HUCKLEBERRY BALD

The 5600 foot summit of Huckleberry Bald is the highest peak on the Cherohala Skyway in Graham County, North Carolina.  My Faithful Hiking Companion and I visited this wonderful spot in the late August evening.  We were the only hikers on the summit and enjoyed the 360 degree view of the world from this wonderful bald top mountain.

You can find the trail head near mile marker 9 on the Cherohala Skyway which leads from Robbinsville North Carolina to Tellico Plains Tennessee.  The Skyway is known for its scenic curvy drive across the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina.  Built in 1996, the name was taken from both National Forests..."Chero" "Hala".  Huckleberry Bald trailhead is easy to find if you pay attention to the elevation signs.  The trailhead is at 5300 feet and the trail begins at a fire road next to the sign shown above.

From this point there is a hike of 2.5 miles round trip mostly along a fire road crossing a lower bald, through a wooded area emerging on the summit of a larger bald.  It is a thumper but not too strenuous. We hiked at the end of the day. It was about 75 degrees.  I imagine a hike in the middle of the day may be pretty hot as most of the hike is through a large open field.  Remember to stay hydrated.

About a quarter mile mark, the gravel fire road merges with a grassy path in a lower bald.  Be sure to wear long pants on this hike as the grass is thigh high. The grass is full of summer wild flowers and butterflies.

The upper bald destination is easily seen.  Once you reach the summit of the lower bald, there is a decline to the base of a wooded incline, there the trail again returns to an established fire road.  This is the halfway point to the summit.  The climb will get your heart rate up but it is a short and very manageable climb.  

Don't dismiss the views from the lower bald. The low clouds, the flowers, butterflies and views of the upper bald make this a very pleasant part of the hike especially when it is coupled with a cool breeze!

Emerging from the woods, the upper bald summit opens up and a narrow trail through the high grass leads to a very impressive memorial to two men who died over 100 years ago on top of this mountain.  It seems that in 1899, two men set out for Robbinsville in the middle of the winter but never got there.  A year later their bodies and several empty jugs of whiskey were found near the summit of Huckleberry Bald. Drunk and lost they froze to death.  For some reason only the body of Andy Sherman was interred there. The body of the other man, Paul O'Neill was given to a local doctor as a medical exhibit.

Passing by the gravesite, we found the summit about 100 yards away.  From that point there is a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountain ranges.  

There was a stunning vista in every direction we looked.  First to the east:

The blue mountains of the Nantahala National Forest seem to mingle easily with the clouds. 

To the southeast a view of the lower bald is seen.  It seems so far away but provides a nice contrast to the distant blue ridges that seem to roll on live sea waves.

The northern sky bore an ominous bank of clouds which fortunately moved on without raining on our hike.

We could also see the skyway

leading up the mountain from Robbinsville.

The western view into Tennessee was the most interesting.  Many mountains and nearby peaks were outlined in various shades of blue.

My Faithful Hiking Companion was most intrigued  by a small copse of "Christmas Trees" on the ridge.

I can imagine the beauty of this place in autumn is indeed stunning.  Wintertime would be interesting as well.  But camping on top of this ridge beneath stars might be a real experience, that is unless you are afraid of the ghost of Paul O'Neill looking for Andy Sherman... or perhaps another drink of whiskey!

Many thoughts carried with me as I trudged back to the car.  The beauty of the mountains outlined against the sky, the delicate flowers growing wild along the path, and the colorful butterflies that seemed to emerge like flying flowers in our path.  Indeed if the very hairs of my head are numbered by the same artist who frames the ever changing outlines of the sky with mountains that are thousands of years old, and takes time to paint the multi-colored wings of butterflies that live but a few days, how majestic must He be!

"But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you, or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In this His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."  Job 12: 7-10

Amen!

What can I say about a magnificent hike like this?! The access is ideal, the trail is easily found and well maintained, the scenery is spectacular and the effort to view ratio is about as good as it gets for a short hike.  This is a grade 10 hike that one everyone should experience.  I can't wait to do it again!

In Memoriam  

Cynthia Anne Walker Mikesell 

August 4, 1952- August 12, 2020

1 Corinthians 13:7