Bracken Mountain/Brushy Creek, Brevard

Date	Distance	Time	Elevation Gain	Average Moving Time	Year to Date Miles
12/25/2022	8 miles	5 hours	1,166'	2.1	980.3

Parking: 

• See 100 Favorite Trails Map
• There is limited parking here, and although we had no problem today, I was told that parking fills up quickly, even on a weekday.

Maps:

• Official Bracken Map with Pinnacle.pdf (cityofbrevard.com)
• 100 Favorite Trails of the Smokies and the Carolina Blue Ridge

Directions:

• See 100 Favorite Trails Map

   

Carolina Mountain Club Challenges

• 100 Favorite Trails Challenge

I joined Karen on a CMC hike on the 100 Favorite Trails List. It was a cold day, but not as cold as the past couple of days. I was antsy to get outside after spending 2 days inside. Glen decided it was too cold for him and stayed home. 8 of us went hiking. We met at the Asheville Outlets, where a security guard questioned what we were doing. He was kind of cranky about us parking there. 

This was a pleasant hike, starting with a climb, which is a good way to warm up. I wore my balaclava, which I haven't worn in a long time. I bought it for when we did winter hiking in the Catskills. It did the trick. Again, my mittens got wet from sweat, so after lunch, I had to use hand warmers to warm them up. I do want to look into electronic handwarmers more. The trails were very well marked, both with blazes and informational signs. Apparently, there are 2 or 3 hike variations that can be done here - a hike to the fish hatchery, a new pink blazed trail, and a hike to the Pinnacle.

Lunch spot at the shelter