Ascent of Green Knob on 2020-01-09| Date: | Thursday, January 9, 2020 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Peak: | Green Knob | | Location: | USA-North Carolina | | Elevation: | 5880 ft / 1792 m |
Ascent Trip ReportParked at the large pull-off on NC 215 just north of the Parkway. Accessed the MST and followed it to Mount Hardy Gap, then turned north on the Green Mountain Trail to the summit of Green Knob. Note that since this is designated wilderness trails are very lightly marked and minimally maintained, so once you turn north from Mount Hardy Gap there are many opportunities to walk off the trail, take side trails that look as well-used as the actual trail, etc. Even in the winter you have to really watch where you are going or you end up off-trail. Keep to the eastern edge of the ridge (your right going toward Green Knob) and you'll usually stay on or very close to the actual trail. Several great view points along the way. A few small briar patches but nothing too brutal. Several great camping locations, including a wonderful open stand of fir and spruce just north of the summit. No water sources along the ridge, so top off your bottles before leaving the MST.
The actual high point on the summit is hard to determine as there are several rocks that seem equally high. Terrific view of Big and Little Sam knobs, and the falls on Middle Fork, from just off the eastern edge of the summit of Green.
On trail at 9:30, moved steadily, no real rest stops until reaching the summit, took 30 minutes there to rest and eat, then came straight back down, arriving at about 3:00 (5.5 hrs.)
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View east from the summit of Green Knob. Sam Knob on the left, Little Sam Knob on the right (with dense evergreen forest on summit). (2020-01-09). Photo by William Sanderson.
Click here for larger-size photo. | | Summary Total Data | | Route Conditions: | Maintained Trail |
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