We were in the sticks and there was no sign of an Applebees or Ruby Tuesday or restaurants of that nature. Y2 mentioned that he could eat an entire KFC bucket of chicken and I thought, yeah I could too. Right as he said it, there was a KFC in front of us. It was divine intervention or something. We pulled in, parked and went inside. Y2 immediately ixxed his gaze upon the menu board, while I browsed the lobby. As Y2 was ordering a combo I saw that they had a BUFFET. I showed it to Y2 and he cancelled the order for a combo and we both got the buffet. We were talking about filling up about 8 plates of food. After two plates we couldn't even think about food anymore. Still, perfect.”

“Great pictures and trail reports everyone.

Hopefully I can join you the next time.”

“so everyone but bison and blalock are counted for huh?? I am figuring Blalock made it home just fine.

EarthNSky, your pictures turned out great. Roam, so as yours.”

“all the pics turned out great and thanks for including me in them....great group....later”

“I never got a chance to get an entire group shot. that is a bummer.”

“Super pics and reports everybody! Except for the drenching rain, that trip sounded like my kind of fun.”

“Pennsy, you would love this trail man. Wish you could have been there.”

“You'll just have to do it again, on a weekend that I'm available.”

“yeah, something will be in the works. I'd like to do something similar. Start at Bolens Creek hike the crest to Mitchell, stay on the ridge to Hallback over Gibbs and Clingmans, get on the Mountains to Sea trail, hike down to Balsam Gap and then bushwack up to Balsam Dome and from there I am not sure. Think this would have to be a two+ night trip.”

“Craggy Dome, not Balsam Dome.”

“Sulley and I made it home fine. The trail down to Colberts was a piece of cake. Topherac feet slowed his step but he was fine.

Sulley is waiting for the next trip. I could do that again, but I would want to go in the other direction.”

“I wanna go...”

“Give me a ring at dblalock@backpacker.com”