It was great to be back on the Mountains to Sea Trail once again! I had been sidelined for over a month due to a foot issue. Today I set out to continue on my quest to hike all of the MST. I realized quickly, that it doesn’t take long to get out of ‘trail shape’.
I chose this section in Segment 2 of the MST, because this is where I had ended previously with one of the 40 Hike Challenges (#4: Black Balsam Knob Road to Cherry Cove Overlook). I started at the Cherry Cove Overlook (BRP MP 415.7) heading east. I hiked out-and-back with my turnaround point at Pigeon Gap (BRP MP 412.5).
This portion of the MST parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway and my hike actually crossed the BRP several times. Even though the road is nearby, the trail is adequately designed so that road noise is minimal and it is easy to feel like you are alone. There are a few spots along the trail, especially to the south, which yield vistas of Looking Glass Rock and the Sliding Rock wilderness area. I am sure that these views will be even better during the fall and winter.
Immediately I became aware of how long it had been since I was last on the trail. The first 1/4 mile of the trail ascends quickly, several hundred feet, so I had to take several breaks to catch my wind.
This time of year (summer), the trail has a lot of growth with lush greenery and grass close to the trail. The grass was especially high on the side of the BRP, which did make for a small challenge to find the trailhead when crossing the road at various points. I am sure that this will not be an issue for long, because I met several trail volunteers that were busily working to clear overgrowth from the trails.
The trail is easily marked. There is some rock scrambling, but for the most part, the majority of the trail is an easy surface. There is a scenic lunch spot about 2 – 2.5 miles in with an unobstructed view of Looking Glass Rock.
The elevation change (a little over 1000 feet – on return trip) was challenging for me, because I had not been hiking in over a month. No matter what anyone tells you, it’s hard to get into ‘trail shape’ without actually going out and hiking.
I would like to give a shout out and thanks to the trail volunteers that were out working today. I passed 5 different volunteers who were hard at work on the trail. They were with the Carolina Mountain Club. If you are a hiker I strongly encourage you to support your local hiking clubs. In our area, I support the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail and the Carolina Mountain Club. I hope to do more than just financially support them in the future by volunteering with trail maintenance, etc. There is so much that goes into taking care of these trails that we love and sometimes take for granted. Please support your local hiking club!