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

“I can't wait for the scramble up Winterstar. That is a fun climb.”

“it is a good climb, really gets your blood flowing!

I wore my fleece hat and jacket up in Deep Gap on July 4, yall be prepared!”

“OK, your right, I'm hungover, and I can't get that goofy Rocky Top song out of my head!!! We will be at Little Butt in 1 week from now. Save memory for the most awsome view of the Blacks. Damn, I drank all my Sunday beer!!
last edited: 10/10/04 11:33:34 AM”

“i'm out.”

“Georgia #8 Tennesee #14 HAHA!!!!”

“Don't you have something to move or pack away? Have fun at the backcountry pinic next weekend!!!!LMAO
last edited: 10/10/04 7:03:50 PM”

“the quickest way to CH is I-81 to I-26 to US 19 north, through Burnsville to Micaville and south on NC 80.
- ppcraft

Dang, now I'm really confused. I looked at an atlas and I-26 is somewhere below Ashville?

ENS - how are you getting there? I mapquested both Burnsville and Bowditch (a town close to Carolina Hemlock) and got 2 different routes.”

“Does your directions show you how to get to Hwy. 19 E???”

“both direct me to 19E. One has me getting off 81 at exit 3, then VA381, 34W, 37S, and then 19E. The other has me going further down 81 to exit 57A, then 23S, 19W/TN36, to 19E.”

“I'm looking at a atlas and it looks like the Ex 57 to 23s (which I belive is the I-26 extension)to hwy 19 E is the easiest. Once you get to 19 you'll go about 30 min. to Burnsville,continue on 19 until you see the Hwy.80 Bypass at a fork, take a right, go approx 1 mile to Hwy 80 @ Micaville, turn right, go until you see Carolina Hemlock. Approx 15 Min.”

“My atlas must be old. It has I26 going no further than Ashville. Your way looks pretty simple though. Thanks.”

“Looked at www.averyweather.com. This is the website for the weather in NW NC by Ray Russell, a professor at ASU. I have always foud it accurate. The forecast for Beech Mt (elevation 5506): high for the weekend will be mid 40's, low mid 30's. Not much wind. Elevation at Deep Gap is 5600, Balsam Gap 5320. I find the Weather Channel inaccurate at best.”

“I am not familiar with all of that area. Where did you find those temps at.”

“Count on ENS for directions? [rolls eyes]...

Better make sure I have directions myself...”

“wow, Balsam Gap is only 5320? I was thinking it was above 6k. Cool, that's good, we won't be camping above 6k.”

“yeah, I need to take a look at the map and see how I am getting down there. I will be going down via 81. Last time I went down via 85 to 40.”

“Yam, are you getting there friday night for sure? Looks like I can't get there earlier then noon, so if you are a 100% I'll wait for you and everyone else that hikes in at night. Don't want to hike in solo on that trail at night.

anyone??”

“Ewker,

The averyweather web site is for the area Banner Elk, in NW NC about 50 north of Mitchell. There are sites for Newland, Beech Mt, Banner Elk, and Sparta. Just go to the averyweather site and go to the links. The Beech Mt site is the most accurate for weather prediction in the mountains of NC.

ENS,

85 to 40 has WAY TOO much traffic. You have to go through DC, Richmond, Durham, Greensboro, WS (You are coming from Penn?). Suggest 81 to 26 in Johnson City toward Asheville, then 19 and 19-E to Burnsville.
Have a good trip. It will be cold Friday night at Deep Gap, maybe high 20's. The coldest night I ever spent in the woods was up on that ridge one January, about -10. Doing my sons b-day party Saturday and working Sunday.

patrick”

“Johnson City??

Yeah, there's a Cockeysville right up the road.”

“and, if you go south of the big JC, you'll soon be in Cocke County!”

“Trust me on this.I used to live up there. I have driven all these roads. The QUICKEST way from I-81 to Mitchell is I-26 from Johnson City south toward Asheville. (The section of I-26 from US 19 in NC to Sams Gap/NC-Tenn state line opened last spring). Map Quest is wrong. It send you over Spivey Gap on 19-W to Burnsville. While 19 from I-26 to the 19-E/19-W split and thence 19-E to Spruce Pine is relatively straight, both 19-W (across the state line) and 19-E (past Spruce Pine and into Tenn) are curvey and slo

From I-81 go south on I-26, through Johnson City, around Erwin, up to state line, and down to US 19. Exit and go north on US 19. Before Burnsville US 19 will split. Continue north on US 19-E.(In Burnsville NC 197 will go right at the Texaco station up to Pensacola and Cane River Gap.) to Micaville (don't blink). Take a right, down NC 80 to CH campground.”

“I checked mapquest and for me coming from Nashville, it has me getting off I-40 at Newport and taking 25 to Hot Springs, then to 213 then to 19E. I would imagine Hardee's will be easy to find.
If we leave between 6:00 & 7:00PM we will be there by 1:00 am approx. Assuming we don't get lost on the backroads”

“the highway gods have recently just renamed a nice section of 4 lane between Asheville and Johnson City as Interstate 26. They spent freaking forever making it a 4 lane.

I havn't seen any maps that reflect that change, but I've driven it and its real - its a great ride too, coming over Sam's Gap into NC you get one nice view, if its daytime.


GO VOLS
last edited: 10/11/04 1:19:13 PM”

“roam, anything changed in your plans that you can make it now”

“nope, and it probably won't in time for me to get up there for this trip. Biggest issue is the 10 yr old girl - i don't think she'd do well on this trip with me.”

“nice view from Potato Knob
”

“Looking into Deep Gap from Winterstar Mountain, Black Mountains, North Carolina


”

“hope yall have nice clear weather like that!”

“off the averyweather website

. A secondary low rotates the back side Saturday with a few light showers and a reinforcing shot of cold air. I will not be surprised if a few snow flurries are reported on the mountaintops late this week into Saturday night. Somewhat milder weather quickly returns Sunday


yeehaw, it might snow”

“bump”

“wow, we could see some snow. That would be pretty cool. Those pictures are awesome. We didn't see those views last time due to the bad weather.”

“I was up at Potato Knob not long ago..it is awesome...hope yall have a great trip!”

“I'll be joining you guys..looking forward to it...sssnnnooowwww!!!!!!!! eek!! : )”

“awesome trekkngirl!!”

“Danf, I've got stuff to post, but I'm late for my newphew's football game. Stay tuned, especially you Gemini.”

“those northeners and their spelling, what is a danf..lol

Pennsy,it will be good to see you again”

“who is honeybee. they are signed up as a yes on the trips page”

“not sure, I don't think honeybee has ever posted on the thread.”

“i'm not going





sight!! (spellt it wrong, so what!!!)
I prolly will catch up with you guys saturday.
last edited: 10/11/04 6:17:42 PM”

“ppcraft - Thanks for those directions! I bought a newer atlas today and it does show I26 at 81. I feel better now. :o)

Hey Gem - are you still thinking about getting there Friday? Yam will probably get there late Fri night, and that 3.8 mile hike with 3k of elevation gain seems a bit much for a late night hike. I'm leaving my car at the Colberts Ridge trailhead Friday morning, hitching a ride with Blalock, and then hike with the group to Deep Gap. I'll hike down the CR trail to my car, and then head over to the campground, get a site and wait for Yam. Sat morning, we'll get up early and head up to Deep Gap, and hopefully catch the group at camp or early on in the hike.

Gem - you're more than welcome to join us at the campground. Better yet, if you get there Friday afternoon before I finish hiking, YOU could get the site. :o) It's first come, first serve I'm told.

Sooooo, does anybody know what the Colbert Ridge trail is like? I know it's 3.8 miles with 3k elevation gain, but how's the footing and such, rocky etc? That will help in figuring out how long it will take us to get to Deep Gap.

I know it will be a long day Saturday for us, but it's that or do the night hike and stroll into camp at like 2am.

Ewk - danf is a secret northern cuss word.”

“Pennsy, I'll be there friday and will hike in with you guys saturday morning. I emailed Yam already about it.

I am not sure when I get there, but it would be sometime in the afternoon. Can you send me the details about the campsite so I know where you either find you guys or reserve a site?

hey...are you bringing the drinks?? LOL

hold on...
day 1:

I'd like to start in Bolens Creek again and climb to Celo Knob. Take the black mountain crest bushwack trail south to Deep Gap, camp. 9 miles 4-5000 feet of elevation gain.

day 2:
continue south on the Crest trail to Mt. Mitchell. Bag Potato HillTake te Old Mitchell trail to Mt. Hallback and then take the manway up over Hallback, Mt. Gibbs, Clingmans Pk and Potato Knob. From there hike the Mtns to Sea trail towards Balsam Gap and camp somewhere around Blackstock Knob. 12 miles and around 4-5000 feet of gain.

hmm...that would mean 21 miles on saturday? holly $hIt. I can't do that. There is no way I can get 21 miles on saturday. I mean you don't understand. That's a hard a$$ trail!
last edited: 10/11/04 8:25:21 PM”

“Colbert Ridge Trail
Length: 3.9 miles Rating: Strenuous

Along the way there are two prominent overlook points that provide some of the most spectacular views of the Black Mountain Range Crest and its South Toe Valley.



The beginning of the Colbert Ridge Trail is quite heavily used since it is close to the Carolina Hemlock Recreation Area. The trail is blazed in white and ascends gently for the first half mile and then climbs steeply toward the terminus at Deep Gap. Along the way there are two prominent overlook points that provide some of the most spectacular views of the Black Mountain Range Crest and its South Toe Valley. When it is clear, one can appreciate views of Grandfather Mtn, Roan Mtn, and Table Rock. The trail is overgrown in some areas and has been rerouted around eroded and fallen tree locations, so take care to follow the white blazed trail in these areas. The trail has switchbacks near the top. The trail terminates at a flat grassy area at its intersection with the Black Mountain Crest Trail. This grassy area could be used for primitive camping.

Directions:

From Burnsville go east on US 19E for about 4.3 miles to an access road to NC 80. Turn right (south) go for .6 mile and turn right again on NC 80 (south). Follow this for 8.2 miles into Hamrick. At the Amoco gas station take a right on Colbert Creek Road (NC 1158). If you enter Carolina Hemlock Recreation area, you have gone too far on NC 80. Follow Colbert Creek Rd. for about .4 mile and the trailhead with a gravel pull out is on the right. The trail is marked with a carsonite post. Steps to the trail are visible from the road..”

“Gem - where did you learn math? LOL! 12 plus 3.8 is not 21, even in Germany.

I really don't know anything about the campground, except that I'm told you can't reserve sites, that it's first come first serve. The number I dug up doing a google search was no good. Can anybody confirm this, or have a number I can call?
Gem, oh yes, there will be refreshments. :o)”

“call the Mt. Mitchell State Park at (828) 675-4611. They will be able to give you a phone number for the campground. The campground is run by the Forest Service.”

“oh, it's 12 plus 3.8?? I read the info on the main trip page, thought it said 9 miles first day, then 12 miles the second day.

I guess we would take a different trail then to the campsite huh? so we would CHEAT???? Ouch!!!!
last edited: 10/11/04 8:40:18 PM”

“If you wanna call 15.8 miles with 7-8K of elevation gain cheating, you go ahead darlin. LOL!

tanks for that number Comrade.”