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trips - Black Mountain Ball Breaker 2004 / Crest TrailTrip Info
DescriptionWe will backpack the entire Black Mountain Crest trail to Mt Mitchell summit and then from Mt. Mitchell we will take the Mitchell trail down off of the mountain to Black Mountain camp ground. These are very difficult trails. The Crest Trail has been regarded as one of the hardest in the U.S. and is possibly the hardest in the East, definitely in the south. Despite the stenuous nature of the hike it is quite rewarding. From trail head to trailhead you will have crossed many of the highest peaks in the Appalachians and the east. Those of you looking to bag the southern sixers will want to do this one as this trail takes you across 9 of them. Another great advantage is the high elevation that much of the hike crosses. July in NC is hot as hell but it rarely gets above 70 degrees along the top of this ridge. The elevation gain and loss is roughly than 7,000 feet over 18 miles of trail and is rarely ever on flat easy ground. I have hiked the trail from Black Mtn Campground to Deep Gap several times but have not hiked past Deep Gap yet. From what I have heard, the trail near Celo Knob and Winter Star is somewhat of a bushwack. Dangers include closeness to cliffedges and sheer drop offs, high threat of lightning strikes and alien abductions (jk). The area also has a healthy bear population. We will meet at the Bolens Creek trail head early Saturday (7/3/04) morning and end in Black Mountain Campground the afternoon of Sunday (7/4/04). Sunday night we will car camp in Black Mountain Campground (if you want to). The route is firm. Start at Bolens Creek trailhead and end at Black Mountain Camp Ground. Unfortunately the trail leaves the crest of the Black Mountains on Mt. Mitchell and does not continue south to Potato Knob above the Blue Ridge parkway. We will camp Saturday night in Deep Gap. This is roughly 5700 feet above sea level and it gets quite cool there during the night even on the hottest summer days. It can snow on this mountain ridge any day of the year. The night of Sunday, July 4th we will car camp either in Black Mtn Campground or Carolina Hemlocks nearby. It will be a fun hike and a great time. I hope everyone that is interested can make it. Email me or post in the forums associated with this trip should you have any questions. I will email updates or post them in the forum. Informational links: http://www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/webcam/webcam.html - http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/ ----------------------------------- *********************************** The meeting place will be Black Mtn Campground NC Rt. 472 (Mt Mitchell trailhead parking lot) at 730-8am on 7/3. From there we can shuttle over to Bolens Creek. The goal is to be on the trail no later than 9-930. ------------------------------------ Pictures I have taken on past trips to this area: http://community.webshots.com/album/123943353WgCQLZ http://community.webshots.com/album/124039701UzbFFc ------------------------------------ Directions to Black Mtn Camp Ground Meetplace - 730 am Saturday 7/3/04 - The directions from Burnsville is for sure the best route. You follow Hwy.80 sign off of Hwy.19, after approx. 1.5 m. turn right @ Micaville, follow 80 until you see golf course on right, take next right directly after course, 100 ft. stop sign ,right and follow signs to campground. If you go through a town named Busick you've gone to far!!! --------------------------------- directions to Bolens Creek Trailhead: - Turn at the Texaco in Burnsville on US. 19 just east of the Ingles grocery store. 197 South is also named Pensacola Rd. , take it about 1 mile, turn left onto Bolens Creek Rd. (NC. 1109).Follow this road to the hairpin turn to the right.In this turn is a residential sign with the names Hubata, Ashley, Stewart on it. This is the trailhead. Park along the fence , but do not block the gate.
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