end of the fall

Late fall in Pisgah is one of my favorite times. The leaves are down and the views are open and the weather is as unpredictable as it gets.

Last Tuesday I took Duma out for a after work run to celebrate the first winter weather day of the year. Out and back on Black to the top of Hikcory Knob seemed like just enough.





Wednesday was notable because I actually made Wednesday Night Drinking Club for the first time in Months.



Saturday I was up before the sun and Duma and I headed to Montreat for a good hike. I haven't explored Montreat much and have been wanting to go up to the top of Greybeard for awhile now and Saturday was the day. I'd wanted to be on the trail before sunrise but a last minute decision to hike instead of run slowed me down and we weren't started until just after sunrise.

Within ten minutes of being on the trail the sun broke over top of the nearest ridge and from then on we were hiking in splendid sunshine with plenty of warmth.



We made good time on the way up and were at the top in well under two hours. Fantastic views abounded and we took a minute to enjoy them.



At the intersection with the West Ridge Trail there was a gate and a lot of signs warning about the trail ahead.





We had planned on going out and back on Greybeard but with an invitation like that we just couldn't pass it up so the West Ridge it was. This stretch of trail is also known as Seven Sisters and immediately became a favorite of mine. It is a ridge top run that at times gets razor sharp and has plenty of rock shoots to keep it interesting.

It alternated between buff dirt ribbons of trail and twisted rocky bits of shoots and ladders like hiking.







And matter where you looked glorious views abounded.

Real good stuff! We'll be back!

I was home by noon and was back out to the woods to meet Dennis for a Pisgah ride just a few hours later. We started out by taking a gated but unsigned and unmapped road that I have always wondered about. It wasn't very exciting but I did finally learn where this sign leads:



From there it was on up to the top of Black.







Black back down was a blast. Super fast descending. We got done just as the sun was setting and I was done for the day.

Sunday morning it was right back to Black but this time straight up to Pressley Gap for a little trail work. I did my part to ensure that really big rocks stay a part of this trail.





Hey look it's Nick! Hi Nick!