The first time I tried to climb to Mt. Mitchell it demoralized me. I was new to Asheville and just eating up the heavenly riding scene. I could walk out of my door, turn right, and in one mile be in Bent Creek or turn left and in one mile be on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On one particular sunny day I lept out of bed to 65 degrees and sunny skies and boldly proclaimed that I was going to ride to Mt. Mitchell. Craggy Dome stopped me dead in my tracks with sleet and heinous weather. I turned around shivering and probably the most punched I ever have been on a bike to date. Mitchell just wasn't having it that day. I beat Mitchell at a later time, but from that day on I gave those mountains a bit more respect.
Truth be told I took the easier route up to Mitchell. I started at the Folk Art Center in excellent weather and proceeded up a 18 mile climb to Craggy Dome. It's not a particularly hard climb but you are going up so you can just get in a groove. To me, the Craggy Dome/Gardens area is my favorite portion of the trek. Unfortunately Craggy was not in a happy mood.
The eery tunnel leading up to Craggy Dome
Up in the clouds
A slide near the top of Craggy. I heard the one lane leading past it had just been reopened.
At Craggy the road descends and you go up and down for awhile before making the left hand turn into Mt. Mitchell State Park. That's when you hit the 4.2 miles of relentless up. Again it's not all that hard or steep but it is relentless. The other option for those looking for more climbing is to take 81 up to the Parkway, turn Right, then turn right into the park.
One I made it to Mitchell the weather was great!
I've biked all over and I really feel the most at home and happiest in the Appalachians. I just love them. If I had a soundtrack tune to riding in the Appalachians it would be the E.T Flying Theme! I'm also homesick for Asheville. DC riding is great if you're a commuter and it has okay riding in general, but I guess I just have had a taste of heaven so my views are dramatically skewed. On the way back to DC I stayed on the Parkway for as long as I could. It was great fun. I'm excited to explore some areas I haven't been like Skyline. I'm hoping this will take care of my Asheville withdrawal.
I like the cloud patterns in this picture.
6 comments:
Wow, funny world. I am actually from Asheville living in DC as well! I remember the first time I climbed up to Mt Mitchell about 6 years ago in the summer when I bought my first road bike. It was a trek to be sure, lots of rolling hills after craggy and the turn up in the park demoralized me entirely. Upon making it to the top I was without food and a jacket in the hazy Mt. Mitchell air. Anyways I hope to make it back to Asheville with my bike this summer and tackle the MT. again! Love the blog, great work!
Sam,
Don't fret I can give you some great cues that have beautiful views. Only issue is you have to drive to start the ride.
and don't forget the mid-atlantic has a kick-ass CX scene!
-marc
Noah, at least you made it your first time! Let me know how it goes if you make it back there.
Darren and Marc, I hope I haven't come across as snotty towards your home. It does have a KICKASS cross scene and I'll be hitting you up for those cue sheets shortly!
Damn Sam I hiked up Mitchell from the base a week ago and when driving the parkway through the clouds all I could think was Roadies are crazy. Too many idiots drive that road.
Blake IMO River Road in Maryland and Commuting in DC is much more dangerous:)
Post a Comment