North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association & Friends of Mount Mitchell State Park

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a very challenging climb up the Mt. Mitchell Trail on Friday, Feb. 2.

This extremely strenuous outing is not for beginners - the all-day hike will cover 12 miles, including a climb of about 3,700 feet up a rugged track that may be icy, followed by a tough, possibly slippery descent back down the same trail.

The N.C. High Peaks Trail Association recently purchased, donated and installed two bear-proof steel food storage boxes at Commissary Ridge, a popular backcountry camping spot on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail not far from the Mt. Mitchell summit.

The roughly 3-foot-square, 330-pound boxes have bear-proof door latches that should enable campers to store food and other bear-attractive personal items locked away from the prying claws and powerful noses of the area’s black bears. 

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a hiking featuring views of a couple of remote waterfalls on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The 6.5-mile hike includes a climb of about 1,200 feet and is rated as moderate to strenuous.

The First Day Hike at Mt.

Fit, experienced hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association on Friday, Dec. 8 for a fun but challenging 8-mile hike to the historic Isom Mine below Celo Knob. This hike was postponed a week due to rain forecast for December 1.

The deep-shaft mica mine was worked steadily throughout much of the last century and is a notable landmark of the Black Mountains.

Pensacola resident and High Peaks founder John Whitehouse was recently honored with the Carolina Mountain Club’s Distinguished Service Award for his tireless commitment to maintaining and improving the area’s hiking trails.

“Few have done as much for our trails,” said longtime CMC member Rocko Smucker, who nominated Whitehouse for the award and made the presentation at the Asheville-based club’s annual dinner. “John is an outstanding leader and mentor. He gets people involved because he’s such a pleasure to be around.”

Join High Peaks in celebrating North Carolina’s “Great Trails State Day” on Saturday, Oct. 21 by hiking an Appalachian Trail section that offers tremendous views of fall foliage from a rocky promontory near the NC/TN state line.

Join High Peaks for a high-altitude hike in Madison County on Friday, Oct. 13 when the club tackles a section of the Appalachian Trail that crosses a spectacular high ridge known as Firescald. Hikers should be treated to a full display of fall colors and stunning long-range views in all directions.

NC High Peaks Trail Association will have its Annual Meeting on September 30 at the Mount Mitchell State Park Restaurant Lounge.  The meeting will start at 10 am.  All members and the public are invited.   Our guest speaker will be Kevin Cox who will talk about the history of Mount Mitchell and show some of his large collection of photos and artifacts he has collected over the years.  There will be a short social afterwards.

Join High Peaks for a special treat on Friday, September 22 when the club takes a leisurely stroll to spectacular Linville Falls, followed by lunch and a tasting at the Linville Falls Winery. 

The adventure will include a stop at Chestoa View overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 320.8, which offers tremendous views of Table Rock.