A great hike I took in early December 2005. If you are wondering, yes, this is "the" Cold Mountain. It was made famous in the bestselling novel by Charles Frazier and later the hollywood movie. This hike climbs almost 3000 feet from Camp Daniel Boone to the summit at 6030'.
This interesting rock formation towers at least 25' high above the trail not far from the summit ridge - 5500'
The view west across West Fork Pigeon River valley to Lickstone Ridge - 5680'
As you climb higher along the summit ridge the views behind you open up. The high ridge in the distance is the Lickstone Ridge, the westernmost extension of the Great Balsam Mountains. I believe the highest peak center is Richland Balsam(6410') - 5850'
Countless peaks and ridges stretch out to the western horizon. Not far from the summit of Cold Mountain - 5900'
Early in the 20th century Cold Mountain was a grassy bald. The animals that kept the mountain cleared are gone and, as you can see, the forest has reclaimed the upper reaches of the mountain - 5750'
The town of Canton and its disgusting, polluting paper mill are clearly visible through the trees to the north as you approach the summit - 5940'
As you top out near the summit the foliage closes in - 5950'
As I near it, the summit appears above the brush - 5900'
SUMMIT - The USGS benchmark is on a large rock on the right of the trail. Its easily visible as seen here - 6030'
Within a few hundred yards of the summit the trail breaks into the open as it skirts the south edge of the summit ridge - 6000'
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