Details
Date. April 28, 2012Route. Black Balsam Loop
Rating. 5 Stars out of 5
My Experience
We had planned this trip a couple of months prior, and hadn't planned on my wife having to travel to Minneapolis for a job interview at the last minute. So it was the dog and me heading to the Great Smokey Mountains.We got off around 5 on Friday and then promptly got to experience Nashville traffic in all it's glory. So we didn't roll into the campground until around Midnight. After the car ride, May had no desire to go to sleep and I had no desire to stumble around walking her at night so instead I got to be awoken every 15 minutes by a whining dog. Ah the joys of camping with a dog. She won't be invited again.
Since the Great Smokey Mountains is a national park and dogs aren't allowed on the trails, I drove to the Pisgah National Forest. Wow. Made me question moving back to Minneapolis when I could live in a town like Asheville and be an hour away from amazing camping. I hiked the trail, and was blown away. Much of the trail is treeless, with an amazing view. You start the trail on an old railbed, which was used by the lumber company that clearcut the forest that had been here. It comes to an intersection with a number of other trails where a couple groups of hikers had gathered to rest. Along the way there were a number of campsites that were mind blowing. They were along a ridge, with a view of the sunset at night, and the sunrise in the morning. I'm desperate to get back and go camping on the trail.
The dog loved the trail, even the time we got lost, although she was exhausted by the end and slept most of the night.
The dog finally relaxing.
One of the many "tunnels".
Shining Rock Wilderness.
Another "tunnel".
