I'm exhausted
Woody Ridge Trail, considered one of the most difficult trails in North Carolina, is covered in snow and ice today. It is relentlessly steep. Will and I leave the car about 9am just as another hiker pulls into the tiny parking area. She later catches us and powers up the trail. We see each other several more times. "Lynn" as I will call her, is from Linville Falls, mid 70s and a very fit and knowledgeable hiker. There is a particularly steep section of trail she tells us is know as "Devils Half Mile" since it rises 1000 feet in that short distance. It seemed to me that the entire 2.2 mile trail was that steep except for the bottom and top portions.
There is only one set of tracks in the snow - Lynn's. We greatly appreciate her ability to break through so we can use her footsteps, not only as a guide but making the uphill slog a but easier. Eventually, there is a coyote track that follows the trail. Coyotes utilize a stepping pattern in which their rear foot steps in the hole the front foot has made.
The snow gets deeper and trail gets steeper. It's time for micro spikes.
Without footprints in front of us, this trail would be hard to follow. There are yellow plastic blazes but they are far apart.
Our first nice view occurs about 3/4s of the way up. This is Lynn's turnaround spot. We spend a few minutes talking. She gives up very specific directions to locate the manways to Celo and Gibbs. Now, we have only the coyote tracks to follow. As the snow deepens and the drifts occur more frequently, our pace slows and we need to catch our breath more frequently. We take turns breaking snow.
It's close to noon as we top out at the Black Mountain Crest Trail. We follow it to the right about 3/4s mile to the manway up Celo Knob. The manway makes its way very steeply up. It is a slow go but we manage to top Celo where there is a very limited view. After descending Celo, we break for lunch about 1pm. there is still time to return back on the BMC Trail past Woody Ridge another 1/2 mile to the bushwhack up Gibbs. BMC Trail is full of drifts. Some are 18" or more, making walking slow and deliberate. We continue to take turns breaking snow. Only coyotes have used the trail before us.
Cane Creek area comes into view
I wondered what the coyotes were after.
Finding the way up Gibbs was not easy. We located a spot that looked as good as any and headed off trail. It was about a 100 yard bushwhack up. It looked like any one of three spots up top could have been the highest spot. We did a congratulary high five on top. I was pretty tired at this point but the fact we were headed down now gave me new energy.
Lone view atop Gibbs
We are headed down Woody Ridge on schedule. At first, the going is easy. The deep snow makes footholds easier. However, as we descend into less snow and steeper trail, it becomes slick. We both fall 4 or 5 times and every few steps is a slip, even with micro spikes and my hiking poles.
Our paces slows due to the slick trail. It seems to never end and we wonder how on earth we crawled up this steep trail. We encounter a young couple from Wisconsin at one point. They are turning around as the steepness and slick conditions have taken a toll on them. They would not have made it out by dark if they had tried to top out.
My last fall sends a pang of pain through my lower back. I am very concerned as each step is painful. My pace slows to inching along. Fortunately, my back recovers enough to make the return to the trailhead without significant pain. We're back at the car about 4 pm, both sore from the steep climb and descent. The hike ends up being just about 6.5 miles but one of the most difficult I have done in recent years.
I got to cross off two SB6000 peaks - Celo at 6327' and Gibbs at 6220'.
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