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Ascent of Bird Mountain on 2010-03-20

Climber: Brian Stansberry

Date:

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Peak:

Bird Mountain

Location:

USA-Tennessee

Elevation:

3174 ft / 967 m

Ascent Trip Report

Bird Mountain is an elongate ridge stretching from Emory Gap at Bald Knob in the east to the Wartburg city limits to the west. Most of the eastern part of the mountain is part of Frozen Head State Park.

The trailhead is located at the "back" of Frozen Head State Park's Big Cove Campground (there are just four parking spaces). From here, a strenuous, switchback-laden 2-mile trail ascends the south flank of the mountain to a four-way junction at the crest. The North Bird Mountain Trail follows the mountain's rugged north slope. The Cumberland Trail continues both east and west across the mountain crest, with the east direction running congruent with the park's Bird Mountain Trail.

Continuing to the east, the trail passes just under Castle Rock, a 3000+ ft. subpeak named for its massive sandstone caprock. The caprock is similar to the one atop Chimney Top Mountain on the other side of the park. The eastern end of the caprock is low enough to allow a relatively-easy two-step climb, but the top of the caprock does not rise above the treeline.

Continuing eastward from Castle Rock, the trail crosses a rocky backbone before reaching the Bird Mountain backcountry campsite. The campsite has a picnic table, a rope on which to hang gear, and a spring. Beyond the campsite, the trail ascends and crosses another subpeak of Bird Mountain. USGS topographical maps place this subpeak's elevation at 3,076 ft, although a park sign at the top reads "Bird Mtn., 3010 ft."

Past the subpeak, the trail descends briefly to a gap before rising along the north side of the main summit, where it practically becomes road-grade. The main summit is an easy 5 to 10-minute bushwhack from the trail. I brushed off several rocks at the summit, but didn't see a benchmark. The summit doesn't rise above the treeline.

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

1674 ft / 510 m

Distance:

8 mi / 12.9 km

Route Conditions:

Maintained Trail, Bushwhack, Scramble

Weather:

Pleasant, Windy, Clear

Ascent Statistics

Elevation Gain:

1674 ft / 510 m

Distance:

4.2 mi / 6.8 km

Route:

Cumberland Trail / short bushwhacks

Trailhead:

Big Cove Campground 1500 ft / 457 m

Descent Statistics

Distance:

3.8 mi / 6.1 km

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