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

“we should get an early start. I think 7-730 and we can meet in Burnsville, NC this time. Blalock, you know of a good meeting place in Burnsville?”

“Sounds like an interesting prospect, and I'd really like to go, but isn't this the same weekend as TC4?

I already promised way too many people I'd show up at TC4... :(”

“You got mail”

“back at you WD”

“I would say meet at Hardee's. It's on Hwy.19 and near the turn @ Pensicola.”

“Good idea Blalock. That's where Bison feasted after the last Black Mountain trip.”

“You have to side trek after Hallback up manway ( or dirtroad ) to Mt. Gibbes / Cligmans Peak , back down to Commisary Ridge trail , to Mountains to Sea. This takes you to Potato Knob / Patton Knob / Blackstock.”

“Are you bringing the Grey Goose with you again? We may need it on this one , it could be frekin' freezin!!!”

“I may not be able to give you a ride this time. I told my friend in Knoxville that I would visit her on my way down to this hike.”

“I'll be heading down there Friday after work and making this a Saturday, Sunday, Home on Monday trip if I can figure out a way to do that, If you can work into that I you can ride with me.”

“If you want to do the whole trip , most airlines $59 one way from DC. to Atl. ride up w/ me , shag home w/ someone Sun. or fly back Mon.”

“yeah, I was leaving work today thinking that it will be cool to ride down there with Y2 again and remembered, oh yeah, I told Beth I would visit her and take her hiking in the Smokies. Doh. Sorry about that Y2.”

“Is she hot EnS?
Blalock, they may be a good idea.
Bison, that might work too.
Thanks guys.
Oh, and I'm thinnking maybe a good single malt may be ideal on this trip!”

“I think I will pack some alchohal too on this trip. Need something to keep me warm. Wild Turkey?”

“Gobble, Gobble!!!”

“Oct.15 7:37 Am 6:53 Pm Sunrise
15 53* High 38* Low Avg.
15 81* High 21* Low Record”

“bringing the fleece on this trip.”

“are those stats for Burnsville or for the mountain tops?”

“Are yall going to be car camping somewhere Thursday night? I don't think I could meet that early fri morning if I didn't.”

“yeah, I will be car camping. I'm not sure where yet. Somewhere in Pisgah. Probably either Carolina Hemlocks or Black Mountain. Your more than welcome to join me.”

“Thanks. I'm not sure what to do. I don't get through teaching until 8ish on Thursday, and it would take me 5 hours to get there plus a time change. Maybe I'll have to meet up with yall on Friday night.

Walkindude - when were you wanting to leave? Still wanna carpool?”

“Ewker e-mailed me about it last night. We can all ride together if ya want to.
I'm open for what ever. I'm off Friday - Monday. I think Ewker can only take off Friday.”

“OK. I don't work on Fridays starting next week. Mondays I dont have to work until 3:30, so I'm pretty flexible. I wont be taking my dog on this trip so we wont have to worry about a bunch of us carpooling:)”

“If we all ride together then we'll have to head home on Sunday.

It's kind of a relief to know Layla won't be pukeing on us. LOL!!!
Just kidding. She a sweet dog.”

“Oh no. She didnt puke on the trip last weekend. It was worse.

It will prolly be better to just come back on Sunday night so that Ewker wouldnt have to drive separately. I know Yam is thinking about coming, but wouldnt meet us until saturday. Hmm. I'll see her tonight and get the scoop about her situation. She might leave Sunday.”

“If you get there late Thursday night, it's still cool to crash at the campsite. They close the gate at around 9-10 at night to the road that goes into the campground but there is a parking lot right across the street from the parking lot. Park there, that is the parking lot for the Mt. Mitchell Trail and then walk into the campground. They only allow two tents per site, but we will be up pretty early and I think we could be ok with more. Or if anyone has a car camping tent, that would be good too. I have a blue Honda Civic and it has a Kerry/Edwards (not to make this a political thread) sticker on the rear windshield and also a Mt. Washington sticker. I'll try and give you specifics as they develop.”

“I may car camp sunday night. Not sure yet.”

“Looking like I can only get there for Sat am at the moment, but i'm gonna work on that.”

“That's right, I remember now. You said she had a messy #2. That's bad too. I used to have a dog that got sick while riding. I can be pretty bad.

See what Amy wants to do. I'm sure we can work something out to get all of us there. We got plenty of time.”

“I'm sorry bout that Y2. I totally forgot about that yesterday. She has a big crush on me, but she lives in Knoxville and goes to school at UT (eeeeeeh). lol”

“dogs like this trail and it's a very dog friendly place. I saw a guy walking a Huskey one time and it looked like she was in heaven. Big Poppa's lab was having a great time in July. She was a tired pup when we got to Deep Gap though.”

“Does it matter that I'm a Gator fan? I don't want any trouble. LOL!!”

“Yeah, we do have plenty of time:) If yall are wanting to leave Thurs. night I may be able to cancel a few lessons and leave by 6 or so. I wouldnt know until closer to time if I had time to make them up...my students pay me up front so I usually cant skip out on them:)”

“When would your last class be?”

“do you like night hiking?

One thing you could do is hike up the Colbert's Ridge Trail from the Carolina Hemlocks Campground to Deep Gap. It's 3.5 miles and probably a decent climb, maybe 2500 feet. I heard it's not a hard trail though. I never done it before though and I am not sure what it's like going up, especially in the dark. I don't know if I'd recommend doing it alone either, but that is one idea if you wanted to meet with us Friday night.”

“I like Penn State. I'm not much of a college fan, just don't like the UT orange.”

“Hey! Don't be knockin the Big Orange!”

“LOL!”

“I found this place

I remember you mentioned the Toe River map. They sell one here. I bought it. I'll know in a few days if it's any good.”

“that should be a good map wd - that place has a good rep and is very knowledgable about any place in Pisgah NF.”

“coolness”

“That would be Burnsville temps. sir, better leave the fleece and bring the down!!! heee heee! Mr. Biggelsworth!!!!”

“wow if those are the temps in Burnsville.. oooh weee, we'll have temps in the 30's”

“E&S

I wouldn't hike in late that night, me thinks it'd be mighty dangerous--i'm a wuss that way. if anything i'd drive up there and find somewhere to crash friday night. who knows, maybe i won't have a job by then and i can join you guys on thursday night.”

“night hikes are scary. Pennsy, Bison and I did one in Shenandoah in May and I had nightmares. Woke everyone up yelling at bears. TWICE”

“woke them up? LOL!

but i definately think the woods at night in general are freaky.”

“yeah, I was yelling in my sleep trying to scare away bears that were not there. Pennsy was like, "Comrade, you alright?" It took a couple seconds to come to reality.”

“I thought the trip was going to start Friday morning and end Sunday sometime. I still can't get off work Monday as I will be calling in sick that Friday.

I can leave Thursday evening after work. We could meet at the dude's house, assuming that is ok or embear you could meet me at my place then we could head over to Mark's”

“yeah the hike will end on Sunday. I'll probably car camp and head back Monday. I may car camp somewhere in VA though and check out Mt. Rogers on the way back. Or car camp somewhere around Roan and check that mountain.”

“Yeah, Head out Thursday night and head home Sunday.”