Black Mountain Trail (#127)
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Route map of the Black Mountain Trail as tracked with the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Black Mountain Trail as tracked with the Gaia GPS app...
Black Mountain Trailhead -- 2,150'
The Black Mountain Trailhead marks the southern end of the Black Mountain Trail. The busy parking area is located just south of the Pisgah Ranger Station and Visitor Center...
Black Mountain Trailhead -- 2,150'
Stepping out onto the Black Mountain Trail...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,170'
The trail starts out on a very gentle incline into the forest...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,200'
The stunning woodland surroundings at the lower end of the Black Mountain Trail...
Black Mountain/Thrift Cove Loop Trail Lower Junction -- 2,220'
Barely 1/3-mile in the Black Mountain Trail reaches the lower of two junctions it makes with the Thrift Cove Trail. To stay on the Black Mountain Trail bear left...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,270'
I was now entering the lower end of Thrift Cove, which I'd now be ascending over the next mile-and-a-half...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,360'
A sturdy bridge takes the trail over the small unnamed stream which drains Thrift Cove...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,320'
Thrift Cove is beautiful, with tall hardwoods piercing through a dense understory of rhododendron and other shrubs...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,360'
Looking down at the energetic little stream passed over by the bridge in the previous shot...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,400'
After the first crossing the grade begins to increase noticeably...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,450'
In places the trail makes swooping cuts along the hillside, evidence of the heavy bike traffic the path sees...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,500'
The trail passes over the unnamed stream draining Thrift Cove once again...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,600'
Rhododendron now all-but-continuously line the trail...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,550'
It doesn't take long for the climb to turn into a bit of a grind...particularly along this stretch where thick groves of rhododendron prevent any view of your forest surroundings...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,700'
The forest opens up a bit for a while...a pleasant change...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,650'
There's a forest out there but the rhodo continue to hide it...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,800'
A few young hemlocks start mixing in as the trail nears its upper junction with the Thrift Cove Trail...
Black Mountain/Thrift Cove Trail Upper Junction -- 2,820'
Just over a mile above the lower junction, the Black Mountain and Thrift Cove Trails arrive at their upper junction...the Black Mountain Trail continues uphill to the left...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,750'
A hazy morning sun pierces the thick canopy over Thrift Cove, as seen from the Black Mountain Trail...
Black Mountain/Thrift Cove Loop Trail Upper Junction -- 2,820'
The steepest grade yet lay ahead, as the upper junction with the Thrift Cove Trail is passed...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,850'
The trail is now seeking an escape from Thrift Cove, making a steep ascent up to the crest of the ridge just to the west...
Black Mountain Trail -- 2,900'
Thankfully a series of long switchbacks keeps the climb from getting too ridiculous...