punchline - Feb 9, 2014 9:57 am Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2014
Highpoint #9
Had the opportunity to burn a couple hours before flying home from Charleston, WV on a business trip. Started in Pikeville, KY where MapQuest said it was 1 1/2 hours. Definitely more than that - closer to 2 hours with the windy, icy roads. Imagine that the drive is beautiful any other season but sort of desolate now. Was able to get the rental car up the road past the FAA tower although it was pretty icy. About 1/4" snow on the plaque and the summit marker - a moment of panic set in when I couldn't find the marker on the boulder and had to sweep the entire boulder of snow! Note: It is on the right-hand side as you are looking at the boulder from the plaque.
Woodswalker - Nov 9, 2013 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Black Mountain
Another tick on my highpoint list.
pattyd82ab - Aug 6, 2013 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2013
HP #6
The drive up from VA was great. Very windy roads but lots to look at. The parking area over the coal mine provides a pretty scenic view. Not sure if we were supposed to, but we drove almost the whole way to the plaque. There were some people driving pretty recklessly on the radar road, so watch out. Other than that, not mush to look at, but a notch in the hiking stick.
This was High point # 5 of 6 in a 3 day period. Not much of a view from the top but it was a very scenic drive on the way through Big Stone Gap and up to the HP.
THalky - Jan 28, 2013 1:35 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2012
#7 - Nothing much
2nd to last on our first highpointing trip. Stopped on our way to Rodgers. All I can say is that I did it.
xbaghat - Jan 20, 2013 10:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2009
twenty-seven
...
Jimmy Rivers - Jan 4, 2013 4:12 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2012
Nothing to see here, really.
State HP #7, Black was actually a depressing highpoint. The drive up passed by a couple of completely stipped and mined mountains. The summit had more ugly mining buildings and a beat up "lookout tower". You really just get in, and leave quickly....oh well!
marilou - Nov 29, 2012 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
Not Exactly My Favorite
We just drove up but watch out for the mine workers trucks' since the summit ridge drive is a single lane with tons of potholes. At least they put up a plaque summit marker now. We actually met the guys who put them there that day. Did Mt Rogers, VA HP the day before. HP #12
technicolorNH - Nov 25, 2012 12:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2012
linguistic study
When I got to the pass on Rt160 I saw a security guard stationed next to a nearby mining road. He said I could drive up seeing as it was two miles to the top. Look for the tires on your left and you can't miss it. I parked the car and hiked up. I saw no tires and after passing the FAA tower and the antenna cluster on the left I realized I had gone too far. If I can't miss it then it should stand out right? He did mention tires. Hm. Hard T with an S at the end. Could it be towers? It was. Nestled to the left of the cluster of antennas up a small side road. Peaceful hike in the moonlight.
chadbw - Aug 29, 2012 1:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2012
Tenth HP
Drove up to the top. The drive was probably the prettiest part. Not that I have anything against radio antennae, but, well, you know.
huskertriguy - Aug 21, 2012 8:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2012
Not as bad as advertised
First of an assault on the "Southern 6-Pack."
Meant to get up there the day prior, but a series of events left me arriving in Cumberland in the dark. Stories of a creepy summit kept me at bay, so I stayed at the America's Best Value in Cumberland (this I cannot recommend).
The drive up was pleasant and beautiful - sure, the summit may not be much, but the area is gorgeous (minus the strip mine just over the border).
I got no feelings of creepy-ness on my visit. Stop through some of the area burgs and visit with the locals. They are fascinating, decent, hard-working people.
SHP #24
Outdooraholic - Aug 13, 2012 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
Decided to do this one on the way back home from a 50 miler backpacking trip to snag Mt. Roger's. The drive up is nice. Can't say the same about any other aspect of this highpoint. At least it's done.
mattdalman - May 30, 2012 10:23 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
HP #28
This was the last highpoint of a 5 highpoint road trip. At least they have a plaque on the summit now so you can read about Black Mountain.
TrailtrekerNJ - Jan 22, 2012 1:49 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2012
Short Detour
While the car temperature gauge was registering 18 F and there was snow flurries I was able to drive up to and park at the FAA Long Range Facility point. From there I walked the short road to the high point. After taking pictures returned to car and continued the drive along VA/KY - 160.
McCannster - Nov 26, 2011 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2011
# 20
Did this late at night as a drive-up. The access road was super foggy and the summit area strange and eerie.
markowens - Nov 20, 2011 9:36 am Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2011
HP #22
The road to the Highpoint is between the welcom to VA and welcome to Ky signs. You can see both signs from the road entance.
Robyn - Oct 16, 2011 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2011
HP #1
Drove down the night before and camped in Kingdom Come Park, drove to Black Mountain just in time for sunrise and it was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Then drove on to Mt. Rogers, an incredible drive.
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 11:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2011
HP #15
Drove up in fog and rain pretty dangerous driving and summit kinda bummed me out but hell high point #15 and start of 6 highpoint week
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 5:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2000
Wild Turkey
Get the waiver so you don't have to poach this one.
punchline - Feb 9, 2014 9:57 am Date Climbed: Feb 7, 2014
Highpoint #9Had the opportunity to burn a couple hours before flying home from Charleston, WV on a business trip. Started in Pikeville, KY where MapQuest said it was 1 1/2 hours. Definitely more than that - closer to 2 hours with the windy, icy roads. Imagine that the drive is beautiful any other season but sort of desolate now. Was able to get the rental car up the road past the FAA tower although it was pretty icy. About 1/4" snow on the plaque and the summit marker - a moment of panic set in when I couldn't find the marker on the boulder and had to sweep the entire boulder of snow! Note: It is on the right-hand side as you are looking at the boulder from the plaque.
Woodswalker - Nov 9, 2013 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2006
Black MountainAnother tick on my highpoint list.
pattyd82ab - Aug 6, 2013 10:03 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2013
HP #6The drive up from VA was great. Very windy roads but lots to look at. The parking area over the coal mine provides a pretty scenic view. Not sure if we were supposed to, but we drove almost the whole way to the plaque. There were some people driving pretty recklessly on the radar road, so watch out. Other than that, not mush to look at, but a notch in the hiking stick.
BadgerSummitSeeker - Jul 27, 2013 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2010
State High Point # 22This was High point # 5 of 6 in a 3 day period. Not much of a view from the top but it was a very scenic drive on the way through Big Stone Gap and up to the HP.
THalky - Jan 28, 2013 1:35 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2012
#7 - Nothing much2nd to last on our first highpointing trip. Stopped on our way to Rodgers. All I can say is that I did it.
xbaghat - Jan 20, 2013 10:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2009
twenty-seven...
Jimmy Rivers - Jan 4, 2013 4:12 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2012
Nothing to see here, really.State HP #7, Black was actually a depressing highpoint. The drive up passed by a couple of completely stipped and mined mountains. The summit had more ugly mining buildings and a beat up "lookout tower". You really just get in, and leave quickly....oh well!
marilou - Nov 29, 2012 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
Not Exactly My FavoriteWe just drove up but watch out for the mine workers trucks' since the summit ridge drive is a single lane with tons of potholes. At least they put up a plaque summit marker now. We actually met the guys who put them there that day. Did Mt Rogers, VA HP the day before. HP #12
technicolorNH - Nov 25, 2012 12:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 23, 2012
linguistic studyWhen I got to the pass on Rt160 I saw a security guard stationed next to a nearby mining road. He said I could drive up seeing as it was two miles to the top. Look for the tires on your left and you can't miss it. I parked the car and hiked up. I saw no tires and after passing the FAA tower and the antenna cluster on the left I realized I had gone too far. If I can't miss it then it should stand out right? He did mention tires. Hm. Hard T with an S at the end. Could it be towers? It was. Nestled to the left of the cluster of antennas up a small side road. Peaceful hike in the moonlight.
chadbw - Aug 29, 2012 1:00 pm Date Climbed: Aug 21, 2012
Tenth HPDrove up to the top. The drive was probably the prettiest part. Not that I have anything against radio antennae, but, well, you know.
huskertriguy - Aug 21, 2012 8:05 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2012
Not as bad as advertisedFirst of an assault on the "Southern 6-Pack."
Meant to get up there the day prior, but a series of events left me arriving in Cumberland in the dark. Stories of a creepy summit kept me at bay, so I stayed at the America's Best Value in Cumberland (this I cannot recommend).
The drive up was pleasant and beautiful - sure, the summit may not be much, but the area is gorgeous (minus the strip mine just over the border).
I got no feelings of creepy-ness on my visit. Stop through some of the area burgs and visit with the locals. They are fascinating, decent, hard-working people.
SHP #24
Outdooraholic - Aug 13, 2012 9:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2012
#21My 21st state highpoint!
Ibswoha - Jul 29, 2012 8:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
HP #4Decided to do this one on the way back home from a 50 miler backpacking trip to snag Mt. Roger's. The drive up is nice. Can't say the same about any other aspect of this highpoint. At least it's done.
mattdalman - May 30, 2012 10:23 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
HP #28This was the last highpoint of a 5 highpoint road trip. At least they have a plaque on the summit now so you can read about Black Mountain.
TrailtrekerNJ - Jan 22, 2012 1:49 pm Date Climbed: Jan 18, 2012
Short DetourWhile the car temperature gauge was registering 18 F and there was snow flurries I was able to drive up to and park at the FAA Long Range Facility point. From there I walked the short road to the high point. After taking pictures returned to car and continued the drive along VA/KY - 160.
McCannster - Nov 26, 2011 6:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2011
# 20Did this late at night as a drive-up. The access road was super foggy and the summit area strange and eerie.
markowens - Nov 20, 2011 9:36 am Date Climbed: Nov 18, 2011
HP #22The road to the Highpoint is between the welcom to VA and welcome to Ky signs. You can see both signs from the road entance.
Robyn - Oct 16, 2011 1:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2011
HP #1Drove down the night before and camped in Kingdom Come Park, drove to Black Mountain just in time for sunrise and it was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Then drove on to Mt. Rogers, an incredible drive.
Jow - Sep 21, 2011 11:14 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2011
HP #15Drove up in fog and rain pretty dangerous driving and summit kinda bummed me out but hell high point #15 and start of 6 highpoint week
vbeckman74 - Aug 21, 2011 5:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2000
Wild TurkeyGet the waiver so you don't have to poach this one.