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

Experienced, fit hikers are invited to join High Peaks for an extremely strenuous adventure on the Black Mountain Crest Trail on Friday, Dec. 2.

This all-day hike of 9 miles will go up the Woody Ridge Trail, south along the Crest Trail over Winter Star Peak to Deep Gap and then back down the Colbert Ridge Trail. Only seasoned, tough hikers should try this, and they should be prepared for weather conditions that may include sub-zero windchills and icy trail conditions.

Join NC High Peaks for a moderate hike on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to a lovely spot with wonderful views of the Asheville watershed and surrounding mountains on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The outing is about two miles out-and-back, with about 350 feet of elevation change. But the trail has several sections of tricky, uneven rock steps that can be hazardous if wet and slippery, so hikers with balance problems should not participate. 

At our NC High Peaks Annual Meeting on October 15 we will be electing four new members to the Board of Directors.  We are very excited to nominate two former board members and two brand new members!  Please review their biographies and be prepared to vote for the candidate(s) of your choice.  

The public is invited to attend the NC High Peaks Trail Association Annual Meeting on Oct. 15 and to hear a talk about Lost Cove by the author of a book on the legendary Yancey County settlement.

Christy Smith, who teaches Appalachian Studies courses part-time at King University in Bristol, TN, will keynote the meeting at 10 a.m. at the Burnsville Town Center. Admission is free and open to anyone, although because of the continued risk of Covid infections, attendees are asked to wear masks.

Catch a glimpse of early fall colors by joining NC High Peaks as it leads two hikes on Friday, Oct. 7 – one long and hard and the other a bit easier. Both outings should offer stunning views.

No Experience Necessary: Trail Maintainers Go Out for Fun

By Mike Williams

High Peaks and CMC Trail Crew Member

 

Retired attorney Bob Widman didn’t know a hazel hoe from a Pulaski several years ago when he started volunteering as a part of a weekly trail maintenance crew that helps keep Western North Carolina’s hiking trails open.

Now he’s an old hand at building steps, clearing water drains, trimming back thick vegetation and helping clear fallen trees blocking the trail.

Join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a moderate 2-mile hike along the spine of the Black Mountains from Mt. Mitchell to Big Tom and return on Friday, Sept. 9.

The hike will offer stunning views and perhaps some early fall colors from the tallest mountain chain in the Eastern U.S. Although rated as moderate because there is little elevation change, the trail is rugged, with a steep stone staircase and several scrambles over steep rock faces that can be very slick if wet.