Route Climbed: Mt Mitchell trail from Black Mt Camp ground Date Climbed: April 15 2005
Left Black Mountain Campground at 2:00pm reached summit at 4:50pm or so. Returned by same route by 7:30pm. Passed two hikers headed downward while I was heading up. Temp approx 60F at Black Mountain CG and probably high 40's at summit (snow nearly ankle deep on shaded parts of the trail near top.) Overall a fairly steep and rocky-rooty hike the entire way. Took the Higgins Bald option returning, path hard to follow just after the bald itself (heading downward) although it looks as though it's being worked on.
Note: there's a map at the Black Mountain Campground building which is misleading. It shows a retired entrance to the trail. Take the first left just after the bridge into the campground (which is right behind you if you're looking at the map board I'm referring to) and follow the white dots to the newer trail route.
Rode mountain bike from Montreat NC up old Mitchell Toll Road to summit on March 5, 2005. Took about 4 hours going up and 1.5 returning. Snow drifts about knee deep near tower, and gale force winds that day.
Route Climbed: bottom Date Climbed: September 2004
great day in sept for a hike. A very hot day at the bottom of mt. mitchell but very cold when I got to the summit and it felt great. I have a great web site with tons of pictures and also a short viedo of the summit. Please come visit. http://members.cox.net/mt.mitchell
Route Climbed: Drive-up Date Climbed: JUne 17, 1990
Though we drove up, we took a nice long hike from the summit and back for several hours. Only my second state highpoint. Great views and a nice serenade by a bagpiper at the top.
Route Climbed: Mt. Mitchell, Mountains-to-Sea Trail Date Climbed: December 17-18, 2005
With 40-pounds of gear on the weekend of an approaching cold-front, this route was suprisingly more difficult that I imagined. It took me nearly 5 hours to reach Commissory Ridge - where I left my gear to make the 1 - hour scramble to the top. I spent the night in the Commissory campsite, where my thermometer read 8 degrees Farenheit at sunrise. A cold front brought moderate snow to the middle of the mountains in the morning but the top of the trail was already covered with about 14 inches and there was ice all over the place. I only saw one other person on the mountain the whole weekend. I'll have pictures up on my blog as soon as I get them developed. www.whatdididotodeservethis.blogspot.com
A spectacular day with only 2 or 3 other people on the summit. Clear air gave fantastic views for miles, even though the leaves had pretty much dropped. The smell of the spruce/fir forest was very strong and with the terrain and deep blue sky, I felt almost like I was back out west.
Route Climbed: The big paved one Date Climbed: April, 03
Rather easy summit, but enjoyable non-the-less. Took the side trail down to the campground and back up again to tell myself I did something. Tell end of an epic adventure.
As it was a rainy miserable day, Bob Schultz and myself elected to do a short hike up to the summit, as opposed for a more ambitious one planned, or out and out driving to the top.
Route Climbed: Mt. Mitchell trail Date Climbed: August 1997
Long, many grueling switchbacks, but smooth, few rocks, no scrambling, few views of the Smokey’s until very top, highest peak in NC and East of the Mississippi
Tbacon251 - Jul 26, 2004 1:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2005
Route Climbed: Mount Mitchell Trail Date Climbed: July 2003
This is a wonderfull climb. At the top you can see (on a clear day) Clingmans Dome in the GSMNF. After a long climb to the top, you get to see all of the people who drove up. You are tired and they are not. Nice.
Haven't been there in some time but it is a beautiful area of the Appalachian mountains. My father's side of the family settled in this area early on and were among the searchers who found Dr. Mitchell's body in 1857.
Route Climbed: Traditional walk up. Date Climbed: Many times.
I live in NC, so I've been to the top of Mount Mitchell a number of times. Most people I know are usually socked in when they get to the peak, but I've been fortunate in that the weather has cooperated with clear skies almost every trip I've made.
Route Climbed: mt mitchell trail Date Climbed: 1996/may
Initially hiked trail from black mountain campground.Continued on the Black Mountain Crest Trail Hitting Mt Craig,Mt Tom and others over six thousand feet. Have also biked up the road to the summit of Mitchell numerous times starting from Marion .Excellent Downhill if you can avoid the slow moving cars.
z50 - Apr 15, 2005 11:43 pm
Route Climbed: Mt Mitchell trail from Black Mt Camp ground Date Climbed: April 15 2005Left Black Mountain Campground at 2:00pm reached summit at 4:50pm or so. Returned by same route by 7:30pm. Passed two hikers headed downward while I was heading up. Temp approx 60F at Black Mountain CG and probably high 40's at summit (snow nearly ankle deep on shaded parts of the trail near top.) Overall a fairly steep and rocky-rooty hike the entire way. Took the Higgins Bald option returning, path hard to follow just after the bald itself (heading downward) although it looks as though it's being worked on.
Note: there's a map at the Black Mountain Campground building which is misleading. It shows a retired entrance to the trail. Take the first left just after the bridge into the campground (which is right behind you if you're looking at the map board I'm referring to) and follow the white dots to the newer trail route.
Rode mountain bike from Montreat NC up old Mitchell Toll Road to summit on March 5, 2005. Took about 4 hours going up and 1.5 returning. Snow drifts about knee deep near tower, and gale force winds that day.
sayhelloforme - Mar 30, 2005 2:36 am
Route Climbed: bottom Date Climbed: September 2004great day in sept for a hike. A very hot day at the bottom of mt. mitchell but very cold when I got to the summit and it felt great. I have a great web site with tons of pictures and also a short viedo of the summit. Please come visit. http://members.cox.net/mt.mitchell
or www.members.cox.net/mt.mitchell
chilkoot - Feb 15, 2005 10:59 pm
Route Climbed: Drive-up Date Climbed: JUne 17, 1990Though we drove up, we took a nice long hike from the summit and back for several hours. Only my second state highpoint. Great views and a nice serenade by a bagpiper at the top.
dwhike - Feb 6, 2005 9:18 am
Date Climbed: April 2002A beautiful spring day. Surprised that there were not more people at the summit.
Steve Gruhn - Jan 26, 2005 11:05 pm
Route Climbed: From Parking Lot Date Climbed: March 1988Easy walk. Then decided to walk to Balsam Cone. Good to be back in the mountains.
tadpolerunning - Dec 20, 2004 5:58 pm
Route Climbed: Mt. Mitchell, Mountains-to-Sea Trail Date Climbed: December 17-18, 2005With 40-pounds of gear on the weekend of an approaching cold-front, this route was suprisingly more difficult that I imagined. It took me nearly 5 hours to reach Commissory Ridge - where I left my gear to make the 1 - hour scramble to the top. I spent the night in the Commissory campsite, where my thermometer read 8 degrees Farenheit at sunrise. A cold front brought moderate snow to the middle of the mountains in the morning but the top of the trail was already covered with about 14 inches and there was ice all over the place. I only saw one other person on the mountain the whole weekend. I'll have pictures up on my blog as soon as I get them developed. www.whatdididotodeservethis.blogspot.com
mrh - Dec 11, 2004 3:14 pm
Date Climbed: October 29, 2001A spectacular day with only 2 or 3 other people on the summit. Clear air gave fantastic views for miles, even though the leaves had pretty much dropped. The smell of the spruce/fir forest was very strong and with the terrain and deep blue sky, I felt almost like I was back out west.
jomal - Oct 29, 2004 3:52 am
Date Climbed: 198?I still remember my grandad putting me on his shoulders so I could be the tallest person east of the Mississippi.
REDHEAD1 - Oct 9, 2004 8:37 am
Route Climbed: MT MITCHELL TRAIL Date Climbed: OCT-3-04I LOVE IT THE TRAIL WAS CHALLENGE
climber404 - Oct 8, 2004 3:38 pm
Route Climbed: The big paved one Date Climbed: April, 03Rather easy summit, but enjoyable non-the-less. Took the side trail down to the campground and back up again to tell myself I did something. Tell end of an epic adventure.
jenniferdenoya - Oct 6, 2004 11:15 am
Date Climbed: November 9, 2003A perfect hike for a fall day...the leaves were very cooperative, even in early November!
woodstrider - Sep 9, 2004 3:00 pm
Date Climbed: 6-6-98As it was a rainy miserable day, Bob Schultz and myself elected to do a short hike up to the summit, as opposed for a more ambitious one planned, or out and out driving to the top.
dspal - Jul 31, 2004 3:55 pm
Route Climbed: Mt. Mitchell trail Date Climbed: August 1997Long, many grueling switchbacks, but smooth, few rocks, no scrambling, few views of the Smokey’s until very top, highest peak in NC and East of the Mississippi
Tbacon251 - Jul 26, 2004 1:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2005
Route Climbed: Mount Mitchell Trail Date Climbed: July 2003This is a wonderfull climb. At the top you can see (on a clear day) Clingmans Dome in the GSMNF. After a long climb to the top, you get to see all of the people who drove up. You are tired and they are not. Nice.
flechenbones - Jul 21, 2004 9:00 pm
Date Climbed: many timesHaven't been there in some time but it is a beautiful area of the Appalachian mountains. My father's side of the family settled in this area early on and were among the searchers who found Dr. Mitchell's body in 1857.
BobSmith - Apr 20, 2004 10:10 pm
Route Climbed: Traditional walk up. Date Climbed: Many times.I live in NC, so I've been to the top of Mount Mitchell a number of times. Most people I know are usually socked in when they get to the peak, but I've been fortunate in that the weather has cooperated with clear skies almost every trip I've made.
mposner - Feb 20, 2004 11:00 pm
Route Climbed: Mt Mitchell Trail Date Climbed: June 21, 2003A fun hike to the highest point east of the Mississippi.
Went with a bunch of friends. Nice weather at the top.
rleslie - Dec 22, 2003 8:27 pm
Route Climbed: Biked from Spartanburg Date Climbed: 1996Assault on Mt. Mitchell is a great bike race in May. It was sleeting the year I did it. The course is beautiful!
petersbike - Dec 13, 2003 2:29 pm
Route Climbed: mt mitchell trail Date Climbed: 1996/mayInitially hiked trail from black mountain campground.Continued on the Black Mountain Crest Trail Hitting Mt Craig,Mt Tom and others over six thousand feet. Have also biked up the road to the summit of Mitchell numerous times starting from Marion .Excellent Downhill if you can avoid the slow moving cars.
Akrajen - Oct 28, 2003 8:15 pm
Route Climbed: From Black Mountain Campground Date Climbed: August 1, 2003This was a quick ascent to train for trekking in Nepal. Heavy rains this year made the trail a continual running stream in some places.