Turkeypen Gap/Black Mountain Trail Junction -- 4,120'

The Turkeypen Gap Trail welcome sign at its western terminus...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 4,070'

Departing the Black Mountain Trail, it is immediately apparent that this is a trail which sees far less foot (and/or bike) traffic...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 4,000'

Massive trees and a sea of ferns at the start of the Turkeypen Gap Trail will no-doubt make for a positive first impression...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,950'

The route is now on a moderately-steep downhill grade as the trail descends the crest of Black Mountains eastern ridge...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,800'

The descent gets serious as the trail gets closer to Muleshoe Gap...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,900'

It's always impressed how tall the trees can sometimes manage to grow, despite being located on these high, exposed ridgelines...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,750'

Flattening out a bit now...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,700'

Then one final drop to the gap...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Muleshoe Gap -- 3,660'

The Turkeypen Gap Trail as it crosses the thickly wooded Muleshoe Gap...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,550'

Beyond Muleshoe Gap the trail continues on its steady descent as it rounds the north side of Horse Knob...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,400'

Continuing with the steady descent, alternating between hardwood forest and laurel groves...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,450'

Don't expect great diversity in the scenery along this trail....it's a wooded walk the entire way...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,300'

The Turkeypen Gap Trail as it nears Deep Gap from the west...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,350'

Two neighboring laurels create a single delicate arch over the trail...no doubt this is a pretty spot during the spring bloom...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Deep Gap -- 3,250'

Deep Gap is most noticeable as the spot where the ridge widens again...that, and the forest here is incredibly beautiful...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,260'

Departing east from Deep Gap...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,280'

For the next 2/3-mile the trail will be bouncing along the ridge crest between Deep Gap and Poplar Lick Gap. This undulating terrain is what eventually makes this trail so tiresome, as the climbing is never really over...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,300'

The foliage frequently presses in along this seldom-traveled section of trail...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,250'

After crossing the high point between the gaps, the trail once again begins a moderate descent down an increasingly narrow section of the ridge...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,200'

Straight down the ridge...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,150'

Looking down into Poplar Lick Gap, as the trail drops into it from the west...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ Poplar Lick Gap -- 3,100'

Poplar Lick Gap is a bit ugly, with fallen trees and disheveled rhododendron everywhere...

Turkeypen Gap Trail -- 3,150'

Now begins another significant climb...this time up the west side of McCall Mountain...

Turkeypen Gap Trail @ McCall Mountain -- 3,320'

As with every summit the trail crosses along Turkeypen Ridge...McCall Mountain sports absolutely no view as a reward for climbing it...