Date: Saturday, October 13
Time: Starting at 10:00 am
Where: Plott Balsam Mountains off the Blue Ridge Parkway
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous (7-8) — 6-mile hike with rugged terrain
Cost: FREE for all participants
Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Highland Brewing Company for a moderately difficult hike to enjoy views of Thunderstruck Ridge, for which Highland’s latest seasonal is named. Participants will travel over 5 miles of rugged terrain, through red spruce and fraser firs, red oak forest, and other high elevation trees while occasionally stopping at rock outcroppings for views of Thunderstruck Ridge.
The group will hike through the 1,595-acre Plott Balsam Preserve and eventually reach Blackrock Mountain, which SAHC protected in 2013, at a towering 5,600 feet of elevation. This beautiful section of mountains can be seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway. SAHC’s conservation work in this area protects high elevation habitat and pristine headwater streams. So come out and let’s celebrate Thunderstruck Coffee Porter and land conservation together. This hike is FREE for everyone!
Following the hike, we will meet for a Thunderstruck pint at Highland Brewing Company!
Hike difficulty ratings are based on this formula: (0.002 x elevation gain (ft.)) + round trip distance (mi.) = difficulty rating (1 – 10+)
