MST Hike 3

West of Asheville the Blue Ridge Parkway climbs from an elevation on 2100 feet at the French Broad River overlook to nearly 5000 feet at the Pisgah Inn.  The Mountains to the Sea Trail (MST) follows the Parkway in both miles and elevation.  Our most recent hike took us from Stony Bald overlook - elevation 3750 - to Pigeon Gap - elevation 4520.  Over the 13.8 miles we climbed over 3000 feet.  Our highest point on the trail was Little Pisgah Mountain at 5285 feet.

The first half of the hike took us over Little Pisgah to the Buck Springs Lodge site and the Pisgah Inn.  Buck Springs Lodge was a hunting lodge built by George Vanderbilt in 1896 (one year after the Biltmore House was opened).  Lying some 20 miles west of the Biltmore House, it was reached by the Shut-in Trail that connected the estate to the lodge.  Today, the MST follows part of this historic trail, and the 18 mile section is still called the Shut-in Trail.

There is a sign at the site of the Buck Springs Lodge, but the buildings are long gone.  The stonework of a root cellar remains.  The Pisgah Inn has an interpretive trail that connects the lodge site with the inn.  The Pisgah Inn is a popular restaurant and motel on the Parkway near Mt. Pisgah.  Most people recognize Mt. Pisgah by the WLOS TV transmitting tower on the summit.  A spur trail off the MST reaches the summit.

After the Pisgah Inn the MST follows the Buck Springs trail to Highway 276 and Pigeon Gap.  This trail has over a dozen water crossings as it winds in and out of several mountain coves.  The sound of rushing water is heard frequently; and the afternoon we hiked we also had a couple hours of rain.  It was the most scenic part of the hike, and despite the rain and occasional lightning and thunder, an enjoyable six mile ramble.  The last part of the hike was a 500 climb to Pigeon Gap and our car.

Some views along the Buck Springs TRail (MST)

With this section of the MST we have completed 35 of the 130 miles of the MST Challenge.  As we push farther west, our drive time to the trailhead will increase, but the views and the scenery is well worth the drive.

Next week wil be a break from the MST.  A small group will be hiking the Black Mountain Crest trail from Bowlens Creek to Mt. Mitchell.  It is a challenging hike that is lovingly referred to as the "death march."