Hiked up from the closed Black Mountain Campground. The hike started in the rain. The summit was cold, rainy, windy, and miserable. At least I had it all to myself. The weather had greatly improved by the time I made it back down to Black Mountain.
Koonsy - Dec 30, 2008 10:31 am Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2008
Yep
Drove up, walked up a paved path to the summit, took a photo of me with some clouds, drove down. The highlight was that it was very very windy up top.
nextyearranier - Nov 4, 2008 4:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Hazy day
Short walk from the parking lot. Made it to the summit though (this was before the closures)
madsjim - Oct 19, 2008 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2008
Blaah
It is no fun when you can visit a state highpoint and there is a souvenir shop to commemorate. A cloud covered the summit, so no views but the fall colors were very nice.
skinnywhitecomic - Sep 1, 2008 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
HP #7
WARNING! The summit is closed past the parking lot, due to he renovations for a new structure they're building at the top. It's closed to visitors until further notice.
Of course, that did not persuade me. I drove 800 miles to get there, and I wasn't going to leave without that summit.
Chinigo - Aug 19, 2008 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2003
HP #9 - from parking lot
I (with my wife (Tracy) and son (Alex), then almost 3 yrs old) did this as part of our second family HP trip.
Someday I'll come back and hike up this mountain for real!
brookeok - Aug 4, 2008 12:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2008
Highest in NC!
Wonderful climb from Black Mountain campground. I was amazed at the many ecosystems I encountered on the way up. The temperature dropped from 85 at the parking lot to 54 at the top. Great hike.
Brooke
kavak - Jul 3, 2008 10:54 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 1985
From parking area
Auto mountaineered into the clouds late in the afternoon with my son. It seemed like we were the only ones there. Of course there were no views.
Ilafan - Jun 25, 2008 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2008
With an assist from a construction worker...
Beautiful ride up, but the summit was closed. I asked a ranger if there was any way to get to the summit, & she rudely replied with a resounding NO. Undaunted, I spotted a worker and asked him the same question. He led me to a side trail and allowed me to summit (as long as I was quiet about it. So...shhhhhhh).
Tracy - Jun 6, 2008 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
18th state highpoint
I parked in the lower parking lot and took the Balsam Nature Trail until I was due east of the peak with the new observation tower being constructed. I then stealthily bushwacked due west (watch out for poison ivy). I either left my camera lens cap on top or I lost it bushwacking back down. Very few visitors today with beautiful weather. There were 4 to 5 state park workers on duty.
GrantMyers - May 30, 2008 11:16 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Stealth ascent on Mt. Mitchell
I was excited to get this peak even though we drove up, since it was my 50th ultra prominence peak. The trail was closed, all torn up & workers were busy on it. Took a nature trail that connects to the Sea to Summitts trail I think its called & the spur to the top was closed too. We weren't about to give up at this point so continued up peaking around bends in the trail, no workers or rangers. Arrived at a very torn up road/construction area that led to the top, no one working here today luckily. Quite an anticlimactic top; concrete forms & rebar lying all around. Not a wilderness experience & not much fun. At least its done.
The new tower under constuction appears to be going slowly & doesn't look to be finished anytime soon.
What a weird climate change. Hit the summit around noon with my wife, saw a couple other highpointers at the top, and it was 35 degrees and snowing on our hike up. Later, when we got to the bottom of the mountain, it was 67 degrees, and a beautiful sunny day. It was like a the clouds were on Mt Mitchell and nowhere else. Obviously, we couldn't see a single thing. Major bummer on the construction at the top. Couldn't find the survey marker either.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 1:06 am Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2006
Beautiful sunset
The drive up to the state park was not so much fun in my truck! Rockfall, slow speed and crazy turns, but the sunset was worth it. Camped the night there, was quite windy.
Climbed via the Mt Mitchell trail from Black Mountain Campground. However, the summit was blocked off due to construction of a new summit tower. I ducked under the gate and went up anyhow. It was really frustrating being up there and seeing the construction and junk laying at the top of the mountain. Otherwise, the hike up was good and fairly strenuous.
RyanTaro76 - Mar 5, 2008 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2006
Mountains to Sea Trail Highpoint
With an unnecessarily cumbersome pack a group of us summitted only to find the summit marker and observation turret was closed due to construction. But a great ridgeline with awesome views, Balsam and Fraser firs and a little west-coast feel to the place.
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:53 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2007
MT MITCHELL
ONLY DIFFICULTY WAS BUSHWACK UP TO WORKSITE FOR NEW OBSERVATION TOWER IN LIGHT RAIN SINCE ACCESS IS BLOCKED
johnmnichols - Dec 26, 2007 10:25 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2002
Mt Mitchell Challenge
Summited during the Mt Mitchell Challenge - a 40 mile trail running race that starts in Black Mountain, NC, climbs to the summit of Mitchell, and descends back to Black Mountain. Oh, and this is in February with cold, ice, snow, wind, etc.
Hotoven - Apr 16, 2009 10:17 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2008
Much Fun!Climbed in a day, but the top was closed so we creepily walked up at night when the park was closed. Worth the trouble! Great night view!
LMatallana - Apr 3, 2009 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2009
Amazing RaceJustin Boyle HP #5, Luis Matallana HP #6
2 of 6 HPs for the weekend.
Memorable quote as we were leaving, "Wait, is that the top?"
eric-griz - Apr 2, 2009 11:43 pm Date Climbed: Apr 2, 2009
Finally, the highest point in the east!Hiked up from the closed Black Mountain Campground. The hike started in the rain. The summit was cold, rainy, windy, and miserable. At least I had it all to myself. The weather had greatly improved by the time I made it back down to Black Mountain.
Koonsy - Dec 30, 2008 10:31 am Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2008
YepDrove up, walked up a paved path to the summit, took a photo of me with some clouds, drove down. The highlight was that it was very very windy up top.
nextyearranier - Nov 4, 2008 4:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2005
Hazy dayShort walk from the parking lot. Made it to the summit though (this was before the closures)
madsjim - Oct 19, 2008 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2008
BlaahIt is no fun when you can visit a state highpoint and there is a souvenir shop to commemorate. A cloud covered the summit, so no views but the fall colors were very nice.
skinnywhitecomic - Sep 1, 2008 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2008
HP #7WARNING! The summit is closed past the parking lot, due to he renovations for a new structure they're building at the top. It's closed to visitors until further notice.
Of course, that did not persuade me. I drove 800 miles to get there, and I wasn't going to leave without that summit.
Chinigo - Aug 19, 2008 1:55 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2003
HP #9 - from parking lotI (with my wife (Tracy) and son (Alex), then almost 3 yrs old) did this as part of our second family HP trip.
Someday I'll come back and hike up this mountain for real!
brookeok - Aug 4, 2008 12:45 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2008
Highest in NC!Wonderful climb from Black Mountain campground. I was amazed at the many ecosystems I encountered on the way up. The temperature dropped from 85 at the parking lot to 54 at the top. Great hike.
Brooke
MarkDidier - Jul 29, 2008 9:06 pm
From Parking AreaUneventful walk up from the parking lot.
kavak - Jul 3, 2008 10:54 am Date Climbed: Sep 25, 1985
From parking areaAuto mountaineered into the clouds late in the afternoon with my son. It seemed like we were the only ones there. Of course there were no views.
Ilafan - Jun 25, 2008 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2008
With an assist from a construction worker...Beautiful ride up, but the summit was closed. I asked a ranger if there was any way to get to the summit, & she rudely replied with a resounding NO. Undaunted, I spotted a worker and asked him the same question. He led me to a side trail and allowed me to summit (as long as I was quiet about it. So...shhhhhhh).
Tracy - Jun 6, 2008 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
18th state highpointI parked in the lower parking lot and took the Balsam Nature Trail until I was due east of the peak with the new observation tower being constructed. I then stealthily bushwacked due west (watch out for poison ivy). I either left my camera lens cap on top or I lost it bushwacking back down. Very few visitors today with beautiful weather. There were 4 to 5 state park workers on duty.
GrantMyers - May 30, 2008 11:16 am Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Stealth ascent on Mt. MitchellI was excited to get this peak even though we drove up, since it was my 50th ultra prominence peak. The trail was closed, all torn up & workers were busy on it. Took a nature trail that connects to the Sea to Summitts trail I think its called & the spur to the top was closed too. We weren't about to give up at this point so continued up peaking around bends in the trail, no workers or rangers. Arrived at a very torn up road/construction area that led to the top, no one working here today luckily. Quite an anticlimactic top; concrete forms & rebar lying all around. Not a wilderness experience & not much fun. At least its done.
The new tower under constuction appears to be going slowly & doesn't look to be finished anytime soon.
maddie77777 - Apr 21, 2008 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2007
What a weather changeWhat a weird climate change. Hit the summit around noon with my wife, saw a couple other highpointers at the top, and it was 35 degrees and snowing on our hike up. Later, when we got to the bottom of the mountain, it was 67 degrees, and a beautiful sunny day. It was like a the clouds were on Mt Mitchell and nowhere else. Obviously, we couldn't see a single thing. Major bummer on the construction at the top. Couldn't find the survey marker either.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 1:06 am Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2006
Beautiful sunsetThe drive up to the state park was not so much fun in my truck! Rockfall, slow speed and crazy turns, but the sunset was worth it. Camped the night there, was quite windy.
tioga - Apr 14, 2008 12:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2008
Construction?Climbed via the Mt Mitchell trail from Black Mountain Campground. However, the summit was blocked off due to construction of a new summit tower. I ducked under the gate and went up anyhow. It was really frustrating being up there and seeing the construction and junk laying at the top of the mountain. Otherwise, the hike up was good and fairly strenuous.
RyanTaro76 - Mar 5, 2008 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2006
Mountains to Sea Trail HighpointWith an unnecessarily cumbersome pack a group of us summitted only to find the summit marker and observation turret was closed due to construction. But a great ridgeline with awesome views, Balsam and Fraser firs and a little west-coast feel to the place.
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:53 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2007
MT MITCHELLONLY DIFFICULTY WAS BUSHWACK UP TO WORKSITE FOR NEW OBSERVATION TOWER IN LIGHT RAIN SINCE ACCESS IS BLOCKED
johnmnichols - Dec 26, 2007 10:25 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2002
Mt Mitchell ChallengeSummited during the Mt Mitchell Challenge - a 40 mile trail running race that starts in Black Mountain, NC, climbs to the summit of Mitchell, and descends back to Black Mountain. Oh, and this is in February with cold, ice, snow, wind, etc.