Sam Knob via Flat Laurel Creek, Haywood County (10-7-14)
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The sun lights up the foliage surrounding the Flat Laurel Creek parking area...unfortunately, this would be just about all the sunshine I'd see for the hike...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
My (approximate) route...
With fall colors surrounding me I step off onto the Flat Laurel Creek Trail...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Within a few hundred yards I reached my first stream crossing of the day, across the pleasantly named Bubbling Spring Branch...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A glimpse through the trees treated me to the colors lining the cliffs above NC-215...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
With a dark wall of rhododendron on one side and colors to my left, this section of trail was beautiful in its contrast...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The colors were really nice across the valley on Fork Ridge...if only there was some sun to light them up!...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
After wandering through thick forest for 3/4 of a mile its always a bit strange to run into the concrete bridge beneath Wildcat Falls...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Wildcat Falls from the concrete bridge framed in autumn colors...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Every so often through the canopy above the slopes of Little Sam Knob were visible. Its distinctive spruce-fir crown contrasted sharply with the colorful hardwoods below...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A lone birch adds its distinctive yellow to the surroundings...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A blazing red maple with Mt. Hardy (6,110') looming beyond...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A mile and a half in the Flat Laurel Creek Trail serves up its first big visual treat...a fairly unobstructed 180-degree view of Fork Ridge across the valley with Mt. Hardy (6,110'), seen here, at its southern end...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The sweeping 180-degree panorama of Fork Ridge from the Flat Laurel Creek Trail...no sun, but still very, very nice...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
At times it almost seemed like the leaves were creating their own light...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
At this time of year wildflowers are far and few between but this one can still be found quite regularly...Striped Gentian...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The steep southern face of Sam Knob looms above me as the trail makes its turn to the east up the narrow Flat Laurel Creek Valley...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Climbing into the upper reaches of the Flat Laurel Creek Valley the forest gives way to more of a mixed shrubland...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
There are a number of side trails down to picturesque Flat Laurel Creek after about the 2-mile mark. Just downstream the creek falls some 800' in about 3/4 mile...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
As I was now above the 5,400' mark the colors started to look a bit past peak if anything. It's always amazing to me how fleeting the color season is in these high elevations...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Blue blazes mark my left turn onto the Sam Knob Trail...I'd immediately be crossing Flat Laurel Creek...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Flat Laurel Creek with Sam Knob rising to the far right. From the crossing at the lower end of the Sam Knob Trail...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A gradual climb and the open surrounding gives a good look at Little Sam Knob (5,862') back over my shoulder...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
With freshly fallen leaves crunching underfoot, I begin the climb through the shrub-forest beneath Sam Knob...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Typically this section of trail can be very wet, but the relative lack of rain this year meant I found it unusually dry...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Emerging from the trees onto the broad grassy lawn on the eastern flank of Sam Knob...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The entire upper end of the Flat Laurel Creek Valley can be seen to my east as I enter the large, grassy meadow beneath Sam Knob. The meadow is partly a man-made creation, mowing by the USFS keeps trees from creeping in, but it's still a wonderfully unique natural environment...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
For a shorter day hike to Sam Knob I'll often start at the Ivestor Gap Trailhead about a half mile from here just beyond the near ridge by the spruce forest...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The hike up the lower part of the summit is through a nice high elevation forest. On a cloudy day like this it was far too dark for pics so I had to stow my camera until I reached the short stairway which would take me onto the more open slopes above...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Reaching the upper slopes, the vegetation gets a lot lower and the first big views are offered soon thereafter of the upper Flat Laurel Creek Valley I had crossed earlier. From this vantage point Black Balsam Knob (6,214') is the broad peak to the left, Chestnut Bald (6,025') is pretty much center, and Mt. Hardy's dome (6,110') is to the right...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Looking down over the huge shrub-land that is the upper Flat Laurel Creek Valley...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Swinging around to the west side of the summit ridge I was treated to a clearer view of Mt. Hardy (to the right) with NC-215 winding below, where I started from...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Low shrubs press in around me as I make my way closer to the summit...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
With huckleberries blazing at my feet I look across the West Fork Pigeon River Gorge to Fork Ridge...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Increasing popularity has caused some serious erosion issues on Sam Knob, as it has on all the surrounding peaks...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Typically I head over to the north summit first, and today was no exception. Here I pass the huge quartz outcrop just below the top...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The boulder that marks the north summit of Sam Knob, 6,050'...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The view down the West Fork Pigeon River Gorge from the north summit of Sam Knob has to be one of my absolute favorites in the southern mountains...I could sit here for hours...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A bit zoomed in from the last shot. The winds were really whipping this afternoon and it was wonderful to watch the patches of sun as they quickly rolled across the valleys and hills...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The super-panorama looking north from the north summit of Sam Knob (6,050')...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Tearing myself away, I set my sights on the south summit, only a few hundred yards away...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
It almost seemed to be clearing to the south but, unfortunately, it would never manage to make it over Sam Knob...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
The south summit of Sam Knob (6,050')...Far below me Highway 215 winds its way up the gorge beneath Mt. Hardy (6,110')...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
A closer look down to Highway 215 with Mt. Hardy (6,110') looming above. My starting point for this hike, 3-miles away, was along the road just left of the cliffs that can be seen to the left of the hairpin...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
Mt. Hardy and the upper reaches of Fork Ridge from the south summit of Sam Knob (6,050')...
Pisgah National ForestNational ForestShining RockWildernessSouth Beyond 6000WaynesvilleBrevardBlue RidgehikeGreat Balsam RangePlott Balsam Rangesouthern AppalachiansAppalachian MountainsFlat Laurel Creek Trail
