highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2010
Old Mitchell in a downpour
I hiked up the Old Mitchell Trail from near the restaurant in a complete downpour with another hiker from Boone, NC. We couldn't see anything from the top. The rain stopped by the time I got back down. My rain gear had kept the rain out, but held in the sweat, so I was still soaked. HP27
argothor - May 31, 2010 8:16 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2010
One tough hike
Drove up to the lower parking lot, walked up some steps to the upper parking lot, walked past the concession stand than made the final push up the paved walkway to the summit. Beautiful scenery even in the cloudy, gray day. Missed seeing the rhododendrons in bloom however.
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:18 am Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2010
Beautiful
Hiked up 2 miles from the ranger station on the old mitchell trail. Highest mountain east of the mississippi river and the best view I have seen so far.
Vasler - Mar 29, 2010 2:29 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2006
East of the mississip
Got to the top and there were at least 50 state troopers and Miss North Carolina to boot. That road really lets anyone up, but I also saw a family carry their grandfather up to the tower as part of his life's wish.
IHaveArrived - Jan 20, 2010 3:11 am Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2009
HP #17
I had planned on hiking the trail from the restaurant, but after high pointing in Georgia and South Carolina earlier in the day and too much sightseeing along the Bluegrass Highway, I once again ran out of time, so I highpointed from the parking lot. Mount Mitchell and the surrounding area of Asheville are beautiful areas. I'll definitely be back.
xDoogiex - Nov 24, 2009 7:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2009
HP #3
rained the whole time. one of maybe 2 people at the campground. only one on the trail. i learned never to wear jeans in the rain while mountaineering. small part of the trail looked like a lake that was over a foot deep. had to walk through plants and over a fallen tree. couldn't see 30 feet ahead of me on the summit. otherwise it was still a cool time.
zapacoman - Oct 25, 2009 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2009
5 Peak Day Hike
I hiked Mt. Mitchell along with Mt Craig, Big Tom, Balsams Cone, & Cattail Peak (from Black Mtn. Campground). It's a 17.5 mile loop, so leave at least 9.5 hours.
Take: -Mt. Mitchell Trail to Mt. Mitchell peak
-Deep Gap Trail to Cattail peak
-Double back to Big Tom Gap
-Right onto Buncombe Horse Trail
-Left back down Mt. Mitchell Trail
-$1 shower @ Black Mtn. Campground (you will stink by this point)
Have fun and leave me a reply if you take this route!
Pretty cloudy that morning but a great Highpoint and a neat place. The Blue Ridge pkwy is gorgeous. Mitchell and Clingman's Dome really are amazing for the East.
Patrick B - Jul 8, 2009 9:44 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2009
9th HP!
Hiked up from Black Mountain (?) campground with my family to the summit. The amount of tourists that had driven up annoyed me. urg. Great hike though.
peakrat76 - Jun 2, 2009 4:49 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
From Cattail Peak
My wife and I took the Deep Gap Trail out to Cattail and then came back and strolled to the summit unencumbered by our packs. The soggy day had cleared off to reveal nice summit vistas.
Redwic - May 27, 2009 2:14 am Date Climbed: May 23, 2009
Nice HP, Except For Fog & Rain...
Shortly after arriving at the peak, the fog and rain engulfed the entire area. No views... Undeterred by the weather, I continued on the Deep Gap Trail to Mount Craig and Big Tom, before the rain started hitting me sideways and the rocky terrain became dangerously slippery in places.
This was the third of six State Highpoints visited during the weekend, the third State Highpoint of the day, and State Highpoint #35 for me overall.
rangermatt - May 14, 2009 5:26 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2009
Nice Drive
Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville closed, so had to make a longer drive than ideal. Oh well. Cloudy and hazy, but nice views regardless.
Sarah Simon - May 12, 2009 7:19 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2009
With Craig, BigTom, Balsam & Cattail
We parked at the high lot and visited the summit of Mt. Mitchell briefly before turning around and enjoying the Black Mtn Crest via the Deep Gap trail, topping out on Mount Craig, Big Tom, Balsam Cone & Cattail Peak. We really, really lucked out on the weather: Sunny, blue sky, big puffy clouds, etc.
Partner: Husband.
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 Race
Justin 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?"
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.
highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2010
Old Mitchell in a downpourI hiked up the Old Mitchell Trail from near the restaurant in a complete downpour with another hiker from Boone, NC. We couldn't see anything from the top. The rain stopped by the time I got back down. My rain gear had kept the rain out, but held in the sweat, so I was still soaked. HP27
argothor - May 31, 2010 8:16 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2010
One tough hikeDrove up to the lower parking lot, walked up some steps to the upper parking lot, walked past the concession stand than made the final push up the paved walkway to the summit. Beautiful scenery even in the cloudy, gray day. Missed seeing the rhododendrons in bloom however.
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:18 am Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2010
BeautifulHiked up 2 miles from the ranger station on the old mitchell trail. Highest mountain east of the mississippi river and the best view I have seen so far.
Vasler - Mar 29, 2010 2:29 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2006
East of the mississipGot to the top and there were at least 50 state troopers and Miss North Carolina to boot. That road really lets anyone up, but I also saw a family carry their grandfather up to the tower as part of his life's wish.
IHaveArrived - Jan 20, 2010 3:11 am Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2009
HP #17I had planned on hiking the trail from the restaurant, but after high pointing in Georgia and South Carolina earlier in the day and too much sightseeing along the Bluegrass Highway, I once again ran out of time, so I highpointed from the parking lot. Mount Mitchell and the surrounding area of Asheville are beautiful areas. I'll definitely be back.
bkplemmons - Dec 28, 2009 2:19 am
Home Field AdvantageHike to the top at least once a year.
xDoogiex - Nov 24, 2009 7:26 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2009
HP #3rained the whole time. one of maybe 2 people at the campground. only one on the trail. i learned never to wear jeans in the rain while mountaineering. small part of the trail looked like a lake that was over a foot deep. had to walk through plants and over a fallen tree. couldn't see 30 feet ahead of me on the summit. otherwise it was still a cool time.
zapacoman - Oct 25, 2009 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Oct 23, 2009
5 Peak Day HikeI hiked Mt. Mitchell along with Mt Craig, Big Tom, Balsams Cone, & Cattail Peak (from Black Mtn. Campground). It's a 17.5 mile loop, so leave at least 9.5 hours.
Take: -Mt. Mitchell Trail to Mt. Mitchell peak
-Deep Gap Trail to Cattail peak
-Double back to Big Tom Gap
-Right onto Buncombe Horse Trail
-Left back down Mt. Mitchell Trail
-$1 shower @ Black Mtn. Campground (you will stink by this point)
Have fun and leave me a reply if you take this route!
EverydayExplorer - Sep 2, 2009 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2007
Good HikeIt is a really nice hike.
osatrik - Jul 19, 2009 9:43 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 1987
Family visit in 1987 - my 26th SHPNumber 26 of my 49 state high points. This was my daughter Vanessa's #25, and Hillary and Holly's #12.
jeffh25 - Jul 14, 2009 4:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2009
Hp # 12Pretty cloudy that morning but a great Highpoint and a neat place. The Blue Ridge pkwy is gorgeous. Mitchell and Clingman's Dome really are amazing for the East.
Patrick B - Jul 8, 2009 9:44 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2009
9th HP!Hiked up from Black Mountain (?) campground with my family to the summit. The amount of tourists that had driven up annoyed me. urg. Great hike though.
peakrat76 - Jun 2, 2009 4:49 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2009
From Cattail PeakMy wife and I took the Deep Gap Trail out to Cattail and then came back and strolled to the summit unencumbered by our packs. The soggy day had cleared off to reveal nice summit vistas.
Redwic - May 27, 2009 2:14 am Date Climbed: May 23, 2009
Nice HP, Except For Fog & Rain...Shortly after arriving at the peak, the fog and rain engulfed the entire area. No views... Undeterred by the weather, I continued on the Deep Gap Trail to Mount Craig and Big Tom, before the rain started hitting me sideways and the rocky terrain became dangerously slippery in places.
This was the third of six State Highpoints visited during the weekend, the third State Highpoint of the day, and State Highpoint #35 for me overall.
rangermatt - May 14, 2009 5:26 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2009
Nice DriveBlue Ridge Parkway from Asheville closed, so had to make a longer drive than ideal. Oh well. Cloudy and hazy, but nice views regardless.
Sarah Simon - May 12, 2009 7:19 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2009
With Craig, BigTom, Balsam & CattailWe parked at the high lot and visited the summit of Mt. Mitchell briefly before turning around and enjoying the Black Mtn Crest via the Deep Gap trail, topping out on Mount Craig, Big Tom, Balsam Cone & Cattail Peak. We really, really lucked out on the weather: Sunny, blue sky, big puffy clouds, etc.
Partner: Husband.
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.