North Carolina Trails Archives - Page 3 of 7

MST: Mt Mitchell to Buck Creek Gap

MST Trailhead just off the Mt Mitchell Summit

This hike has been on my to-do list since I began day-hiking the MST and the 40 Hike Challenge a year ago. I have heard a lot about the Old Mitchell Trail that extends down 6 miles from Mt Mitchell to the Black Mountain Campground. My father and uncle have shared with me their summer camp stories near the South Toe River and and their hikes on the momentous trail to the summit of Mitchell. But today would mark a milestone for me as I officially complete Segment 3 of the MST.

MST: Middle Prong Wilderness and Fork Ridge Meadows

Having the flexibility and willingness to take a small diversion can sometimes turn a good hike into a great hike. I was headed out to complete a small section of the Mountains to Sea Trail in Segment 2 but was fortunate to have the opportunity to explore Fork Ridge Meadows. My initial plan was to begin hiking westward at the MST trailhead off NC 215 and do an out and back to Buckeye Gap (near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rough Butt Bald Overlook – MP 427).

MST: Walker Knob Overlook to Mt Mitchell Summit

This was a hike I have been attempting to complete for some time now as I close in on finishing Segment 3 of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Weather and personal schedules have caused me to delay, but I was truly blessed today with clear skies and cool breezes as I climbed the 10 miles from Walker Knob Overlook to the summit of Mt Mitchell.

John Rock and the Waterfall Challenge

If the hiking “bug” has hit you then one thing you have to learn quickly is to be flexible. Work and life schedules along with the weather have made it difficult for me to get out on the trail. With my goal to complete the Mountains to Sea Trail ever present on my mind, I have to admit that I have had a bit of tunnel vision lately. The sections I need to complete on the MST are getting further from home and that in itself has been a challenge along with arranging shuttles and working around a few stormy weekends. However, there is always a trail around, and hikers must hike.

2022 Gathering of Friends of the MST

This past weekend I had the pleasure to attend my first Gathering of Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. It was a whirlwind of activities and a chance to finally meet so many people that I had only known previously through social media.