Ivestor Gap -- 5,690'

The hand of man is all but invisible in this view west from Ivestor Gap which stretches across the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wilderness areas of Pisgah National Forest...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

It was my original intent to revisit the summit of Grassy Cove Top on this hike by following the Art Loeb Trail but the clouds were really starting to thicken up and I really wanted some decent shots from Shining Rock so I decided to bypass it via the Ivestor Gap Trail which would be a flatter and thus quicker route to take...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,680'

Although views like this would be few from the Ivestor Gap Trail north of Ivestor Gap, the level grade made me feel like I was on a freeway which was nice...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,680'

After 3-miles of open terrain I finally found myself heading into the woods...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,680'

I. LOVE. FALL.

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,650'

Thick rhododendron to the right and a steep, brush and tree-covered slope to the left would be a common scene along this stretch of trail...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,650'

When the sun did decide to shine the colors along this stretch of trail really popped but it wasn't shining all that often...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,650'

A Striped Maple adding a bit of yellow...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

Alternating between light and dark...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

Still quite a bit of green up here...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

I miss the colors of the maple from up north, they are far and few between down here...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

Some color above...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

The lack of views were bumming me out a bit after the visually spectacular start to the hike, I was starting to second guess my decision to bypass Grassy Cove Top...but I was making good time...

Ivestor Gap-Little East Fork Trail Junction -- 5,720'

Shortly before Shining Rock Gap the Little East Fork Trail arrives from below...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,740'

The closer I got to Shining Rock Gap, the thicker the surrounding woods became...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,750'

A passing opening in the clouds lights up the canopy above...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,780'

Nearing Shining Rock Gap, the spruce/fir forest started to become more prevalent...

Shining Rock Gap -- 5,800'

Shining Rock Gap, quite possibly the most confusing trail junction on the ridge. As this is a wilderness area there is no signage so if you arrive here without a map you're gonna have troubles. Even with a map, you may find yourself scratching your head. Here, the Ivestor Gap Trail, which I had been following arrives from the left while the Art Loeb Trail arrives from behind me here, doglegs left along the IGT breifly and continues north. The Old Butt Knob Trail heads straight ahead, that's where I was heading...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,820'

Starting the brief climb up Shining Rock on the Old Butt Knob Trail...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,840'

A short distance along the Old Butt Knob Trail you enter a thick, dark grove of fir and laurel...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,850'

About a quarter mile from Shining Rock Gap the trail enters a fairly open area bordered by a massive wall of white quartz...this is Shining Rock...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,850'

The open area beneath the quartz cliff hides the trail a bit, from this spot it heads uphill with the cliff to your left...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,950'

Bypassing the quartz overlook for the summit, some views open up behind me as I near the top...

Shining Rock Summit Spur -- 6,000'

The path to the summit area is absolutely choked with dense shrubs...

Shining Rock Summit -- 6,040'

Shining Rock summit...a dense heath bald crowned with a smattering of firs...

Shining Rock Summit -- 6,040'

A decently large campsite is located atop Shining Rock allowing for some limited views of the surroundings...

Old Butt Knob Trail -- 5,950'

After a very brief time at the summit it was time to get down to the ledges before the sun completely disappeared...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Arriving at the Shining Rock cliffs...not hard to see why this is one of my favorite spots in the NC mountains, is it?

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

I've climbed over a lot of rocks in my life but clamoring around on snow white boulders is always a unique experience...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Time to explore a bit more...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

A touch of fall adds even more unique colors to the surroundings...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Looking out over the Great Balsam Range from the cliffs of Shining Rock...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Shining Rock pano...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

The forested ridges of the Shining Rock and Middle Prong Wildernesses roll into the distance...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Like a giant petrified snow drift...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

The bright green of this tiny fir sprouting from the white cliffs was distractedly beautiful...

Shining Rock -- 5,900'

Alas, as always happens, it was time to go...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

For the most part the return hike was cloud-covered and rather dreary, but every so often the sun would break through and light up the trail...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

Despite the clouds, a maple does its best to shine over its surroundings...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

As I've said already, the Mountain Ash is one of my favorite autumn trees due to its showy clumps of red fruit. Though not the tastiest fruit it is edible so, in a pinch, you could have some with no worries. The fruit persists well into winter and thus serves as an important source of food for birds during the lean months...

Ivestor Gap -- 5,690'

Arriving back a a much drearier Ivestor Gap...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,700'

Rather than expend the effort of retracing my steps over Tennent Mountain and Black Balsam Knob I decided to follow the all-but-flat Ivestor Gap Trail back to the road...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,650'

A quick break in the clouds lights up the summit of Grassy Cove Top...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,800'

Today's colors were a nice taste but the main course, a couple weeks from now, is likely gonna be spectacular...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,800'

Yet another beautiful ash...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,760'

I knew I was getting close to the end when the twin summits of Sam Knob (6,050') showed themselves to my right...

Ivestor Gap Trail -- 5,780'

The Ivestor Gap Trailhead comes into view atop the ridge ahead...