US 276 Crossover to Mills River Valley Overlook, eastbound
October 26. My penultimate MST hike was 11.1 miles, completing the easternmost miles of Segment 2 and the westernmost miles of Segment 3, with the Pisgah Inn right in the middle!
After Friday’s hike in Segment 3, we stayed two nights at the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, where our church denomination was holding a missions conference.
“You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.”
Early the next morning we drove an hour up into the Pisgah National Forest, to the US-276 crossover, the starting point for my hike. It’s a little nippy at 8am!
Friday’s hike was at a lower elevation, but up here fall colors were in full display!
The husband-shuttle had some splendid views while birding at several spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The route traversed the hillside far below the Blue Ridge Parkway for several miles.
It really was a very special day to be out on the trail.
I had lots of thoughts about being so close to finishing this grand adventure.
One last rhododendron tunnel!
Time to start the ascent to the Pisgah Inn.
The hillside was steep, but there were helpful switchbacks.
At the top, a short grassy path leads to the Inn.
And here was Loren for a noontime rendezvous!
Lunch: Water and my go-to hiking food, Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars.
Refreshed, and back on the trail, at the intersection between Segments 2 and 3.
For a mile or so, the trail was very civilized.
But then some very steep and rocky ups and downs made the final three miles quite challenging!
The summit of Little Pisgah Mountain, which at 4412′ is also the highpoint of Henderson County.
Shortly after the intersection with NC-151, I missed the signpost showing where the MST re-entered the woods.
Backtracking is an anathema, so I bushwhacked over to the trail through the woods.
There she is! And only a mile to go at this point.
A very busy hawk-watch was underway at the Mills River Valley Overlook, so my arrival there was somewhat anti-climactic.
But here I am, at the end of my last big hike.
5.2 miles left!
