Mt. Mitchell to Winter Star, 8.4mi, 2,900ft, Fitness Hike

8:45 for carpooling on the side of the Parkway near the Ox Creek/Elk Mountain Rd intersection with the Parkway OR 9:30 at the Mt. Mitchell picnic area/Black Mountain Crest Trailhead. ...If you sign up and change your mind even if on a waitlist, change your RSVP to "not attending" to free up your reservation.

Out and back: We will hike the Black Mountain Crest from the picnic area (lower parking lot) to Winter Star Mountain and back. Gorgeous vistas await.

PACE: All fitness hikes have a brisk steady pace (~3 mi/hr), adjusting for trail conditions, and regrouping as needed. These hikes are specifically for conditioned hikers. Please be sure of your hiking ability before signing on. This hike includes some rock, rope, and ladder climbing.

CAR POOL: For those who wish to car pool, we will meet at the intersection of the BRP and Ox Creek/Elk Mountain Road, near Bull Gap. Tell the hike leader where you intend to meet the group: BRP/Elk Mtn Road (8:45am) or Mt. Mitchell picnic area trailhead (9:30).

Driving to Mt. Mitchell picnic area: From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway north/east past the various Craggies to Route 128. Turn left toward Mt. Mitchell. Drive all the way to the Mt. Mitchell parking lot. The picnic area is to your left just as you enter the parking lot on the lower level.

Dogs are welcome, but have a leash handy for walking through the picnic area and later, in case we run into other hikers or dogs.

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 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