Pisgah National Forest: Woody Ridge Trail to Celo Knob and Gibbs Mountains

With a day to myself, I decided to head into the Black Mountains of North Carolina to finish off the Black Mountain portion of my South Beyond 6,000 project. I had hiked the Black Mountain Crest Trail from Mount Mitchell to Celo Knob back in May. I was really tired by the time I reached Celo Knob though, and so I decided to save Gibbs Mountain for another day. That day was today.

I made the long drive from Greeneville through Mars Hill for the first time (looks like an interesting little town) and then along US-19 and  US-19E through Burnsville and over to the well-named Micaville.

I turned south onto NC-80, and then turned onto Whiteoak Road for the short drive to the trailhead for the Woody Ridge Trail. The area at the trailhead seems to be a popular area for free camping, as there were several tents visible in the woods just off the road. I packed my gear, put on my boots, and hit the trail. The trail started off following an old road through the first colors of the fall.

Despite the fact that it was a road, the climb was pretty steep. Eventually I reached an area of rock outcropping

and from here on, the trail left the road bed and climbed very steeply.

I had read about the steepness of the trail, and so I was prepared for the worst. The ascent turned out to not be as bad as I had envisioned though. Still it was a strenuous climb. I slowly made my way up from the deciduous forest up through tunnels of rhododendron

and into the mixed forest with lots of spruce and fir. As I climbed I made my way up into the clouds and the water that had condensed on the trees rained down on me as the breeze picked up. As I made my way higher up the trail leveled off a bit and soon I was in the high meadow near the junction with the Black Mountain Crest Trail.

I pulled the old GPS unit out of my pack at this point. I wanted to make sure I stood on the top of my intended peaks today. I fired up the GPS,

and then headed left onto the foggy BMCT.

I followed the BMCT until my GPS unit told me it did not make any sense to follow it any further. I found a faint path into the woods and started my short, but rough bushwhack to the summit of Gibbs Mountain. I stood on the summit for a bit and then bashed through more vegetation to make sure my high point was the actual summit. When I was convinced that it was, I headed back to it and took a "selfie" summit photo.

After my summit photo, I bashed back down through vegetation to the Black Mountain Crest Trail which in clearing skies offered great views to the west.

I made a right onto the trail

and followed it over to Horse Rock which is also known as Percy's Peak. From the official trail it was a short bushwhack up to the summit. There was even a really nice view of Celo Knob,

my next objective, from near the apex. After a short break there, I bushwhacked back to the BMCT
and turned right again for the last part of the day's peakbagging.

I had been up Celo Knob in May, but found information that there is a benchmark on the summit. Since I found no benchmark last time, I figured I would look again today. While I am sure I stood on the summit, I again found no benchmark. I took a photo there nonetheless

and then ate a snack before heading down to the Black Mountain Crest Trail

and over to the Woody Ridge Trail

for the steep decent back to the car. I actually feel that the decent was more difficult than the ascent on this steep and slippery trail. Anyway, after about an hour and a half of carefully making my way downhill I arrived back at the car ready for the drive home.