I picked a wonderful day to climb Mount Mitchell for the 2nd time. The weather was great, the trail had some traffic but it wasn’t too awfully busy.

It was my first time summiting from the campground, and the ~3700 feet of elevation gain was very steady all the way up. Up at the top there are several amenities you won’t find on many other peaks in southern Appalachia, such as a concession stand, bathrooms, and a really cool museum you should definitely check out when you’re there.

This route offered less stunning vistas than the black mountain crest and various loops incorporating it. However, it was a wonderful showcase of the extreme variety of forests in the region, and was teeming with wildlife.

I highly recommend spending even more time in the Blacks, especially out to Blackstock Knob, Celo, and even Big Butt, they’re all unique in their own ways and offer a lot on their respective trails.