Breakfast:
In the dining hall, we’ll choose from egg dishes, hot and cold cereal, and breads with beverage choices of coffee, tea, water, orange and apple juices. We’ll then pack lunches and snacks for today’s hike from some basic options (which may vary throughout the week) for preparing sandwiches, chips and cookies selections, fresh fruit and water to fill your water bottles.
Morning:
We’ll begin today’s hike at the Pickens Nose trailhead at Mooney Gap and ascend to a rocky ridge where the trail levels out. The short, .75 mile (one way) hike will bring us through a beautiful mature oak forest with an understory of Rosebay Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel. We’ll enjoy three overlooks along the trail, with those from Pickens Nose (5000’) being exceptionally scenic.
Lunch:
Packed lunches along the trail.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we will hike the Big Laurel Falls Trail through a forest of hemlock, rhododendron and some incredible, old and unique Yellow Birch (one of our highlights today). The trail follows an old railroad grade with moderate elevation gains. We will walk 0.6 miles each way accompanied by Kilby Creek and Big Laurel Branch before reaching the outstanding Big Laurel Falls.
Dinner:
In the dining hall.
Evening:
Our evening presentations will be by a local musician sharing Appalachian ballads and other traditional music and instruments, or a storyteller.