Please join NC High Peaks Trail Association for a hike in the recently reopened Mount Mitchell State Park on Friday, October 24. This strenuous, six-mile loop hike will include a segment of the Black Mountain Crest Trail with amazing views of the fall colors in all directions. 

But there are also steep sections with fixed ropes to aid hikers in traversing rocky areas, and these can be quite slick when wet, so reasonable agility is a must. The hike will take approximately five hours to complete. Hikers should be in good physical condition and have some experience with high altitude hiking.

We will meet in the Roses Shopping Center parking lot in Burnsville at 8:00 a.m., where a Yancey County Transit van will pick us up for the 90-minute ride to the State Park. A donation of $5 is requested for the ride. Alternatively, hikers can join the group at the lower summit parking lot near the picnic area at Mount Mitchell at 9:30 a.m. 

Bring water, lunch, snacks, rain gear if the forecast warrants and hiking poles if you use them. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome, but come prepared with water and poop bags. 

Following the hike, the van will pick us up at the lower summit parking lot for the ride back to Roses. For more information and to reserve a seat in the van, contact hike leader Jimmie Bowen at jimmie@nchighpeaks.org. 

As always, check the High Peaks website, www.nchighpeaks.org, or the club’s Facebook page for last-minute changes due to the weather.