After finishing a day of work at the Biltmore Estates, I headed to the mountains for what would become a soul searching ride. Getting hung up in traffic slowed my trailhead arrival, and I rode out of the group camp sites, at 6:30pm, up Clawhammer to Black Mountain trail and across five summits. Then descended, in near dark, to the ranger station. I found out, upon exiting at the ranger station, that Black Mountain trail was closed due to deadfall.
I had been a little nervous about finishing in the dark. My route was lengthened when I missed a turn coming up Clawhammer, and almost bit off more than I could chew. I kept moving and stayed the course, making it out in a near dark evening. Jumped in the car and booked it back to K-town.
P.S. Just for the record, I was carrying a fully charged Nite Ride bike light, sweater, lighter, 100 oz. of water and a variety of other tools that would aid in either riding out in the dark or if I were lost waiting until morning. And I was never lost, I just did a much bigger loop than I intended.
1 comment:
Looking for the Maxwell Cove turn and ended up going to the top? If so, that was indeed much longer than you intended.
Interesting about the trail closure.
Peace
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