BLUE RIDGE TRAVERSE
Originally we had planned to spend the weekend backpacking, but we wimped out because of the weather. Instead, we spent Saturday shopping for furniture. How did I get talked into that? We left Hickory late Saturday afternoon, after the rain stopped. From there, it was on to Marion and then to Curtis Creek Campground. Curtis Creek is a primitive, and free, car campground east of Asheville. We headed up the road, and were surprised at the number of other campers on a dreary Saturday. We found Myron and Dorcas at a campsite and joined them. The had arrived an hour or so before, and expected us to be there waiting for them. Well, sometimes shopping for furniture takes longer than you expect.
The tent pad was tiny, so we had to settle for a rough spot above the creek under dripping rhododendron. After a dinner of chili, we spent the evening around the campfire. On Sunday, it was eggs and sausage before everyone else arrived. Bob, Laura, and Joel found us, and we made our hiking plans. Initially I thought we’d hike up Snooks Nose Ridge, across Green Knob, and down to the Black Mountain Campground. It would make for a great hike, but would require a monster car shuttle. After much debate, we decided to just hike up to Green Knob and back.
We started on the trail just up from the campsite at 10:30. Initially we followed a path along a small stream. Blossoms from Tuliptrees covered the ground. After a few minutes though, we left the stream and began to climb on switchbacks. We reached the ridge, but the climb had only just begun. We struggled upwards through the heat and humidity, and reached an outcrop with nice views and blooming azalea. It was noon, but we were too hot to eat lunch. Instead we settled for a long break before continuing on.
We climbed over Laurel Knob, and continued on to the Parkway at an overlook. Christy, Saucony, and I waited here for everyone to regroup. Myron, Dorcas, and Izaak caught up to us, but Dorcas was having a tough time. She had blisters on both feet, and had stumbled into a briar patch as well. It appeared that she was slowly bleeding to death, so they decided to turn back. However, they offered to drive around and meet us at Black Mountain Campground. This was really generous of them, and Christy and I took them up on their offer. Bob & Laura declined though, but did decide to continue on to the firetower on Green Knob. With everyone but Joel accounted for (he was still somewhere on Snooks Nose Ridge) we split up. Christy, Saucony and I followed Bob & Laura up to the tower.
After a few hundred more feet of climbing we reached the summit. The view was spectacular. It was a clear day, and the jagged peaks of the Black Mountain Crest looked close enough to touch. The Craggies were easily seen, and Mt. Pisgah was just barely visible to the southwest. In the opposite direction we could identify Mackey Mountain, Woods Mountain, Table Rock, Hawksbill, Grandfather, and Roan. It had been an tough climb of 3200’ over 4.5 miles, but it was worth it.
Finally it was time for a late lunch. Afterwards, Bob & Laura headed back. We lingered though, knowing that it would take Myron and Dorcas awhile to hike back and then drive around to meet us. While we were sunbathing, a mountain biker pulled into the meadow below the tower. He had ridden up the forest road from the Black Mountain Campground, but he was planning to take the steep trail back down. This was crazy, and as it turned out, illegal, but there was no stopping him.
By 3pm it was time to head down. We followed the trail across the knob and arrived at a steep drop. The trail went over it, and seemed to plummet towards the river far below. We worked our way carefully around the rocks, and wondered how the biker had managed. I was afraid we’d find his mangled body halfway down, but we never did.
The hike out was pleasant. The views ahead to the Black Mountain peaks were even better than from the tower. The trail was lined with blooming trillium, and there wasn’t another soul around. We finished the 2200’ descent at 5, but Myron and Dorcas hadn’t arrived yet. We decided to wait for them by soaking our aching feet in the river. The cold water was soothing, and Myron and Dorcas arrived a few minutes later. From there it was on to Morganton and dinner at Judges, where we met back up with Bob, Laura, and Joel. It had a tough hike, but a great adventure. I hope to be doing more of this in the future – and less shopping for furniture.
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