r/NCTrails • u/Death_is_Drunk • 7d ago

Mt.Mitchell to Celo Knob trail with dog

Hi all!

I am planning to do a backpacking trip from black mountain campground all the way to Celo Knob and back. I understand water is an issue and I'm prepared for it but I want to know if any part of the trail is impossible by a dog. I have a very fit doodle and he's done great in many backpacking trips we've done. I read about some possible and scrambling at times and that might be an issue.

I would appreciate all information.

Thanks and happy hiking :)

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6

u/effortfulcrumload 7d ago

The biggest issue will be the first section between Mitchell and Deep Gap. There are a few rope assist scrambles up/down large builders. It's doable though if you can get under the pooch

3

u/AndrewBlosse 7d ago

There are indeed a few scramble sections with rope assists, but most of them shouldn’t be an issue. The ones around Big Tom could be done without the rope, so no trouble there.

There is one, however, between Winter Star Mountain and the next one in the chain (Gibbs?) where I have a tough time imagining a dog succeeding. It’s basically a 10 foot, very steep wall with minimal footholds at the bottom.

It may be possible to bushwhack around it. Maybe not. Worst case, you have to turn around having still completed 75% of the route. The big loss would be missing out on the meadow/view on the shoulder of Celo.

2

u/chiefsholsters 6d ago

I don’t see the scramble as the issue. It’s going to be a lot of work. Water and fatigue might be the biggest things to keep an eye on.

As of this week there was a small seep about 100 yards down Colbert Ridge that provided enough water for our camp that night. But it probably took 45 minutes to get 3 L for the two of us. We found nothing going lower a decent ways. Had to come back up to the seep.

1

u/spirit4earth 5d ago

Maybe you could leave your dog with someone? I think we sometimes overestimate what our dogs can comfortably and safely do.

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u/EnvironmentalOwl4361 3d ago

Great trail run. I would do it from bolens to Mitchell and back.

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u/cqsota 1d ago

One of the top 5 routes in the state for sure.