Shut-in Trail and Lake Powhatan Loop

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
2/13/2022	11 miles	5 hours 10 minutes	1,374'	2.5 mph	86.7

Parking: Route 191, just south of the arboretum

Maps:

• Pisgah Map Co. Pisgah Ranger District (for navigation)
• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge (for directions)

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails map
• MST south to Sleepy Gap. Turn right onto Sleepy Gap Trail. Turn right onto Explorer Loop Trail. Turn right onto Pine Tree Loop Trail. Turn right onto Wesley Branch Road. At the lake, turn right onto Homestead Trail. Turn right onto Bent Creek Trail. Return to parking area

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges:

• 100 Favorite Trails Challenge #75
• Pisgah 400 Challenge - Sleepy Gap Trail #339

We joined the CMC for a brisk hike. Not many photos, because it was cold and windy and I just didn't want to take my mittens off. I even had to use hand warmers today! I think the windchill was in the teens. But, at least the hike was snow free, and I got to leave my microspikes in the car. The first half of the hike has some climbs, so that warmed me up. We passed by Lake Powhatan - I need to take Krummholz swimming there sometime. I met a guest hiker today who is house sitting for a month in Asheville - he's from the same county I lived in, in NY - so we talked about NY trails. Small world.