SLCompulsion - Jul 24, 2007 10:13 am - Hasn't voted
Thanks
Great read. I grew up in Bristol, VA and did lots of backpacking in the area. Nothing like getting turned around in those steep and deep mountains amongst rhododendron thickets nor with the feeling of breaking out onto a rock with a sweeping view.
thank you, Bob, for this post...and for sharing this mountain area with others. I am glad to see others made aware of such a beautiful place. The forestry service has been opening the Ridge Crest Trail this winter, and hikers should find it a bit more obvious than it has been in years.
I live near the base of Winter Star, and walk (mostly in the winter) the Ridge Crest Trail about every couple of weeks. Yesterday, I walked an hour over to the Woody ridge trail, to the Ridge Crest, over to the the end (where the logging road comes up from Bowlen's Creek), turned around and went to Mitchell, back-tracked to Deep Gap and returned home via the Colbert's Ridge Trail Trail.
Updates to the trail this winter: Colbert's Ridge Trail is recently blazed (very frequently, yellow paint). There is a 8' path cut across the Ridge from the top of Winter Star to the Bowlen's Creek drop (it appears the work will continue). Woody Ridge (Horse Rock) has new yellow blazing (but not as frequent as some may like).
SLCompulsion - Jul 24, 2007 10:13 am - Hasn't voted
ThanksGreat read. I grew up in Bristol, VA and did lots of backpacking in the area. Nothing like getting turned around in those steep and deep mountains amongst rhododendron thickets nor with the feeling of breaking out onto a rock with a sweeping view.
BobSmith - Jul 24, 2007 5:00 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ThanksGlad you liked the trip report!
The Blacks are just about my favorite place in western NC, but the trails there always trip me up or wear me out.
e-doc - Nov 13, 2007 9:52 am - Hasn't voted
lengthI think the trail is 3.3 miles from parking to summit.
BobSmith - Nov 13, 2007 3:59 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: lengthThat seems far closer than the 2.2 listed on the topo maps.
cgwalters - Apr 12, 2009 12:29 pm - Hasn't voted
thank youthank you, Bob, for this post...and for sharing this mountain area with others. I am glad to see others made aware of such a beautiful place. The forestry service has been opening the Ridge Crest Trail this winter, and hikers should find it a bit more obvious than it has been in years.
I live near the base of Winter Star, and walk (mostly in the winter) the Ridge Crest Trail about every couple of weeks. Yesterday, I walked an hour over to the Woody ridge trail, to the Ridge Crest, over to the the end (where the logging road comes up from Bowlen's Creek), turned around and went to Mitchell, back-tracked to Deep Gap and returned home via the Colbert's Ridge Trail Trail.
Updates to the trail this winter: Colbert's Ridge Trail is recently blazed (very frequently, yellow paint). There is a 8' path cut across the Ridge from the top of Winter Star to the Bowlen's Creek drop (it appears the work will continue). Woody Ridge (Horse Rock) has new yellow blazing (but not as frequent as some may like).
...good hiking to you this year...
CG
BobSmith - Apr 14, 2009 11:25 am - Hasn't voted
Re: thank youThanks for the updates! I love that area. Wish I could afford to live there full time!