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Forest Fire Lookout Association |
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North Carolina |
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Chapter |
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Lookout Access
Mt. Mitchell The new tower atop Mt. Mitchell is now open and accessible to the public. Mt. Mitchell & Green Knob - Driving Access A rockslide and roadway failure has closed the Parkway between Craggy Pinnacles and the entrance to Mount Mitchell State Park. Access to Mount Mitchell and Green Knob is not possible from Asheville at this time. This closure is expected to continue until 2009. Entrance to the state park is still possible from the North Carolina Highway 80 entrance to the Parkway. For updated conditions, check: http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm Joanna Bald: A lookout access date to the cab and catwalk is on hold due to necessary structure repairs to ensure safety on the Joanna Bald lookout. Upon completion of repairs, former tower watchman and FFLA member, Marshall McClung, will be volunteer staffing the tower to answer questions and share his stories from the lookout for hikers and visitors. McClung staffed the tower during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Updates on the structure repairs of the tower will be posted when available; check back soon for more information. Bearwallow Mountain: Access to the tower and cab is currently restricted by a chain link fence and negative signage. The NC chapter of the FFLA is currently negotiating with the NC Division of Forest Resources to schedule periodic access dates to this tower. However, the tower is situated on a bald mountaintop that offers most of the views available from the lookout. Therefore, the vistas from this bald are nearly as impressive as from atop the tower itself, certainly still warranting a hike to the top. Only views to the east, including Hickory Nut Gorge, Rumbling Bald, and Sugarloaf Mountain, are restricted without the advantage of the lookout. Duckett Top: The NC chapter of the FFLA continues ongoing negotiations with landowners to the southern approach via Duckett Top Tower Rd. to the summit of Rich Knob and the lookout. Check with Briar Rose Farm by email for the most up to date access information. Camp Creek Bald / Albert Mountain / Cowee Bald: Access dates for the catwalks and cabs of these towers are being negotiated with the U.S. Forest Service. Check back soon for updated information. Walker Top: Check back soon for updates. Wayah Bald: Despite some recent structural deterioration, the Wayah Bald lookout tower is open and accessible. |
