{"id":8054,"date":"2023-07-04T22:59:07","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T14:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8054"},"modified":"2023-12-27T13:13:43","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T05:13:43","slug":"20230704black-balsem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704black-balsem\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 of 2023 Independence Day Trip, Drenched at Black Balsem Knob"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Third day of my July 2023 trip to North Carolina. Today I checked out the portion of Blue Ridge Parkway between Beech Gap and Asheville, including some great hiking trails around Black Balsam Knob. Unfortunately, some unexpected events meant I was caught in a late-afternoon rain.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172632.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172632.jpg\" alt=\"Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:73,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:41,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-5', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-major-5', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider5.sync( secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-6', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-major-6', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider6.sync( secondarySlider6 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-7', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-major-7', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider7.sync( secondarySlider7 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-8', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-major-8', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider8.sync( secondarySlider8 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-9', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:80,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:55,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-major-9', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider9.sync( secondarySlider9 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider10 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-10', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider10 = new Splide( '#splide-major-10', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider10.sync( secondarySlider10 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-11', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:72,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:40,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-major-11', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider11.sync( secondarySlider11 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-12', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-major-12', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider12.sync( secondarySlider12 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-13', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-major-13', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider13.sync( secondarySlider13 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Independence Day, 2023.<br \/>\nLast October while I road tripped along southern Blue Ridge Parkway, I was on a rushed itinerary as I reached Marion from Pigeon Forge in one day. This meant I blasted past some of the attractions in the area. However, I had a feeling that the portions of Blue Ridge Parkway around Asheville (and all the way up to Linn Cove Viaduct) were the best, so today, I went back and checked out some hikes in the region that I missed last year.<br \/>\nMy plan of the day was to hike Mount Pisgah in the morning, then check out the area near Black Balsam Knob, which featured a network of trails of various lengths that I could pick flexibly. As the title suggested, unfortunately my day ended in dismay in some unexpected rain.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Mount_Pisgah\">Mount Pisgah<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After breakfast, I left the hotel just before 10am. After getting onto Blue Ridge Parkway from NC-151, I reached the trailhead of Mount Pisgah at 10:45 and started my hike.<\/p>\n<p>The trail to Mount Pisgah was a 3.6km out-and-back with 220m of elevation gain. It started out flat for the first half, before getting steep during the latter half, which was rocky but maintained. It was mostly (if not completely) in the woods.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_104714.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_104714.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_104819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_104819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_122347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_122347.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_105547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_105547.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_121023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_121023.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_111245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_111245.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_112548.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_112548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_104714.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_104819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_122347.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_105547.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_121023.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_111245.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_112548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail to Mount Pisgah.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_104714.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_104714.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_104819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_104819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_122347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_122347.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_105547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_105547.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_121023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_121023.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_111245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_111245.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_112548.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_112548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Disappointedly, once at the top, I found the views obstructed. There was a wooden viewing platform but it was barely above the surrounding trees. In between the trees I caught some sights of mountains and towns but they were very limited.<br \/>\nIn addition, the summit of Mount Pisgah featured a television broadcast tower that was the highest in eastern US. It&#8217;s just that I didn&#8217;t find anything aesthetic of the tower.<\/p>\n<p>In comparison, my drone brought some redemption to the views.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0086_DJI_0097-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0086_DJI_0097-12.jpg\" alt=\"Hills Surrounding Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hills Surrounding Mount Pisgah<\/p><\/div>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a video with the television broadcast tower in the center stage.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7JY9qN55Jo4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Once back at trailhead, I felt a bit hungry and decided to have some snacks. There were no picnic tables around the parking lot, so I did some exploration heading south along Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Much to my surprise\/delight, 200m later I found an overlook at the site of the former Buck Spring Lodge, with benches that I could comfortably sit on while enjoying some food.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_124314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_124314.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Benches at the Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Benches at the Site of Buck Spring Lodge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I was looking for a place for a quick picnic and I found it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_123838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_123838.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Site of Buck Spring Lodge<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_123400.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_123400.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6703.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6703.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Pisgah<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the trailhead parking lot.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_124314.jpg\" alt=\"Benches at the Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_123838.jpg\" alt=\"Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_123400.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6703.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_124314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_124314.jpg\" alt=\"Benches at the Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Benches at the Site of Buck Spring Lodge<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I was looking for a place for a quick picnic and I found it.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_123838.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_123838.jpg\" alt=\"Site of Buck Spring Lodge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Site of Buck Spring Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_123400.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_123400.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6703.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6703.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Pisgah<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the trailhead parking lot.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that, I made my way to the Black Balsam area. It&#8217;s Independence Day Holiday and Black Balsam Knob road was packed with parked cars. As a result, I didn&#8217;t find any spots at Art Loeb trailhead. So instead, I headed further along the road, and pulled into the last spot at Sam Knob Trailhead.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Sam_Knob\">Sam Knob<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sam Knob was a (somewhat prominent, compared to its neighbors) hill with views of rolling hills and valleys surrounding it. The trail to its top was 4km out-and-back with 172m elevation gain.<br \/>\nThe trail started out on gravel, before descending through a series of boardwalks (surprise!) and crossing a wide-open meadow. After that, it entered the woods that spanned the side of Sam Knob, and climbed on top of it through a series of switchbacks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_132755.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_132755.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_150530.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Firs the trail started out as gravel, which was obviously maintained.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_133332.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_150328.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boardwalk<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit to my surprise as such improvement wasn\u2019t usual for trails in United States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133452.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_150136.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133851.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Trail through Open Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Open Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134929.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_134929.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail Leading up to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_145626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_145626.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail Leading up to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail Leading up to Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail condition during the climb, through a few switchbacks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_135930.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_135930.jpg\" width=\"46.7%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_145626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_145626.jpg\" width=\"46.7%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Top of Sam Knob<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">For some portions it felt like walking in a ditch as the trail was lower than the surrounding bushes. In addition, there was a few wet spots.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_144109.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_144109.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_144111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_144111.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Top of Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The typical condition once on top of Sam Knob. There was a network of trails like this to explore.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_132755.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_133332.jpg\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_133452.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_150136.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_133851.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Open Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_145626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Leading up to Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_144211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_144109.jpg\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail to Sam Knob.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_132755.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_132755.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_150530.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Firs the trail started out as gravel, which was obviously maintained.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_133332.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_150328.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boardwalk\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boardwalk<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit to my surprise as such improvement wasn\u2019t usual for trails in United States.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133452.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_150136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_150136.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Sam Knob through Open Field<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133851.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Open Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Open Field<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134929.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_134929.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail Leading up to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_145626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_145626.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail Leading up to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail Leading up to Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Typical trail condition during the climb, through a few switchbacks.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_135930.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_135930.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_145626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_145626.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Top of Sam Knob<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">For some portions it felt like walking in a ditch as the trail was lower than the surrounding bushes. In addition, there was a few wet spots.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_144109.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_144109.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_144111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_144111.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail on Top of Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail on Top of Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The typical condition once on top of Sam Knob. There was a network of trails like this to explore.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The meadow was a refreshing sight as the area should be home to coniferous forest. In addition, from the top of Sam Knob I found some clear boundaries of different types of trees. I bet that had something to do with development before the area came under National Forest management.<\/p>\n<p>A highlight along the trail was the variety of wildflowers I ran into, from the daisies in the meadow to mountain laurels while ascending Sam Knob.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133653.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133653.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail in Open Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Flowers along Trail in Open Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133757.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Weeds in Open Field\" \/><\/a><\/br>Weeds in Open Field<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134257C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_134257C9.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134518.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_134518.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_140159.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_140159.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail up Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Flowers along Trail up Sam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6728.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6728.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers up Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Flowers up Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Up on trees and blooming beautifully.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_133653.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail in Open Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_133757.jpg\" alt=\"Weeds in Open Field\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_134257C9.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_134518.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_140159.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail up Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6728.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers up Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the flowers.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133653.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133653.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail in Open Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Flowers along Trail in Open Field<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_133757.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_133757.jpg\" alt=\"Weeds in Open Field\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Weeds in Open Field<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134257C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_134257C9.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_134518.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_134518.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain Laurel along Trail in Woods<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_140159.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_140159.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers along Trail up Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Flowers along Trail up Sam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6728.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6728.jpg\" alt=\"Flowers up Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Flowers up Sam Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Up on trees and blooming beautifully.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>On top of Sam Knob, the trail branched off into various overlooks towards different directions. I didn&#8217;t pre-load maps this time, so it was confusing at first. In the end, I checked out the overlooks towards the east and north.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6711.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6711.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6712.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6712.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6721.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6721.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6718.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6718.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6725.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6725.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Little Sam's Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Sam&#8217;s Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A well-defined boundary of pine trees, occupying only its western slope.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6715.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6715.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Switchback of NC Route 215\" \/><\/a><\/br>Switchback of NC Route 215<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Between which were Bubbling Spring Falls, which I checked out next.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6716.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6716.jpg\" alt=\"Exposed Rock Face along NC Route 215\" \/><\/a><\/br>Exposed Rock Face along NC Route 215<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6727.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Patch of Pine Trees\" \/><\/a><\/br>Patch of Pine Trees<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Behind which was the trailhead parking for Sam Knob. These trees had such a well-defined boundary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6722C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6722C11.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse in the Distance\" \/><\/a><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Courthouse in the Distance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6711.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6712.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6721.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6718.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6725.jpg\" alt=\"Little Sam's Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6715.jpg\" alt=\"Switchback of NC Route 215\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6716.jpg\" alt=\"Exposed Rock Face along NC Route 215\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6727.jpg\" alt=\"Patch of Pine Trees\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6722C11.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse in the Distance\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the top of Sam Knob.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6711.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6711.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6712.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6712.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6721.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6721.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6718.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6718.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6725.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6725.jpg\" alt=\"Little Sam's Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Sam&#8217;s Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A well-defined boundary of pine trees, occupying only its western slope.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6715.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6715.jpg\" alt=\"Switchback of NC Route 215\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Switchback of NC Route 215<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Between which were Bubbling Spring Falls, which I checked out next.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6716.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6716.jpg\" alt=\"Exposed Rock Face along NC Route 215\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Exposed Rock Face along NC Route 215<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6727.jpg\" alt=\"Patch of Pine Trees\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Patch of Pine Trees<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Behind which was the trailhead parking for Sam Knob. These trees had such a well-defined boundary.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6722C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6722C11.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse in the Distance\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Courthouse in the Distance<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In addition, the top of Sam Knob was a great place to launch a drone to tour the rolling mountains nearby.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0112.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0112.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0111.jpg\" alt=\"Parking Lot for Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Parking Lot for Sam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0115.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0115.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Sam Knob from the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0132.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Sam Knob from the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0136.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse\" \/><\/a><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Courthouse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DJI_0112.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DJI_0111.jpg\" alt=\"Parking Lot for Sam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DJI_0115.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DJI_0132.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DJI_0136.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the drone.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0112.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0112.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Trail to Sam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0111.jpg\" alt=\"Parking Lot for Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Parking Lot for Sam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0115.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0115.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Sam Knob from the West<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0132.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob from the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Sam Knob from the South<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0136.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Courthouse\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Courthouse<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0099_DJI_0109-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0099_DJI_0109-11.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DJI_0116_DJI_0128-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DJI_0116_DJI_0128-13.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills around Sam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rolling Hills around Sam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a video from the drone:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HCWNHUR9UDY\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left;line-height: 100%\">\n<li>0:00 Back to trailhead of Sam Knob<\/li>\n<li>0:31 Starting at trailhead, overflying Sam Knob and continued West.<\/li>\n<li>1:18 A more ambitious flight, towards the South, crossing Blue Ridge Parkway, ending at Devil&#8217;s Courthouse, a unique hill\/boulder and a popular attraction along the parkway.<\/li>\n<li>2:19 Flying back, taking a small detour towards a valley (NC Route 215).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After hiking to Sam Knob, I got back to my car at 3:15pm. Next, I made an unplanned visit to Bubbling Spring Falls, located along NC Route 215 off Blue Ridge Parkway.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Bubbling_Spring_Falls\">Bubbling Spring Falls<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite the name &#8220;falls&#8221;, it was more like a series of cascades along a creek. A few (small) parking lots along NC Route 215 provided access to the waterfalls, through some steep paths down the ravine.<br \/>\nIt turned out that the area was most popular with swimmers (just like two days ago at Upper Creek Falls, only that these waterfalls were more accessible). The cascades were steeper here, so I didn&#8217;t see anyone watersliding. Since I didn&#8217;t bring any swimwear, I quickly moved on.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_155152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_155217.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_155152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_155217.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154755.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154755.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154759.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154720C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154720C9.jpg\" width=\"85%\" alt=\"Hole in Pond\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hole in Pond<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I guessed this could be a perfect bathtub?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_155152.jpg\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_154755.jpg\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_154759.jpg\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_154720C9.jpg\" alt=\"Hole in Pond\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Bubbling Spring Falls.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_155152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_155217.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_155152.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_155217.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154755.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154755.jpg\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154759.jpg\" alt=\"Bubbling Spring Falls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bubbling Spring Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_154720C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_154720C9.jpg\" alt=\"Hole in Pond\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hole in Pond<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I guessed this could be a perfect bathtub?<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Black_Balsam_Knob\">Black Balsam Knob<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I returned to the Black Balsam Knob area and it&#8217;s past 4pm, so parking at Art Loeb Trailhead eased up. After some warmup, I headed towards Black Balsam Knob.<\/p>\n<p>Not long after getting onto the trail, I could appreciate the trail&#8217;s popularity. Just like last year at Grayson Highlands, the trail was among a landscape in between meadow and shallow bushes, which was novel for the area and allowed idyllic views of rolling hills all around. It&#8217;s constant enjoyment every step of the way till Black Balsam Knob.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6744.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Black Balsam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6741.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6741.jpg\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Balsam Knob<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6742.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Sams Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sams Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Which I visited hours earlier.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6739.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rolling Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Blue Ridge Parkway across the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_163140.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_163140.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rolling Hills<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6743.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6743.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6744.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6741.jpg\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6742.jpg\" alt=\"Sams Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6739.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_163140.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6743.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos along the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6744.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Black Balsam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6741.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6741.jpg\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Balsam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6742.jpg\" alt=\"Sams Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sams Knob<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Which I visited hours earlier.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6739.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6739.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rolling Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Blue Ridge Parkway across the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_163140.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_163140.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rolling Hills<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6743.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6743.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At 4:40pm, I reached Black Balsam Knob, which was an overlook made of some scattered boulders. It&#8217;s not prominent (hence accessible), but nonetheless offered great views of the landscape, characterized by shallow bushes and open valleys.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6759.jpg\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountainous Landscape<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_164528.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_164528.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountainous Landscape<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6760.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6760.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/a><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Parking Lot for Graveyard Falls, and just behind it, Looking Glass Rock.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6761.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/a><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6759.jpg\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_164528.jpg\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6760.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6761.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Black Balsam Knob.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6759.jpg\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountainous Landscape<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_164528.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_164528.jpg\" alt=\"Mountainous Landscape\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountainous Landscape<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6760.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6760.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Parking Lot for Graveyard Falls, and just behind it, Looking Glass Rock.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6761.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6747_DSC_6758-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6747_DSC_6758-12.jpg\" alt=\"View from Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Black Balsam Knob<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At this time, some raindrops were hitting my face. I didn&#8217;t have cellular coverage at Black Balsam Knob so I couldn&#8217;t check the radar maps. Captivated by the sceneries, I was in some sort of willful ignorance of the weather, my first mistake. I decided to continue on towards Tennent Mountain, which was just like Black Balsam Knob, a small hill above the surrounding landscape offering views.<\/p>\n<p>Then I made my second mistake. With a network of trails in the region, I should have chosen &#8220;Black Balsam Summit Trail&#8221; between Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. Instead, I continued along Art Loeb Trail, which ran parallel to the west and was longer in distance (!). While the section of Art Loeb Trail before Black Balsam Knob was laden with stunning scenery, for the section from Black Balsam Knob to Tennent Mountain, swarms of bugs replaced the scenery. They didn&#8217;t bite, but the quantities were just shocking.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_165226.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_165226.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6765.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6765.jpg\" width=\"91%\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sam Knob, Little Sam&#8217;s Knob, and Mount Hardy in the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170250.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170250.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170344.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170416.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170416.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170825.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170616.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_170616.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain Laurel<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_171331.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_171331.jpg\" width=\"81%\" alt=\"Trail to Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Tennent Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I wasn\u2019t sure why some ropes were buried into the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_165226.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6765.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_170250.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_170416.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_170616.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_171331.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Art Loeb Trail between Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_165226.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_165226.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6765.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6765.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sam Knob, Little Sam&#8217;s Knob, and Mount Hardy in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170250.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170250.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170344.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170416.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170416.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_170825.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_170616.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_170616.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain Laurel<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_171331.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_171331.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Tennent Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I wasn\u2019t sure why some ropes were buried into the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s 5:20pm by the time I reached Tennent Mountain. It&#8217;s like a smaller version of Black Balsam Knob, the boulders weren&#8217;t as spread out, the views not as broad.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6771_DSC_6785-15.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6771_DSC_6785-15.jpg\" alt=\"View from Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Tennent Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But I faced a bigger issue. Just as I was snapping the photos, I was hit with rain, this time it&#8217;s a proper downpour. The wind and rain came from the north. Earlier along the trail, I could see the mountains and valleys to the north were getting blurred by the incoming mist, and I was overly optimistic hoping the rain wouldn&#8217;t hit me.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172824.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172824.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Top of Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Top of Tennent Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some exposed rocks above the surrounding landscape, marking the inconspicuous summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6768.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6768.jpg\" width=\"95.1%\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Balsam Knob<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Where I was earlier. This side of Black Balsam Knob was covered in trees, like most other mountains in the region.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6767C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6767C11.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking Glass Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Illuminated by the sun, contrasted by the forests in the foreground that were under clouds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6770C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6770C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mount Pisgah<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Which I visited earlier today, now partly covered in clouds.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_172824.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6768.jpg\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6767C11.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6770C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172824.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172824.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Top of Tennent Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some exposed rocks above the surrounding landscape, marking the inconspicuous summit.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6768.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6768.jpg\" alt=\"Black Balsam Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Balsam Knob<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Where I was earlier. This side of Black Balsam Knob was covered in trees, like most other mountains in the region.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6767C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6767C11.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking Glass Rock<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Illuminated by the sun, contrasted by the forests in the foreground that were under clouds.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6770C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6770C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Pisgah\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mount Pisgah<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Which I visited earlier today, now partly covered in clouds.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6786.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6790.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6790.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172356.jpg\" width=\"80%\" alt=\"Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Taken over 1 minute after the previous photo. Now I lost sight of some of the hills in the background.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172506.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172506.jpg\" width=\"84%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Including Looking Glass Rock. Now the mountains were amid patches of mist, with rain coming.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172511.jpg\" width=\"84%\" alt=\"Art Loeb Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Art Loeb Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Continuing east. I thought this was my fastest way back to the parking lot.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6786.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6790.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_172356.jpg\" alt=\"Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_172506.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/20230704_172511.jpg\" alt=\"Art Loeb Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6786.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6790.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6790.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172356.jpg\" alt=\"Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Clouds Reaching over Tennent Mountain<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Taken over 1 minute after the previous photo. Now I lost sight of some of the hills in the background.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172506.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172506.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Including Looking Glass Rock. Now the mountains were amid patches of mist, with rain coming.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_172511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/20230704_172511.jpg\" alt=\"Art Loeb Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Art Loeb Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Continuing east. I thought this was my fastest way back to the parking lot.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Below is a video that I took from Tennent Mountain, the raindrops were very visible.<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/Tennent_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/Tennent_Mountain_Rain_2160p30_H265_10Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">27 seconds, 2160p30fps, H265only, 10Mbps for a total size of 36MB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Luckily, I didn&#8217;t come unprepared for the rain. My jacket was rain-resistant and I quickly put on a rain cover for my backpack. All that remains was for me to retreat to the car quickly.<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s when I made a third mistake. Had I preload maps for the area, I should have known there&#8217;s a trail leading west from Tennent Mountain that connected to Ivestor Gap Trail. Instead, I relied on offline Google Maps, which only displayed Art Loeb Trail continuing east as the fastest way to Ivestor Gap Trail.<br \/>\nIn the end, Art Loeb Trail beyond Tennent Mountain was not in great condition. It was narrow and very much overgrown. And this choice of trails meant I walked an additional 1.5km in the rain.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_175357.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_175357.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Ivestor Gap Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704_182755.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-m\/20230704_182755.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Ivestor Gap Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ivestor Gap Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">This was actually a offroad gravel road that followed the side of some hills. In the rain, this was the preferred way back to the car compared to tracing back along Art Loeb Trail, since it was lower than the ridgeline.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the end, I got back to the car at around 6:40pm, more than an hour after the rain started (by which time the rain almost stopped). And I was completely drenched, a rather unpleasant end on this Independence Day.<\/p>\n<p>After my best attempts at drying my clothes up, I started driving back towards my hotel in Asheville. The mountains along the way looked splendid as they were dressed by patches of clouds from the previous rain. It&#8217;s just that I wasn&#8217;t in the mood of appreciating them, having suffered tremendously in the rain myself.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6791.jpg\" alt=\"View of Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>View of Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from East Fork Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6793.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6793.jpg\" alt=\"Funneltop Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Funneltop Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from East Fork Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6796.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6796.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Mist\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6795.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6795.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway among Mist\" \/><\/a><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway among Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6801.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6798.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6798.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock amid Mist\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking Glass Rock amid Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6800.jpg\" alt=\"Black Mountain Surrounded by Mist\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Mountain Surrounded by Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook. The rolling clouds felt very dynamic from this shot.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6791.jpg\" alt=\"View of Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6793.jpg\" alt=\"Funneltop Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6796.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Mist\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6795.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway among Mist\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6801.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6798.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock amid Mist\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_6800.jpg\" alt=\"Black Mountain Surrounded by Mist\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6791.jpg\" alt=\"View of Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View of Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from East Fork Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6793.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6793.jpg\" alt=\"Funneltop Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Funneltop Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from East Fork Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6796.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6796.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Mist\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6795.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6795.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Ridge Parkway among Mist\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Blue Ridge Parkway among Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6801.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6798.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6798.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Glass Rock amid Mist\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking Glass Rock amid Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/DSC_6800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/07\/04\/thumbnails\/DSC_6800.jpg\" alt=\"Black Mountain Surrounded by Mist\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Mountain Surrounded by Mist<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">from Pounding Mill Overlook. The rolling clouds felt very dynamic from this shot.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>END<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Third day of my July 2023 trip to North Carolina. Today I checked out the portion of Blue Ridge Parkway between Beech Gap and Asheville, including some great hiking trails around Black Balsam Knob. Unfortunately, some unexpected events&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/04\/20230704black-balsem\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,619,2],"tags":[637],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8054"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8054"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8468,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8054\/revisions\/8468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}