GetHiking! North Carolina's Classic Hikes: Mountains-to-Sea Trail (Long hike)

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Someday, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (http://ncmst.org) will run the width of North Carolina, from Clingman's Dome (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/clingmansdome.htm) on the Tennessee line to Jockey's Ridge (http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/jori/main.php) at the coast, a distance of about 1,000 miles. Today, about 620 miles of the trail are finished; on May 16 we will hike the MST in an area known as the Mile-High Section, since much of the trail through here is above 5,280 feet. This part of our GetHiking! North Carolina's Classic Hikes series (http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/blog/explore-more-in-2015-hike-north-carolinas-classic-trails/) (see below for more information).

This is the long version of the hike, running about 15.5 miles. We'll pick up the MST at Graveyard Fields, check out some waterfalls, then head west, ducking beneath 6,214-foot Black Balsam Knob, heading through the Little Sam Knob region and ending at the MST trailhead at NC 215. This is the third hike in the GetHiking! North Carolina's Classic Hikes series (http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/blog/explore-more-in-2015-hike-north-carolinas-classic-trails/) of 12 hikes in 2015. Each hike in the series includes a short and a long version.

This is a moderate hike over all. There will be some climbing, but nothing prolonged, nothing especially steep.

This is a fee program; the $50 membership fee includes two hikes; each additional hike is $25. The program includes various perks, including a T-shirt, hiking socks, swag bag for each hike, monthly enewsletter and discounts on hiking gear at Great Outdoor Provision Co. (http://greatoutdoorprovision.com) You must belong to the program to sign up for a hike.

Estimated drive time: Charlotte: 2 hours, 40 minutes; Greensboro: 3 hours, 25 minutes; Raleigh: 4 hours, 30 minutes.

For more information on the GetHiking! North Carolina's Classic Hikes program go here (http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/blog/explore-more-in-2015-hike-north-carolinas-classic-trails/). To sign up, as well as for more information, contact Joe Miller at joe@getgoingnc.com.