Great Balsam Range

A panorama from the slopes of Black Balsam Knob in western North Carolina, one of the southern sixers. Visible in the photo are three other sixers, including Sam Knob, on the far right, Mt. Hardy, partially enshrouded by clouds in the far background, and Chestnut Bald, one of the last humps on the left side of the photo. Also present is Little Sam Knob, just to the left of Sam Knob, which stands at 5,862 ft, just shy of the 6,000 ft level. This was a foggy, rainy day on some of the East's highest mountains. I climbed three southern sixers this day with my girlfriend, who then became my fiancee later this day. (March 15, 2009)