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

“ENS - How are we gettin' to the trailhead? where are we leavin' cars?”

“I'm trying to get a line on Saturday's hike. Since I don't know when everybody will be leaving camp in the morning, and we don't know when we'll get up to Deep Gap, there is that chance that we won't see everybody until later Saturday.

Black Mt Crest Trail (179 on the South Toe map) to Mt Mitchell where it ends. From there I'm confused. I don't see an Old Mitchell Trail, or a Manway trail, or any labeled trail to those other peaks mentioned. Using that map, which way should we go to get to Balsam Gap if we don't see y'all?”

“I'll take along a couple of colors of marking tape to show you stragglers the way, you'll have to clean up my mess. Plus Gemini knows the way to Mt. Mitchell.
last edited: 10/12/04 7:53:49 PM”

“i know what?? who said that?? like I can remember how to get there.... remember, I am a old woman who's pretty darn close to having alzheimer.”

“aaalllrighty then”

“I hope you can make it Y2!!! Looking forward to seeing you.

Pennsy, we'll wait for you in Deep Gap. It shouldn't take too long you guys to get up to Deep Gap and by the time we break down camp, enjoy the sunrise (which is awesome from Deep Gap) I'm sure you and the crew will be there.

Well we can only leave one vehicle at the trailhead at Bolens Creek. I think we're going to do the same thing we did last time.

Blalock, how many vehicles can fit at the Trail head at Cane River Gap? We can leave as many as we can there and then find a place in Burnsville to put the rest.”

“I got the map.Let's hope I don't forget it.
we should be fine.

would be great if you guys would wait for us. prolly depends on how much we partied the night before what time we make it...heeheehee”

“We could park one at Cain River in case of emergency, and I belive that my van can handle the rest. Maybe park the rest at Pisagh Ranger Station. Pennsy will have a car at Carolina Hemlock Campground. And I'll have my chafur pick us up at the end.”

“from what I have read there are some awesome views of the range coming up the Colbert Ridge trail and if you hit it at the right time, maybe you can catch the sunrise coming over the Blue Ridge.”

“Whoever parks at Cain River Gap DO'NT park in front of the FS Road gate. You will know you are at Cain River Gap when the pavement becomes dirt road.
last edited: 10/12/04 8:12:10 PM”

“Blalock, Phantom Soul and I are going to crash at the parking lot at Carolina Hemlock where Pennsy is crashing. I'll leave my car there and we'll be at the bus stop with Pennsy bright and early Friday morning and then meet everyone else at Hardees. I imagine I'll be rolling in sometime around 3am.”

“is there any problem getting to the carolina hemlock campground from SC? are some of the roads still closed?”

“OK, Bison do you want to park at the cemetary again? How many other cars will we have? Does someone want to call the Pisagh Ranger station in Burnsville tomorrow to verify that it's cool to park there?”

“also I think I am going to go ahead and pack the tent so I won't need the tarp after all. It's sounding a bit cold for a tarp. I remember how windy Deep Gap was last time. :)”

“Pennsy, do you want to ride down with Phantom Soul and me?”

“I'll bring it in case you have a change of heart, we may need it to dine under, how about those Braves/??
last edited: 10/12/04 8:23:35 PM”

“ENS - if the weather is crappy in Deep Gap Sat morning, I doubt people will be in a waiting mood. Even so, stuff can happen and it would good to know the route. The Crest trail to Mitchell is simple enough, but from there, I'm not sure.

btw - I'll be parked at the Colberts Ridge parking area, not the campground. I think the gate will be closed anyway.”

“sounds like a plan Blalock. If you can call Pisgah that would be awesome.

I was pretty disapointed that the Braves lost. The Astros scare me. They are pretty hot right now. I hate to admit that but it's true. Astros could give the Cardinals some trouble.

Gemini, you won't have any trouble getting to the campground. You will have to come in from the Burnsville side and not the parkway side. I'm not sure how you got there last time. The campground is not far from Burnsville.”

“Hell no I'm not parkin' at the cemetery again.”

“ENS - thanks, but I need to have my car. I'll be coming down to it Friday from Deep Gap to meet Gemini and Yam. Friday, I'll be packing light with all the other stuff in the car.”

“Reminder that parking for Colberts Ridge Trail is directly across from the Ammaco station on Colberts Ridge Rd. about quarter mile on right.”

“OK, OK, we will get someone else to park there. At least we know where the hell we are going this time!!!”

“Blalock, can you post Saturday's route after Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap?

lol Bison

thanks for the reminder on the parking lot Blalock.”

“Blalock hiked the section of this trip from Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap and then from Balsam Gap over the Big Butt trail to Cane River Gap.

I'm trying to find where the route is posted. It's somewhere on the thread, but the thread is huge so it's hard to find.”

“so how do we talk 2socks into coming with us?”

“http://www.carolinamtnclub.com/hikedetails.asp?which=Mt%2E+Mitchell+to++Balsam+Gap+via+Blackstock+Knob

that website explains the route from Mt. Mitchell to Balsam Gap. I am in the process of looking over it.”

“I bet when we get to camp Saturday night that we all go to sleep pretty early. Saturday is going to be a killer. Saturday may end up being harder than Friday. Sunday should be really easy.”

“hope Sunday is easy since we all have to drive home.

Are we going to do the normal and hit a pizza place after the hike”

“we should do something afterwards. We won't be able to do much because we will all have huge trips to get home, but we should do something. Something to celebrate completing the hike. Sunday's hike should be easy. We'll have to Climb up to Big Butt but that shouldn't be much of a climb and then it is all down hill.”

“The Carolina Mt club route follows the MTS trail, not the crest. Between Mitchell and Steppes Gap is the Old Mitchell trail, blazed in orange. At Steppes Gap cross the park road onto the old RR grade and look for the trail on your left. It is unblazed and goes over the summit of Mt Gibbes to Clingmans Peak. At Clingmans you will pass one or two forestry research buildings and come out to the fence around the towers. (The road up from Steppes Gap will be on your right.) You will need to get around the fence, go right as the left drops off a cliff. I don't think there is a trail on the south side of the fence for a little way but you pick up one after 100 yards or so. This trail goes past a clearing and a hunting cabin and continues to Potato Knob. Here it becomes the unmaintained Boundary trail. Go down the ridge to the MTS trail and go right toward Blackstock. The Boundary trail is rather steep up top. I've only hiked between MTS/Boundary trail and Steppes Gap once on these trails, it was 4 years ago and cold (16 degrees at park office) and snowing. The MTS is rocky by Potato, ridge walking at Blackstock,alot of switchbacks down to Balsam Gap.

The Big Butt trail is easy to follow, rare blazes. On the east side of Big Butt the trail enters onto an old jeep road. Follow this to Flat Spring Gap, over Flat Spring knob, and down the ridge. When the jeep road goes right be aware the Big Butt trail stays left and becomes a single track. I suspect the jeep road drops down to the Big Tom Wilson Preserve. I hiked section this 6 weeks ago

Everything west and north of the ridgeline in the upper Cane watershed is the private Wilson Preserve. I don't think rifle season will be in yet but I'm not a hunter. (Try not to get shot.)

If you are unsure about the route after Steppes Gap take the jeep road but remember you'll need to go up to the towers when the road forks. This is on private land.

There is room for a few cars at Cane River Gap. There is a store in Pensacola that might allow you to park cars, also some churches.

If you are not comfortable with the route from Steppes to Poatato Knob just take the MTS route from the CMC in the previous thread. I'm not sure of everyones comfort level on unmaintained, unblazed, faint (or no) trail. The route from Steppes to Potato Knob can be confusing. Suggest everyone wait at park office in Steppes Gap and strike off as a group.”

“Where is my blanket?

Blalock, get my blanket from Bison. See if anyone is going through Cincinnati that can drop it off for me. I would appreciate it.

Sounds like a great trip. I am sorry I am missing the reunion. I don't have weekends off any more. The only thing I can remember to say is "bring real good rain gear. TTFN”

“It's in my car, I'll have it with me.”

“Weather Channel says its gonna be a 80% chance of rain on Friday. Yuck. Looks like it will be cold and wet both Friday and Saturday. Its been cold and rainy here in Nashville this week, so I know its heading for the mountains....”

“Wonderful.”

“embear, check the other weather link on here. It calls for scattered showers in the mtns of NC”

“Either way, its gonna be cold. Lets just hope we can have a fire, or we are all going to have to crowd into 1 tent:)”

“Ewker, are we going to take 40 to Asheville then go up 26? I've driven that route so many times going to college. It should only take about 5 hours. Of course, you may not drive as fast as I do.”

“embear I am going 40 to Newport and then take the back roads to burnsville.

Here is how I am going http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?do=prt&mo=ma&un=m&go=1&1a=3600%20Hillsboro%20Pike&1c=Nashville&1g=idIXDx6qlc4%3d&2tabval=address&1l=uFRMQYmhUjo%3d&2c=Burnsville&1n=DAVIDSON%20COUNTY&cl=EN&2g=hB8RhsVl9zw%3d&1s=TN&2l=SLuVwQ14tq0%3d&ct=NA&1v=ADDRESS&2n=Yancey&1y=US&1tabval=address&1z=37215%2d2100&2s=NC&2v=CITY&did=1097686891&2y=US

the only thing different is that we end up at Hardee's instead of the center of the town
last edited: 10/13/04 12:23:02 PM”

“That sounds good. I've never gone that way. Lets just hope we don't get behind someone going 30 mph the whole time:)”

“so I thought we were going to keep this thread at the top....”

“someone knows about the roads from sc to carolina hamlock campground?

will i have any problems with closed roads?”

“embear, it will be late so we can just push them off the road.”

“heeheehee ewker!! i know your address now!!!”

“yam, I thought you did already. Remember we discussed that when I was moving over there.”

“i know. i was being a smarty. : )”

“bet you didn't know that I know where you live. You even have that Titans sticker on the door.”

“are you the dark shadow that keeps peeking in my window?? oiy!

actually, didn't you and walkindude swing by once?
last edited: 10/13/04 2:36:52 PM”