First Summit

Nice starter hike

This was my first summit ever, and I think it was a pretty good starter. For me, the hike was more a fitness goal than anything, so I'd been in the gym for a few months prior, trying to build my endurance and drop some weight. As a fitness goal, it was a pretty good hike. I did the 5.7 mile mount mitchell trail from Black Mountain Campground in 3hrs 15min, and was pretty worn out by the time I reached the summit. The guide at the trailhead estimates about 5 hours. If I had been looking for glorious views and pristine nature, I would have been disappointed. On the way up, most of the open views are marred by a power/telephone line that I presume feeds the gift shop and commissary at the peak. And when I reached the summit, the fog had rolled in, resulting in zero visibility.