Black Mtn Crest Trail & Big Butt(kikker) fall trip

“you should come with us 2stocks!”

“afraid this next time im headed for the middle prong and shining rock wilderness areas...got some trails to finish there....thats if i can get there”

“yea, but what if I get turned around again on the ATV trails, just keep left!!! HAHA. Did'the storms hit you hard Socks? I'm going to Standing Indian Campground this weekend,come go with us!!!! We can talk bad about Roam again”

“hey, thats not cool!

lol ;)

gimme a couple more weeks to get my sorry arse moved outta florida and I'll be in those mountains with ya.”

“Your not gonna be a Cocks fan are you??”

“What part of SC are you going to?”

“hey guys....some info i just found out and you might consider for planning....the parkway from NC-80 to Mitchell is closed for hurricane damage....dont even think about that way...if you doin the shuttle routine and start at Bolens you gonna have to drive all the way to asheville to access parkway to get to mitchell....that way is open...thinkin about bail spots...also advised and common sense should tell you that if hurricane can wipe out highway trails wont be that impressive and maint. on those trails will have been none....be prepared for alot of blow downs up there...be extra careful cause response for emergencies will take alot longer...cant make the indian...workin on something else now...but when you ready to do some around brevard and the Pisgah area give me a holler...i might be lurking....good luck on your move there roam....blalock man i aint forgot ya keep in touch”

“going to Greenville, SC.

will NOT be a Cocks fan, might pull for Clemson some, the local fav and all, but my blood forever runs Tennesse Orange! GO VOLS.

thanks, socks, seeya round.”

“Yea,well leave the Gators hat in Fla. Were you wearing it Sat. night?? I'm 1 hour from the state line on I-85 Ex 120 in Ga.”

“LOL, noooooooo, I only wear the FL hat in the off season. I was in my UT shirt at the local watering hole, yelling with the one other Vol in the room. It was pretty grim when that extra point went wide. I took some heat then.”

“Sounds like maybe this trip ought to be moved to VA or WVA.

Cranberry Wilderness? North Fork Mtn Trail? It's 23 miles of dry rugged hiking with great views.”

“I have never been to WVA. I need to check out some trips there.”

“lets wait and see what the storms do. Lisa is the only one threatening now and she's way the heck out in the Atlantic still, and only a tropical storm.”

“I know you are not going to bale on this trip... I know you're not!!”

“not gonna bail, just can't take Friday off my first week on the new job.”

“from the carolina's hikers yahoo group:

Since I was off today I decided to finally hike the stretch of the
Black Mt Crest trail between Winter Star and Gibbs that I've been
wanting to hike (and confirm that I actually got to the top of Gibbs
Peak for the sixers). Left home at 6:30, got to Hamrick , on NC 80,
by 8:30, got situated and STRUCK out. Made the Woody Ridge TH in 1
hr 5' and up, up up. Took an hour ten to make the spring, another 2
to Horse Rock. The trail was steeper than I remembered, 3000 foot
gain in 3 miles, HUFF, HUFF, chest pain! The ridge was more
overgrown than 3 years ago. Moseyed over towards Celo then back
towards Gibbs. Found a manway and up. Easier than 3 yrs ago when I
had a 35 lb screaming child on my back. Walked down the ridgeline 50
yards to the other end and found surveying tape at the top and a
trail of it to the bottom. Walked the manway down (removing the tape
as I went). Walked south to Winter Star. The crest trail stuck to
the ridgeline after Gibbs; was rocky, steep, thick with Blueberries,
Blackberries, and Huckleberries. More difficult than Grandfather
with the overgrown trail, blazes (NOT), and foot busting rocks.
From Mitchell to Celo its 7 miles of terror with the last 1/2 mile
level along an old grade.

Funny, at the top of Winter Star I met 4 backpackers from Ohio. One
of their first questions was, "Do you know where we are?" "Winter
Star", I replied. "Do you know where the water is?" they asked. I
pointed to my left and said "down there." "Where's Deep Gap?" I
again pointed left and replied "down there." There was some
mumbling, "I thought we stayed in Deep Gap last night?" (They
actually stayed next to Horse Rock.) I offered to review their maps
and point out trails, water, and campsites. One got out some crisp
topos with nary a mark on them. Nice guys but they get a F in
homework. (Their "leader" hiked the crest 20 yrs ago) They sure a
hell can't read a map nor gauge their hiking speed. One guys pack
was HEAVY. OUCH.

I offered to show them the spring and down we went. They got some
water, thanked me profusely, kept calling me trail angel, and off I
went. Made the car in 2 hours. Bought me some sodee pop and ice
cream, went to Carolina Hemlocks Rec area (1 mile down the road) to
wipe down and change. HAPPY, HAPPY, the bathroom is open (the
campsite was not). Drove over to find the Bowlens Creek TH and
headed home.

Postscript

GREAT weather, GREAT views. Could see the Gorge peaks, Grandfather
and the peaks around it, and the Roan Highlands. Didn't get much of
a view to the SW though. Amazing how many leaves were blown down.
Some trees lost maybe 75%? Alot of green leaves on the ground. Not
many trees blown over. The high water marks on the Toe, Cane, and
tributaries was WAY high. Many roads washed out. Wish I had company,
Steve? etc? The Black Mt crest trail is overall the hardest trail I
have ever hiked. It is steep, rocky, overgrown, poorly (No)
maintained(ence), poorly (NO) blazed(s), poorly signed. Just plain
poor. BUT it is my favorite trail around. It separates the wheat
from the chaff. I LOVE it in the winter. Who wants to join me up
there for a walk?”

“who wrote that TR? Patrick?”

“Sounds like the trails good then.”

“yeah, Gem, I think thats who it was.”

“I'm bailing on this trip. Ellen, my daughters and I are heading to West Virginia. Probably Cranberry.

Have fun in NC folks.”

“lol, sounded like him.
oh, someone take a pic of the early balers pleaz”

“O, no!

Yo, so it looks like I will be the only O-boy on this trip.

Earth to EarthNsky......

Earth to EarthNsky.....

We should carpool.”

“Carpooling maybe a good idea there MarkO. I'll have PS with me. We can meet you in Towson.

I can't wait for this trip!”

“PS???

Piss Slave?”

“Phantom the Soul”

“lol
hey ens...no need to send me directions for this weekend. ;)

actually I think I'll hike the rim of the gap area. pretty difficult, especially with a heavy pack, should give me plenty of practice. I hope. It's been a while I hiked that area, could be looking all different right now.”

“where is that. I was going to suggest doing the Great Craggy Mountains and Gardens traverse.”

“hmm....okay send me directions pleaze :)

Oh, here the area I was talking bout:
Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (Caesars Head and Jones Gap State Parks)
http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/ALLTRAILS/Hiking/Upcountry/UPCOUNTRY.html”

“Gem, I love that area! You going alone?”

“yupp...why are ya going?”

“Sorry Phantom Soul, I couldn't help myself...

Be careful Gemini, don't let the bears eat ya!”

“the Craggy Traverse is pretty easy to get to. Just go to Asheville, NC, get on the Parkway and head north towards Mt. Mitchell. If you get to Balsam Gap (just south of Mitchell) You've gone too far.

I will give you the specifics tonight straight from the guide book. It's kinda a Bushwack, but it will be awesome and you will get some alt and even a sixer (Craggy Dome). Craggy Gardens is supposed to be awesome! Craggy Dome is supposed to have awesome views and it is a Heath Bald”

“Phantom of the Soul”

“I'd love to get out this weekend, but I have a 30th bday party to go to Sat night (she would kill me if I didnt go). I do have Friday off of work though.....”

“Rim of the Gap is cool.

I'll go there in a few weeks!”

“em, I can't leave early friday. Dang, that would've been a nice trip too. I pretty much done all the trails, but it's been a while, so I'll do them again.

roam...this time without kids? LOL”

“Thats too bad. I have most fridays off so if you ever do... I'd love to hike that area again too. In fact, I was trying to scan in some pics the other day of Ceasars head and the falls there...or was it Table rock? I cant remember- its been since college.”

“Table Rock is in NC near Mt. Mitchell right? It's along the Blue Ridge.”

“ENS there are 2 table rocks. The one I am referring to is in northern SC.”

“that's like Deep Gap, they are all over the place. There are a lot of Pictured Rocks too.”

“isn't table rock close by ceasar head?”

“To many rocks, not enough names.”

“yes Ewker. Very close.”

“they should change the Table Rock in NC to ENS ROCKS!”

“So I have a gear-ish question here. I usually hike in lightweight trailrunners. Hearing about this trail makes me wonder if I'm gonna need something a little more heavy duty like boots or something. Any suggestions?”

“how bout EMBEAR ROCKS!”

“yeah, you want something sturdy and with good ankle support, something warm too.”

“Gem - how are your boots holding up? Any more blisters?”

“lol em, I bought me new boots. tried the asolos a couple more times, and got blisters again. No way I will ever hike with them again. I'll return them REI if I find the time.”

“I just read that Mt Mitchell park is closed for a while. How is that going to effect the trip or will it?”