A Pleasant Garden Day Of Hiking

This weekend it was time to get on the trail and what better way than an 11-mile into the Unaka Mountain Wilderness to Pleasant Garden then back to Rock Creek Recreation Area.
This was a key swap hike. The Johnson City Hiking Club (JCHC) started from Rock Creek while I went with the Mid-Appalachian (in Joel's van for the JCHC) and we started at Indian Grave Gap. I had done this part of the Appalachian Trail (AT) hike several times to the Beauty Spot. 

This time of the year there is nice color through here, but I had forgotten how steep this section can be. So, it is always nice to reach the open bald leading to Beauty Spot. It was breezy when we started, but upon Beauty Spot, it was blowing and because of it was cold, but the views were great as always.

From here the part of the AT we hiked was new, about two miles worth. It first went downhill into Beauty Spot Gap and to a really beautiful meadow. As with any gap, we headed back uphill to a minor peak and then down into Deep Gap where we meet up again with USFS 230 (we last crossed it coming down Beauty Spot). Then the AT starts its winding, steep path up Unaka Mountain. It was here we met the JCHC members who came up from Rock Creek. About seven-tenths of a mile up there is a spot where the AT almost meets USFS 230 at a hairpin turn. 

It was here we left the AT, which continued up Unaka Mountain, and road walked up 230. It is about half-a-mile up to Pleasant Garden. While uphill the grade wasn't bad and it was long we came to a junction, we went left to the overlook. One thing I discovered on the way was FS 230 wasn't that bad of a road. If I had known what awaited I would have come sooner. The vista here is amazing, sweeping into North Carolina. Also when I looked back to Unaka Mountain it reminded me of Mount Rogers.

After enjoying the view it was down the Rattlesnake Ridge Trail. This 4.7-mile trail I had wanted to do for some time. Got to give it to JCHC this trail is steep and after six miles I was glad we were going downhill. Also, it was here that we entered the Unaka Mountain Wilderness. 

There were some views and a few blowdowns. You know you were about to the home stretch when you exit said wilderness. Before long there is a junction with the Dark Hollow Road. From here it is a left turn down the blue-blazed trail to the Rock Creek Recreation Area. Overall it was a Pleasant Garden day...