Archive for the ‘Mt. Mitchell’ Category

2010 Best of the Outdoors

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
The votes are in! Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has recently published the 2010 Best of the Outdoors in the January issue of its online magazine. The article highlights the results of their readers choice awards in which readers pick their favorites of the Blue Ridge region.

Exh year, readers have the opportunity to vote on their favorites among a variety of outdoor activities in the Blue Ridge, including their favorite trails, waterfalls, running and cycling events, skiing, adventure racing, climbing and paddling locations, among several other categories.

Some of the highlights of this year's poll include the top trails in the Blue Ridge region:

1. Art Loeb Trail
2. Black Mountain Crest/Deep Gap Trail
3. Tuscarora Trail
4. Foothills Trail
5. Red Creek Trail-Dolly Sods
6. Linville River Trail

The Great Smoky Mountains made it into the voting in only two categories.

* The Smokies were rated as the 4th best section of the Appalachian Trail. The Dragon's Tooth in Virginia ranked first, with Mt. Rogers and Roan Mountain finishing second and third, respectively.

* Mt. LeConte was voted as having the sixth best mountain summit in the Blue Ridge region. Roan Mountain was number one. Rounding out two through five were Old Rag, Max Patch, Mt. Mitchell and Cheoah Bald.

You can check-out all of the winners of every category by clicking here. Hey, if you don't like some of these results, make sure you vote next year!


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Posted in 2010 Best of the Outdoors, Art Loeb Trail, Black Mountain Crest, Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Outdoors, Cheoah Bald, Deep Gap Trail, Foothills Trail, Linville River Trail, Max Patch, Mt. Mitchell, Old Rag | Comments Off

Grandfather Mountain, Mt. Mitchell closed indefinitely

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that Grandfather Mountain, Mt. Mitchell and some other high-elevation state park areas in western North Carolina have been closed indefinitely due to severe winter weather.

Grandfather Mountain State Park, with its 11-mile trail network, has been closed indefinitely due to heavy snow and ice accumulation and downed trees, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Additionally, Mount Mitchell State Park and some other high-elevation state park areas in western North Carolina are closed due to ice on roadways. Trails and facilities can be closed on short notice due to rapidly changing weather conditions, and visitors should check the state parks system’s website for current conditions.

Deep drifts, trees felled by accumulated ice and wind chills below zero have combined to make access onto Grandfather Mountain extremely difficult and dangerous. Trailheads on N.C. 105 and along the Blue Ridge Parkway are inaccessible to vehicles as well. The region experienced snowfall of up to two feet Dec. 18-20 followed by a severe ice storm on Dec. 24. Additional snow has fallen sporadically in the past week.

State parks system rangers and staff of the private Grandfather Mountain attraction will be working to clear trails of downed trees in the coming weeks.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Rental Cabins Cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies!

Posted in Grandfather Mountain, Mt. Mitchell, State Park, blue ridge parkway, closures, snow | Comments Off