Climbing Mount Mitchell

Fall is a good time to try your hill climbing skills on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A popular route is from the Folk Arts Center as far as you want towards the top of Mt. Mitchell. It's even better right now, since the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed on the other side of Mt. Mitchell, and may be closed for quite a while. This cuts the traffic down quite a bit, so the road is open and traffic is light. Now is a good time to ride from the Folk Arts Center Mt. Mitchell.

Tips for riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Best time to ride is sunrise to noon. From noon to 4:00 PM is the worst time due to the number of cars.
Avoid the commuter sections. These are the sections between main roads like Hendersonville Highway and Highway 74. These have the fewest hills, but the most automobile traffic.
Walk through the tunnels. The tunnels are not lighted and get quite dark towards the middle. There is not enough time for drivers to accommodate to the darkness. Bicycle riders are very difficult to see.
The darkness in the middle of the tunnels makes it difficult to keep your balance. One rider got disoriented in the middle of one of the tunnels leading up to Mt. Pisgah and ended up crashing into the wall. Even with a good light, it is difficult to keep oriented. There is just not enough time for the eyes to adjust from bright sunlight to almost total darkness.
Don't pet the bears. A nice 300 pound black bear was sighted on the Blue Ridge Parkway about 10 miles north of the Folk Arts Center. He was crossing the road and enjoying all acorns. There is no safe distance from bears. They can easily outrun humans. As long as you are not the slowest person in your group, you should be fine. Give bears a wide berth, especially females with cubs.

Ride safe, ride smart.

Paul D. King
Asheville, NC
September 12, 2004

Home | Top | Mail