Magical mists

Another very short break in winter weather in the valley but fog – thick in places. Went to bed contemplating 3 hikes, and then with the morning weather – cloud cover and fog – decided a Pisgah Ramble was the right choice.

I left the West trailhead before 6:30am with 8 cars in the parking lot; when I returned at 11:30, the lot was full. My headlamp was on for less than 20 minutes as I exited the valley floor fog. My objective was to spend as much time on the north / northeast side away from the heavy traffic to the summit, so I went to the summit 2x from the backside after a pre-dawn trip up the main trail.

That first time atop was great looking to the east and the rising sun.

Looking back across the valley to the southwest, just butte tops above the fog.

As I came back down the south side on trail #3 perhaps the same deer as last time greeted me from the fog; he didn’t run but he didn’t stick around either.

One of the later times atop Pisgah, the bench and fog were just perfectly before Spencer Butte across the valley sticking out above the fog.

With all the mist and fog in the lower elevations water and sun seemed to paint pictures everywhere I looked.

The Route

Started at West TH and up main trail to summit. Then, down the south side to Trail 3 around to #4 and then up to the Summit; back down and up exactly the same, but then from the top down to #4 to the west and Tr #3 to #14 and back to the TH and car.

For the first 3 hours human and dog traffic was manageable but after that … too many people for sure, and so, so many leashless dogs that I started complimenting people who used leashes. It was irrational the number, size and types of dogs off leash with so much wildlife in that park.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra WP Boots
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Grit (New Pack)
• Upper Layers: 3 for first 1 hours – base-layer, midnight Calpine and Far Pointe fleece
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: 6:15 – 11:30
• Carbon ratio: 3.25 hours (1.5 hours driving: 4.75 hours hiking); YTD = 174 hours banked
• Miles hiked YTD: 1106
• Notes:
  • Photos: medium
  • Speed: moderate
  • Difficulty: easy

All Trail Data is different again – miles not material, but elevation gain for sure.