Eighteen hiking club members braved the warm winter weather for the club's 5th annual winter assault on Mt Mitchell. Led by Matt Perry, this hike is barely 12 miles long but is guaranteed to be a long day. Today was no exception as we exited the woods just before 5pm.
The start point for this hike is Black Mountain Campground, a good 3700 feet lower than Mt Mitchell top at 6684'. Early in the hike, we pass through nice second growth forest accompanied by the occasional rhododendron hell. A few minor creek crossings presented to obstacle. As we climbed in elevation, those creek crossings became iced over presenting a bit more challenge but still not enough for the majority to manage the entire hike without foot traction.
Of course you can drive to the top of the mountain and walk a short paved trail to the actual summit with panoramic views. Normally at this time of the year the road is closed due to snow and ice but not today. A few motorists made the drive only to be socked in at the top. We did manage to see some limited views between massive gusts of wind and parting clouds.
Mt Mitchell was the highest point in the United States until 1845 when Texas joined up.
From Wikipedia:
Dr. Mitchell set out in the summer of 1835 to test his and other people's opinions that the Black Mountains were the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. He set out to do this by barometrical measurement." In doing so, he showed great patience, energy, and perserverance, for "To climb the Black Mountain and carry up the instruments to determine its height in 1835 required courage and scientific ardor to an unusual degree. The country, naturally savage, was at that time very little known. It was much more inaccessible than it has since become by reason of the progress of settlements around its base; but Dr. Mitchell overcame all difficulties, and he found the height of one of the peaks to be 6476 feet, while Mount Washington in New Hampshire, long considered he highest point of the Alleghanies, is only 6428 feet high. Dr. Mitchell's account of this exploration was published, and attracted wide attention. It was the first authoritative announcement that Black Mountain was higher than the White Mountains [NH] and indeed, the highest in the United States east of the Rockies." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, pp.387, 388.)
In 1844, Dr. Mitchell returned to the Black Mountains, this time looking for the tallest peak of all. He succeeded, and "In recognition of his discovery, his name was attached to a peak of the mountain on the maps and geographies of that period." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p.388.)
There was controversy over this decision, however. Thomas Clingman asserted that Dr. Mitchell had measured the wrong mountain but that he himself had correctly measured the highest mountain in the Black Mountains. Some people then suggested that Mount Mitchell's name be changed to Mount Clingman. Dr. Mitchell "contended that he was the first to measure and ascertain its superior height, and that he was on that very peak and had measured it in 1844." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p.388.)
Dr. Mitchell then announced his intentions to return to the Black Mountains in order to re-measure the peak and prove that he had been on Mount Mitchell in 1844 by gathering statements from the men who had acted as his guides in that year. He went back in June 1857 with his son, Charles A. Mitchell. He worked for two weeks. On Sunday, June 27, he quit work at 2:30 in the afternoon, "proposing to cross the mountain to the settlement on Caney River for the purpose of seeing Mr. [Tom] Wilson and others who had guided him to the top on a former visit. He promised to return on Monday at noon. This was the last time he was ever seen alive." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p. 389.)
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