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’.
Continue reading “MST: Cherry Cove Overlook to Pigeon Gap”
Distance: 3.6 miles one way
Difficulty: Moderate with some wading
Elevation Change: gain = 811 ft; loss = 1090 ft
My Hike: 7.9 miles (round trip) Out-and-back
source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail
To date, this is my favorite hike of the MST 40 Hike Challenge. The location is very remote and only accessible via forest service roads (which are open to the public). However, the drive is worth it! The entire hike is filled with waterfalls, water crossings and plenty of outcroppings to climb and explore.
Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge: #9 Pineola Rd to Roseboro Rd”
Distance: 4.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Change: gain = 966 ft; loss = 1373 ft
My Hike: 7.2 miles (round trip) from Fork Ridge Trailhead to Clingman’s Dome
source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail
This is the first hike of the 40 Hike Challenge and the eastern terminus of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. This is my 10th hike of the series. I solo-hiked this trail, so it was an out-and-back starting at the Fork Ridge Trailhead. The trailhead has a very small parking lot on the shoulder of the Clingman’s Dome Access Road. The first thing I noticed when I got out of my vehicle . . . Silence . . .
Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge: #1 – The Great Smokies – Clingman’s Dome to Fork Ridge Trail”Distance: 6.8 miles one-way
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Change: gain = 1356 ft; loss = 2927 ft
My Hike: 6.8 Miles one-way (dropped car @ Cherry Cove Overlook)
source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail
I hiked this with my son, Noah and his friend. We tried to get out early on a Saturday morning, but a lot of other people had that same idea. The Black Balsam Knob hike provides outstanding views and very unique terrain.
Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge: #4 – Graveyard Ridge and Skinny Dip Falls – Black Balsam Knob Road to Cherry Cove Overlook”
Distance: 4.1 mile one way
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Change: gain = 870 ft; loss = 1075 ft
My Hike: 4.1 miles one way (picked up at Cascades Rec Area)
source: Great Day Hikes of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail
I started this hike at the Park Vista Inn & Restaurant parking lot in the Benge Gap area, thus heading west instead of east. This was a very pleasant hike and the elevation change was not difficult. We had just experienced a lot of rain, so the plant growth was really starting to take off.
Continue reading “40 Hike Challenge: #11 – The Blue Ridge Escarpment – Cascades Recreation Area to Benge Gap”