hightinerary - May 12, 2020 11:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2021
The Pig Idea
I hiked up Big Mountain via the Tuscarora Trail from Cowans Gap State Park on 4 May 2020 , and noticed Hogback Mountain from the summit. I came back and climbed Hogback Mountain on 7 May 2020. That experience gave me the idea to combine the two mountains. So, I returned three days later and hiked up Hogback Mountain, and then continued to the summit of Big Mountain. I liked the route, so I made an SP page for it. Since then, I have climbed it on 28 September 2020, when I noticed that the scenic stream along the route had dried up; and on 14 and 19 April 2021, when I found that long sections of trail that parallel the stream were flooded (with only a few inches of water at most, though).
Update: My most recent ascent of this route was on 12 August 2021. I do not recommend doing it around this time of year. The first 15-20 minutes of the trail (on the east side of Hogback Mountain) are overgrown, often with thorny vegetation. In addition, there are summer's heat, humidity and bugs to contend with.
hightinerary - May 12, 2020 11:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2021
The Pig IdeaI hiked up Big Mountain via the Tuscarora Trail from Cowans Gap State Park on 4 May 2020 , and noticed Hogback Mountain from the summit. I came back and climbed Hogback Mountain on 7 May 2020. That experience gave me the idea to combine the two mountains. So, I returned three days later and hiked up Hogback Mountain, and then continued to the summit of Big Mountain. I liked the route, so I made an SP page for it. Since then, I have climbed it on 28 September 2020, when I noticed that the scenic stream along the route had dried up; and on 14 and 19 April 2021, when I found that long sections of trail that parallel the stream were flooded (with only a few inches of water at most, though).
Update: My most recent ascent of this route was on 12 August 2021. I do not recommend doing it around this time of year. The first 15-20 minutes of the trail (on the east side of Hogback Mountain) are overgrown, often with thorny vegetation. In addition, there are summer's heat, humidity and bugs to contend with.