November 6, 2015 “There are trees here that stood before our forefathers ever came to this continent; there are brooks that still run as clear as on the day the first pioneer cupped his hand and drank from them. In this Park, we shall conserve these trees, the pine, the red-bud, the dogwood, the azalea, … More Alum Cave Trail
October 30, 2015 “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought. This is what it is to be happy.” -Sylvia Plath Ramona and I had a great day out in Pisgah National Forest. The autumn air hung sweetly upon the forest floor as the smell of spruce fir … More Chestnut Bald
September 7, 2015 Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea; Over snow by winter sown, And through the merry flowers of June, Over grass and over stone, And under mountains in the moon. -J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the … More Mt. Hallback, Mt. Gibbes
September 4, 2015 This week I presented a hiking plan to my friend Perry: hike two peaks over 6000’ as part of the South Beyond 6000 challenge on our day off. Looking at the Pisgah Ranger District Map, the proposed route seemed very easy. It should take us on a short bushwhack from Beartrail Ridge Parking … More Reinhart Knob, Richland Balsam
August 2, 2015 Sometimes you stumble upon a hike that no one knows about. One that is perfect with beautiful trail conditions, foliage, views, great weather and strenuous climbs. One that where you encounter no tourists and no crowds. This is that hike. Gracie and I turned from the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) onto NC-128, … More Blackstock Knob
July 25, 2015 Whether I’m hiking for a week of only a few hours; afterwards I feel at ease with the world. The unconscious tension that builds up over the work week seemingly disappears. My wife will often look at me when I return and remark that I look very much at peace. I’ve never … More Craggy Dome
May 25, 2015 This is an excellent 12 mile loop: East Fork Trailhead to Big East Fork Trail to Greasy Cove Trail to the Art Loeb to Shining Creek Trail. This isn’t exactly the easiest way to summit Grassy Cove Top, but I did see a wonderful section of the Shining Rock Wilderness and Pisgah … More Grassy Cove Top
May 16-17, 2015 I woke up at 6:30 in the morning at Deep Gap. I could see the sunlight starting to peer inside my tent. I unzipped my warm sleeping bag, leaving its confines to walk to the cliffside. To the east, over Linville Gorge, the dawn’s sunlight burst forth, its ringlets turning the sky … More Winter Star Mountain, Mt. Craig, Mt. Mitchell
April 11, 2015 For years there has been talk of a monster haunting the woods of the Plott Balsams. According to Mountain Ghost Stories*: “As the Abominable Snowman haunts the Himalayas, Boojum hides in the woods… at the edge of the Plott Balsams in Haywood County. Boojum was said to be larger than a bear, … More Waterrock Knob, Lyn Lowry, Plott Balsam, Yellow Face
March 21, 2015 Sam Knob is a beautiful mountain in the Pisgah Ranger District, just outside of the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness. Ramona, her friend and I started hiking at the trail head for Flat Laurel Creek trail off of Hwy. 215. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. The trail meanders very casually over … More Sam Knob
sweetwilder 