xpda - Aug 10, 2011 4:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 1996
Kentucky
Made it!
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2011
Drive up in the fog
Drove over from Mt. Rogers. Day started off hot and sunny, but a major thunderstorm hit right as I approached the drive up to Black Mt. Heard on the radio that lightening had struck Black Mountain so I waited a bit to let the worst of the storm pass then headed up. Dense fog covered the road and it was hard to see. At the top I rushed to get pictures and get out of there before more lightning struck. The music coming from the building startled me a bit when I first heard it. Definitely a unique and interesting highpoint, but not one I am rushing back to anytime soon.
Visited this thing twice now. The music playing in that building all the time makes the place kinda eery when you're there in the dark.
Alpinist - May 14, 2011 8:06 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2011
Southern 6-pack
Fifth of a 6 state HP weekend. Flew into Knoxville, then hit the HPs for TN, GA, SC, NC, KY and VA. This is my 44th state HP. Nice Spring flowers in bloom and not another soul in sight.
islandborn11 - Apr 19, 2011 9:24 am Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2011
Twisty on Rt. 160
This outranks even South Carolina on the list of unappealing high points. Surrounded by trees with no visibility and a ton of ugly mining outbuildings. Met another highpointer for the first time. He and his son were nailing #25 this afternoon and I was notching off numero six.
Steve Gruhn - Jan 18, 2011 4:50 pm Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2001
HP #20
Drive up. Spent the night in the car just below the summit.
NJTripper - Dec 5, 2010 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
Glad this was just a day trip....
... this is the creepiest HP I've been to. Gort my 'pic' so I won't have ot go back.
Sarah Simon - Nov 26, 2010 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2010
With The Doubles
Didn't find anything creepy about the summmit or the denizens, but I'm part Kentuckian, so folks from the hills just don't bother me, I guess. Ran into two workers who were trying to resolve that all the summit structures had been broken into. Said good morning and joked about shootin' guns...they were friendly fellas. Beautiful frost on all the trees from the cold, damp night before. With my Mom & Dad, my husband, and my Sister & her husband and my nephew. :) Neat to get back to our roots. :)
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
HP #19
Summitted at 9:00 pm. Really enjoyed the drive from big stone gap to the summit. Didn't run into any miners but had the waiver in hand ready to present. Snapped a pic of the plaque and headed for Virginia.
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
One more on the way home
Last one on a road/peakbagging trip. Drove most of the way, parked, and walked the last few yards up in a soaking rain. Definitely not the most picturesque.
Drove up in the pouring rain. Not hard to find. Road to the top isnt that bad, narrow in spots but paved with a few pot holes. Walked the final quarter mile or so to the summit. Summit marker easy to find as described.
xDoogiex - Aug 15, 2010 12:34 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010
HP #18
What hotoven said. lots of broken glass and sketchyness on top
Hotoven - Aug 11, 2010 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010
HP # 33!
Drive up to the top. had to doge construction crews along the way. At the top there was a tower and little building there. Someone had the radio on in the building even though it looked abandon. Got some photos and left that creepy place.
I don't want to say that the place should be a park instead of a coal mine, cause I signed a piece of paper saying I wouldn't but... Let's just say the place has a lot of potential.
Drove up after a day working in Kingsport. It was a pleasant and quiet summer evening on top. Had the whole top of the mountain to myself. Not as trashed as some previous posters had observed. I enjoyed visiting the area. #17.
This was my second trip to the top. The first was in 1992 and I was no more impressed with the summit this time than the last. At least I had a working camera with me this time (ran out of film on the previous trip. This was my only highpoint out of the 43 that I have done without a picture to show for it. VA 160 is much better maintained now than I remember it and we only saw the remains of one car over the cliff, whereas I think we saw three there in '92. I was able to drive right up to the summit circle. In my book this highpoint competes with Mississippi's for the ugliest summit with the most broken glass strewn about.
highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:22 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2010
Bleak Mountain
Started down the wrong road with wife, kids, and dogs in tow, then returned to the overlook area and walked up the summit road with my dog Maggie. We avoided being run over by 4-wheelers and illegal dumpers only to interrupt what looked like a klan meeting at the top. At least I got a healthy dose of radiation from the FAA radar! HP25
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:14 am Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2010
Found It
It was a little spooky driving up the steep winding road in a raincloud. Don't expect to be awarded with a view. Just play it as a scavenger hunt to find the summit and you will have a good time.
WoundedKnee - Apr 13, 2010 6:51 am Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2010
Stretched my legs
Walked the road from KY-160. I didn't think it was as bad as some have posted, but certainly not worth a long trip unless you're a state HPer.
IHaveArrived - Jan 20, 2010 2:25 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2009
HP #11
The only exciting thing about this high point was meeting up on that narrow road with a large truck and a driver that looked like he wanted to kill me.
xpda - Aug 10, 2011 4:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 1996
KentuckyMade it!
redmond - Jun 23, 2011 2:36 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2011
Drive up in the fogDrove over from Mt. Rogers. Day started off hot and sunny, but a major thunderstorm hit right as I approached the drive up to Black Mt. Heard on the radio that lightening had struck Black Mountain so I waited a bit to let the worst of the storm pass then headed up. Dense fog covered the road and it was hard to see. At the top I rushed to get pictures and get out of there before more lightning struck. The music coming from the building startled me a bit when I first heard it. Definitely a unique and interesting highpoint, but not one I am rushing back to anytime soon.
phillinley - May 21, 2011 12:28 am
BumpyVisited this thing twice now. The music playing in that building all the time makes the place kinda eery when you're there in the dark.
Alpinist - May 14, 2011 8:06 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2011
Southern 6-packFifth of a 6 state HP weekend. Flew into Knoxville, then hit the HPs for TN, GA, SC, NC, KY and VA. This is my 44th state HP. Nice Spring flowers in bloom and not another soul in sight.
islandborn11 - Apr 19, 2011 9:24 am Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2011
Twisty on Rt. 160This outranks even South Carolina on the list of unappealing high points. Surrounded by trees with no visibility and a ton of ugly mining outbuildings. Met another highpointer for the first time. He and his son were nailing #25 this afternoon and I was notching off numero six.
Steve Gruhn - Jan 18, 2011 4:50 pm Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2001
HP #20Drive up. Spent the night in the car just below the summit.
NJTripper - Dec 5, 2010 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
Glad this was just a day trip....... this is the creepiest HP I've been to. Gort my 'pic' so I won't have ot go back.
Sarah Simon - Nov 26, 2010 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2010
With The DoublesDidn't find anything creepy about the summmit or the denizens, but I'm part Kentuckian, so folks from the hills just don't bother me, I guess. Ran into two workers who were trying to resolve that all the summit structures had been broken into. Said good morning and joked about shootin' guns...they were friendly fellas. Beautiful frost on all the trees from the cold, damp night before. With my Mom & Dad, my husband, and my Sister & her husband and my nephew. :) Neat to get back to our roots. :)
kteichert - Nov 5, 2010 10:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2010
HP #19Summitted at 9:00 pm. Really enjoyed the drive from big stone gap to the summit. Didn't run into any miners but had the waiver in hand ready to present. Snapped a pic of the plaque and headed for Virginia.
Spindle - Sep 22, 2010 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
One more on the way homeLast one on a road/peakbagging trip. Drove most of the way, parked, and walked the last few yards up in a soaking rain. Definitely not the most picturesque.
BConley - Sep 14, 2010 2:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
HP #9Drove up in the pouring rain. Not hard to find. Road to the top isnt that bad, narrow in spots but paved with a few pot holes. Walked the final quarter mile or so to the summit. Summit marker easy to find as described.
xDoogiex - Aug 15, 2010 12:34 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010
HP #18What hotoven said. lots of broken glass and sketchyness on top
Hotoven - Aug 11, 2010 4:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2010
HP # 33!Drive up to the top. had to doge construction crews along the way. At the top there was a tower and little building there. Someone had the radio on in the building even though it looked abandon. Got some photos and left that creepy place.
jeffh25 - Jul 29, 2010 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2010
HP # 23I don't want to say that the place should be a park instead of a coal mine, cause I signed a piece of paper saying I wouldn't but... Let's just say the place has a lot of potential.
Bark Eater - Jul 14, 2010 5:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
visit after workDrove up after a day working in Kingsport. It was a pleasant and quiet summer evening on top. Had the whole top of the mountain to myself. Not as trashed as some previous posters had observed. I enjoyed visiting the area. #17.
chilkoot - Jul 11, 2010 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2010
No improvementThis was my second trip to the top. The first was in 1992 and I was no more impressed with the summit this time than the last. At least I had a working camera with me this time (ran out of film on the previous trip. This was my only highpoint out of the 43 that I have done without a picture to show for it. VA 160 is much better maintained now than I remember it and we only saw the remains of one car over the cliff, whereas I think we saw three there in '92. I was able to drive right up to the summit circle. In my book this highpoint competes with Mississippi's for the ugliest summit with the most broken glass strewn about.
highlandvillager - Jun 7, 2010 4:22 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2010
Bleak MountainStarted down the wrong road with wife, kids, and dogs in tow, then returned to the overlook area and walked up the summit road with my dog Maggie. We avoided being run over by 4-wheelers and illegal dumpers only to interrupt what looked like a klan meeting at the top. At least I got a healthy dose of radiation from the FAA radar! HP25
sgb02d - May 4, 2010 10:14 am Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2010
Found ItIt was a little spooky driving up the steep winding road in a raincloud. Don't expect to be awarded with a view. Just play it as a scavenger hunt to find the summit and you will have a good time.
WoundedKnee - Apr 13, 2010 6:51 am Date Climbed: Apr 9, 2010
Stretched my legsWalked the road from KY-160. I didn't think it was as bad as some have posted, but certainly not worth a long trip unless you're a state HPer.
IHaveArrived - Jan 20, 2010 2:25 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2009
HP #11The only exciting thing about this high point was meeting up on that narrow road with a large truck and a driver that looked like he wanted to kill me.