Today's approx. 6 mile loop started across from the Pisgah Inn Country Store and ended at the Pisgah Inn parking area. It was my second visit to the 5721' summit of Mount Pisgah
This is where I ended my loop today at the eastern edge of the Pisgah Inn parking area
This is where my loop started..an obscure trail next to the BRP just across from the Pisgah Inn Country Store
Outbound Trail - This is the start of the trail just next to the Blue Ridge Parkway
Outbound Trail - Jewelweed
Outbound Trail - This is the outbound trail traveling just on the north side of the BRP and next to the campground
Outbound Trail - A nice northern hardwood forest large oaks and mixed spruce and fir
Outbound Trail - I'm pretty short, but this trail was for short people...I had to duck most of the way through the laurel tunnels.
Outbound Trail - A sign along the trail where a parking area spur comes in. Note the white rectangle blaze on the tree reminscient of another trail we all know and love.
Outbound Trail - A gorgeous spruce...or was it a fir? I can tell them apart when they're young but often confuse them when they mature.
Outbound Trail - Mountain Ash berries
Outbound Trail - A tiny mushroom
Outbound Trail - Ferns on one side, rhododendron on the other
Outbound Trail - A small stream - maybe the beginnings of Buck Spring?
Outbound Trail - Tiny sprouts
Outbound Trail - A puffball
Outbound Trail - A trail blaze on a stump
Outbound Trail - Some shelf polypores on a downed tree
Outbound Trail - Emerging from the first segment of the trail next to the BRP
Outbound Trail - A parking area
Outbound Trail - Convenient blazes on the asphault to point you to the trail continuation
Outbound Trail - Turn left here. :o)
Outbound Trail - ..and re-enter the trail here
Outbound Trail - No question where to go next.
Outbound Trail - Continuing towards the summit trail
Outbound Trail - A fallen limb
Outbound trail - Pink Turtlehead wildflowers
Outbound trail - A tiny shroom
Outbound trail - A closer shot
Outbound trail - More Jewelweed
Outbound trail - Coming close to the construction at the Buck Spring tunnel on the BRP
Outbound trail - The summit tower comes into view for the first time on the trail
Mount Pisgah summit trail/Outbound trail intersection - Here is where you meet up with the summit trail just a few feet from the summit parking area. Most people probably don't even notice this side trail.
The sign at the Mount Pisgah summit trail/Outbound trail intersection
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Looking back at the intersection and the parking area on the left.
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Starting the climb to the summit
Mount Pisgah summit trail - I'm guessing this is a type of Sunflower but I didn't get a good picture of the foliage to be sure. I don't think it's Coneflower, because the petals weren't drooping?
Mount Pisgah summit trail -
Mount Pisgah summit trail - View of Frying Pan tower from the trail
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Looking back towards the Pisgah Inn
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The tower comes into view
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Filmy Angelica
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Beginning a steeper climb after a left turn
Mount Pisgah summit trail - More possibly wide-leaved sunflower
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Starting the rocky climb portion
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Heart-leaved Astor
Mount Pisgah summit trail - A big shroom makes a nice bowl to catch water
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Steep and rocky
Mount Pisgah summit trail - A nice view to the southwest at a right turn in the trail
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Another shot of the Frying Pan Mountain tower
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Mountain Ash berries
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Whew! Made it to the top
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The deck at the summit
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The views from the summit
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The views of 6000' Cold Mountain from the summit.
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The view back towards the Pisgah Inn and campground from the summit
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The WLOS-TV tower
Mount Pisgah summit trail - The deck was built around the time of my first visit with my friend Ted in much younger days
Mount Pisgah summit trail - A view of somebody's estate from the summit
Mount Pisgah summit trail - Back at the parking lot..this is the sign at the base.
Shut-In Trail - I didn't take this trail today, but here is where George Vanderbilt came up to his hunting lodge from the Biltmore Estate 17 miles away
Views to the south from the Pisgah summit parking area
Pisgah summit parking area views to the south
A swallowtail
Buck Springs Gap overlook
View from the parking area
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Now I traveled this short 1 mile section of the MST back to the Inn.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Views to the south
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - The sight of Vanderbilt's massive hunting lodge
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - The buildings were destroyed when the National Park took over.
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Signage along the trail
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Views
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - How's that for a spot to sit awhile?
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - The root cellar of the old Buck Springs Lodge
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Dynamite southern views from the root cellar
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Back on the trail, you can barely see the numbered signs every few hundred feet that counted down to the Inn
Laurel Mountain Trail/MST intersection
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - This section of trail is heavily traveled and nicely maintained
Pilot Rock Trail/Mountains-to-Sea Trail intersection
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Mushroom
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - A mini mushroom
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - The ridge drops off steeply to the left of the trail
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - I believe that's Little Bald Mountain
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Views into the Big Creek drainage (not the Big Creek of Smokies fame)
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - More views
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Little Bald Mountain on the left
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - The Pisgah Inn staff's quarters
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Signs of impending Fall...I believe this is Columbine
Mountains-to-Sea Trail - Back at the parking area for the Inn, completing my 5+ mile loop
