Thompson Creek-Slate Rock-Laurel Mountain, FITNESS HIKE, 11mi, 2,800ft

Lollypop loop with a short stem. Trailhead is at the Buck Springs parking lot, aka Mt. Pisgah lower level. Start on the Buck Springs Trail past the Lodge ruins towards Pisgah Inn and then switch to the Pilot Rock trail, with some good views west, summit Little Bald, descend Thompson Creek Trail to Yellow Gap Road. Next, the Forked Ridge ridge line to the Slate Rock "Amphitheater" (see photo) where we'll have lunch. Then Pilot Cove Loop, Pilot Cove, Slate Rock, and Laurel Mountain Trails back to the Buck Springs Lodge Trail. There will be a few stream crossings and a few steep sections. Rangers advise that these trails are cleared. Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-may-24-2025-f2c3b25

CARPOOL: meet at West Asheville Cracker Barrel, 5 Crowel Road at 8:45am. Please let the hike leader know if you intend to meet there; otherwise we assume you will meet us at the trailhead.

Dogs welcome, but bring a leash.

If you sign up and change your mind, change your RSVP to "not attending" to free up your reservation.

Any rain cancellation will be made by 7:30am.

PACE: All fitness hikes have a brisk steady pace, adjusting for trail conditions, and regrouping as needed. These hikes are specifically for conditioned hikers. We aim for a pace of 3 mph. Please be sure of your hiking ability -- large elevation gain at speed -- before signing on.

HIKE LEVELS are based on the total elevation gain for each hike while distances vary as described. Lower level hikes focus on endurance conditioning and higher-level hikes add increasing cardio challenges. This one is level 8/9.
Hike Level (1) Up to 600 feet of elevation gain. Level (2) 600'- 900'; Level (3) 900' - 1200'; Level (4) 1200' - 1500'; Level (5) 1,500' - 1,800'; Level (6) 1,800' - 2,100'; Level (7) 2,100' - 2,400'; Level (8) 2,400' - 2700'; Level (9) 2700' - 3000' Level (10) 3000' - 4000'; ULTIMATE HIKES are hikes > 4,000' elevation gain; We post 3-4 of these hike challenges a year.

Release of Liability:
The organizer of this trip is a volunteer and not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize this trip. If you sign up or participate in this event you acknowledge that you freely and voluntarily agree to assume all risks of injuries, illnesses, and damages arising from, as a result of, and associated with this event. In addition, you acknowledge that you agree to the Meetup terms: https://www.meetup.com/terms