"Summitted directly after bushwacking up to Gibbs Mountain. There is no sign from the Black Mountain Crest Trail showing the way to Celo Knob, so you have to check maps in advance and bring a GPS to help. Perfect weather. New sign at top. The geodetic survey marker is easily visible." — tlannin • Aug 31, 2019

"We took the MST to the “Trailhead” of Mount Hardy, marked by orange ribbon. The trail is pretty well defined, not as well as the MST but pretty easy to manage. Close to the summit we reached a USGS marker for “NO 2 Black MT 1933.” There is a nice campsite / sitting area in a field very close to the summit. It was a gorgeous day, and the weather was perfect. On our way back down we decided to take a side trail, marked by blue ribbon. We assumed it was to another overlook, but the trail continued down the side of the mountain. We checked the GPS and realized we were headed toward the Parkway. We hiked the rest of the way from the Parkway to 215 and back to our parking lot. " — ChrisM • Nov 7, 2018

"Today was quite the warm day, with temperatures on the trail around 75. I hiked up the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Greybeard Mountain Overlook. It was a short, but steep hike. About 100-200 yards in, the trail veers to the right to cross the BRP. At that point I went to the left and followed a well established trail. After a short time the trail began ascending up the mountain. There are a couple of quick scrambles over rocks. After passing through a rocky, mossy area, the trail closed in, as there were many thick rhodedens along the way. I came upon a false summit and stopped for a breather. Once I got to the top, the views were expansive and amazing. There were several overlapping trails on the summit, but all seemed to lead back to the main path. There were 3 different borders up there that I could stand on to see above the trees and brush. " — ChrisM • May 13, 2018

"This trip was on the most beautiful day for a hike. I began at the Art Loeb Trail where it intersects Black Balaam Rd and began my climb, meandering through the forest. After popping up out of the trees, there are 360 degree views. This is probably my favorite hike, because of the beautiful scenery for most of the hike. I passed by a couple getting married as well as several other hikers along the way to Black Balsam Knob. One I reached the top, I realized that I had plenty more time before sunset. So I continued on to Tennent Mountain. I left the crowd behind at Black Balsam and immediately had the trail to myself on the descent. I passed through fields of rhododendrons on the way down. The path gets pretty tight here and there is a lot of erosion. There is plenty of open rock face here as well. After dropping getting to the bottom the trail picks right back up on ascent to Tennent. Much of the climb is open rock face. At the top there is a plaque for Tennent Mountain. The sweeping views are amazing. For little effort you get a big reward here. " — ChrisM • Apr 28, 2018

"This trip was on the most beautiful day for a hike. I began at the Art Loeb Trail where it intersects Black Balaam Rd and began my climb, meandering through the forest. After popping up out of the trees, there are 360 degree views. This is probably my favorite hike, because of the beautiful scenery for most of the hike. I passed by a couple getting married as well as several other hikers along the way to Black Balsam Knob. One I reached the top, I realized that I had plenty more time before sunset. So I continued on to Tennent Mountain. I left the crowd behind at Black Balsam and immediately had the trail to myself on the descent. I passed through fields of rhododendrons on the way down. The path gets pretty tight here and there is a lot of erosion. There is plenty of open rock face here as well. After dropping getting to the bottom the trail picks right back up on ascent to Tennent. Much of the climb is open rock face. At the top there is a plaque for Tennent Mountain. The sweeping views are amazing. For little effort you get a big reward here." — ChrisM • Apr 28, 2018