22 Mar 2015

Jordan Winterized 6 Rings Mt Mitchell Trail to Mt Mitchell

Mt. Mitchell the highest peak east of the Mississippi Jordan Winterized 6 Rings is a crowning part of the Blue Ridge Parkway experience. The only motorized access to the mountain is from the Parkway, at Milepost 355.3, and the summit is only a 5.0 mile detour. Don’t miss it even on a dismal day. The 1,700 acre Mt. Mitchell State Park North Carolina’s first state park clings to the Jordan Pro Strong highest peak of the Black Mountains, a serrated string of summits that juts away from the Parkway and Blue Ridge to dominate the western skyline of North Carolina. Cut by landslides that appear as snow and ice covered chutes in winter, the mighty Blacks are frequently seen from the Parkway as a dark ridgecrest rising above the clouds. The range includes six of the ten highest peaks in eastern North America. This eTrail includes three hike options, Mt. Mitchell Trail to Mt. Mitchell, Balsam Nature Trail, and Black Mountain Crest Trail.

Mt. Mitchell the highest peak east of the Mississippi is a crowning part of the Blue Ridge Parkway experience. The only motorized access to the mountain is from the Parkway, at Milepost 355.3, and the summit is only a 5.0 mile detour. Don’t miss it even on a dismal day. The 1,700 acre Mt. Mitchell State Park North Carolina’s first state park clings to the highest peak of the Black Mountains, a serrated string of summits that juts away from the Parkway and Blue Ridge to dominate the western skyline of North Carolina. Cut by landslides that appear as snow and ice covered chutes in winter, the mighty Blacks are frequently seen from the Parkway as a dark ridgecrest rising above the clouds. The range includes six of the ten highest peaks in eastern North America. This eTrail includes Air Jordan 18s three hike options, Mt. Mitchell Trail to Mt. Mitchell, Balsam Nature Trail, and Black Mountain Crest Trail.

The trailhead for the Mount Mitchell trail starts in the Black Mountain Campground, just off NC 80. There’s a small parking area, Jordan Retro 13 cross the bridge into the campground, then the first left.

The trail elevates from 2200′ to 6600′ over the course of 6 miles. It’s somewhat steep, narrow in many places, rocky and tangled with roots. I’ve hiked a lot of NC and I thought it was a pretty tough trail.

The views along the trail come mostly when the switchbacks cross under the power line to the top. There’s a glade about 2/3 the way up where you can see Clingman Peak to the west. Of course, the view from the observation deck is excellent on a clear day.

Going up took me 3:12, coming down 2:46. You still have to pick your way relatively carefully coming down. Those 6 hours on the mountain were all I wanted to do.

I will probably be back to do Deep Gap in a couple of weeks.

Beautiful views! There are several trails at this state park just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail that leads from the picnic area (Deep Gap trail)climbs to the second highest peak in NC (Mt. Craig). Don’t kid yourself, this trail is rough and very steep. I went to run, but found myself wishing I had on boots (I know the two guys I passed had to be laughing at the site of a runner on that trail, KOBE 9 but they were kind) It was 56 degrees in July and the weather turned even colder and rain came from nowhere. Be prepared.

Leave a Reply

 
 
You are visitor no. HTML Hit Counter