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{{Trail | <!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template. Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. | ||
| | -->{{Infobox Trail | ||
| Image Name = * | |||
| | | City = Asheville | ||
| | | State = North Carolina | ||
| Marking = Orange Triangle | |||
| | | Trail Use = {{Hike}} | ||
|Trail Use= | | Difficulty Rating = Hard | ||
| Hike Time = 8 | |||
|Difficulty Rating=Hard | | Distance = 12 | ||
|Hike Time=8 | | Elevation Gain = 2,400 | ||
| | | High Point = 6,648 | ||
| | | Latitude = 35.7673 | ||
| Longitude = -82.2645 | |||
|High Point=6 | | Medical = Asheville | ||
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}} | | KML = | ||
<!-- | | Updated KML = Yes | ||
| Detail route description = Yes | |||
| Photos = Yes | |||
| Winter photos = Yes | |||
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| Infobox data update = Yes | |||
| Trail pins = Yes | |||
| Other = | |||
| Comment = | |||
| Date reviewed = 10/24/2015 | |||
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== Trail Overview == | == Trail Overview == | ||
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. --> | <!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. --> | ||
One of the toughest trails in the Southeast. A rugged ridgeline hike that is a roller coaster of elevation changes which require lots of scrambling with hands, feet and sometimes ropes. The ridge is above 6000 feet in elevation the entire way except for the big drop at Deep Gap. Your reward is spectacular views the whole way with some of views (especially the northern part) being the best in all of North Carolina (IMHO). | One of the toughest trails in the Southeast. A rugged ridgeline hike that is a roller coaster of elevation changes which require lots of scrambling with hands, feet and sometimes ropes. The ridge is above 6000 feet in elevation the entire way except for the big drop at Deep Gap. Your reward is spectacular views the whole way with some of views (especially the northern part) being the best in all of North Carolina (IMHO). | ||
No matter how experienced a hiker you are, be prepared for a slower pace than what | No matter how experienced a hiker you are, be prepared for a slower pace than what your used to. | ||
== How to get there == | == How to get there == | ||
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. --> | <!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. --> | ||
==== | ====Northern Trailhead (Mount Mitchell State Park)==== | ||
Trailhead is at the bottom of the Mount Mitchell summit parking lot by the picnic area. (35.7667944123, -82.2649348322). It is called "Deep Gap Trail". | Trailhead is at the bottom of the Mount Mitchell summit parking lot by the picnic area. (35.7667944123, -82.2649348322). It is called "Deep Gap Trail". | ||
Nice large parking area. Note that access is during park hours only and if the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, you can't get to it. If you leave your car here overnight, you will need to notify a park ranger. | Nice large parking area. Note that access is during park hours only and if the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, you can't get to it. If you leave your car here overnight, you will need to notify a park ranger. | ||
==== | ====Southern Trailhead (Bowlens Creek)==== | ||
The Bowlens Creek trailhead is just south of Burnsville NC just off of Bolens Creek Road (1109). Parking at this trailhead is limited and a little bit confusing. | The Bowlens Creek trailhead is just south of Burnsville NC just off of Bolens Creek Road (1109). Parking at this trailhead is limited and a little bit confusing. | ||
Turn down Watershed Road from Bolens Creek Road and to your right is a small parking area (35.8764675286, -82.2837911661) that has room for a grand total of one car. If it's taken, there is a small cemetery just past that on Bolens Creek Road that has room to park (35.8776865469, -82.2862008209). You can just walk back to Watershed Road until you reach the trailhead. | Turn down Watershed Road from Bolens Creek Road and to your right is a small parking area (35.8764675286, -82.2837911661) that has room for a grand total of one car. If it's taken, there is a small cemetery just past that on Bolens Creek Road that has room to park (35.8776865469, -82.2862008209). You can just walk back to Watershed Road until you reach the trailhead. | ||
== | == Route Description== | ||
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? --> | |||
How much of the Black Mountain Crest Trail do you want to bite off? | |||
[[Two miles]] | |||
The [http://tehcc.org/hiking/challenges/south-beyond-6000/ South Beyond 6000] (SB6K) challenge program is summit the 40 highest peaks in the Southern United States. Peaks which can be claimed along this route are: | |||
* | * Mt. Craig (6647 feet) | ||
* | * Balsam Cone (6611 feet) | ||
* | * Potato Hill (6475 feet) | ||
* Winter Star Mountain (6212 feet) | |||
* Gibbs Mountain (6224 feet) | |||
* Celo Knob (6327 feet) | |||
The North Carolina Parks labels "Deep Gap Trail" for the 4.5 miles section of USFS Trail 179 over to the first permitted campground. [http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/pics/parkmap.pdf park map] | |||
The trail is blazed with orange triangles. | |||
{| class="wikitable" border="1" | {| class="wikitable" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Miles | !Miles | ||
!Elevation | |||
!Black Mountain Crest Trail | !Black Mountain Crest Trail | ||
|- | |- | ||
|0.0 | |0.0 | ||
| | |~6640 | ||
| | |Trailhead at Mt. Mitchell parking lot | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |||
| | |6647 | ||
| | |Mt. Craig | ||
| | |- | ||
| | | | ||
| | |6581 | ||
| | |||
|Big Tom | |Big Tom | ||
|- | |||
| | |||
|- | |6611 | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|Balsam Cone | |Balsam Cone | ||
|- | |||
|4.5 | |||
|- | |5700 | ||
|Deep Gap primative campground | |||
| | |- | ||
| | |||
|6212 | |||
| | |||
|Deep Gap | |||
|- | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|Winter Star Mountain | |Winter Star Mountain | ||
| | |- | ||
| | |7.5 | ||
| | | | ||
|Celo Knob | |||
| | |||
|} | |||
Access trails are [[Mount Mitchell Trail]] USFS 190 (if you want a greater challenge), USFS 178 Colbert Ridge (connecting Deep Gap with NC80), (?) USFS 177, Bowlens Creek Trail USFS 119 (Celo Knob to ?). | |||
== Typical Conditions == | == Typical Conditions == | ||
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees? --> | <!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees? --> | ||
A difficult | A difficult challenge up and down the peaks across many boulders. Take lots of water due to being more exposed to sun and wind. Recommendation is to start early - and get off the mountain with plenty of daylight left. | ||
==Fees, Permits, etc. == | ==Fees, Permits, etc. == | ||
Line 301: | Line 124: | ||
== Misc. Information == | == Misc. Information == | ||
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? --> | <!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? --> | ||
The Black Mountains were named due to the dark line of spruce and fir trees that cover the ridge. | |||
Excellent description and photo gallery of BMCT are on the [http://www.cnyhiking.com/BRP-BlackMtnCrestTrail.htm Central NY Hiking website]. | |||
Link to [https://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110811&ttype=recarea&recid=48518&actid=63&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110340000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=null&pname=National+Forests+in+North+Carolina+-+Black+Mountain+Crest+TR+179 Forest Service Trail 179] page. | |||
== Maps == | |||
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. --> | |||
<display_map type="terrain" width="auto" height="600" gkml="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Black_Mountain_Crest_Trail.kml"> | |||
35.7673, -82.2645~Southern trailhead at Mt. Mitchell SP~ ~MarkerA.png | |||
35.764982, -82.265196~Mt. Mitchell (6684 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.777540, -82.261934~Mt. Craig (6647 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.789768, -82.255844~Balsam Cone (6611 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.801990, -82.252450~Potato Hill (6475 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.817477, -82.249231~Winter Star Mountain (6212 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.841032, -82.247901~Gibbs Mountain (6224 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.852338, -82.248545~Celo Knob (6327 feet)~ ~MarkerG.png | |||
35.878109, -82.284164~Northern trailhead~ ~MarkerA.png | |||
</display_map> | |||
== Photos == | == Photos == | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension --> | <!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension --> | ||
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.--> | <!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.--> | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. --> | |||
[[Category:North Carolina]] [[Category:Hard]] [[Category:Overlook]] |