This email went out to all rostered club members at the end of May. Any member that did not get it should contact me to update contact information.
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Weather is warming up and you have been locked down too long, but don't worry, it will get hotter. In the cool shadow of Mount Mitchell is the Black Mountain/Briar Bottom camp ground. It must be reserved almost a year in advance to take advantage of the mountain streams and Blue Ridge breezes. So, we did that. After last year's great time, we did it twice! We have doubled the capacity (20 vehicles).
We have reserved two campsites and hope to have them split the following way. There may be some overflow and we will attempt to accommodate as best we can.
Family site: You are coming with kids. Group meals will be around this pavilion. The kids won't be bothered by late night campfire festivities during bed time, and won't bother the night owls in the morning until they are ready for their coffee.
Grown Ups site: No kids to wrangle. The club campfire will be here, and may include kids around until later in the evening.
Signups are limited to UC members only, 1 vehicle spot per, until we are two weeks out if we have any remaining slots. This email is the only notification for right now but a thread will be started later in June.
7/17-19: Briar Bottom Group Camp; Poplar and Laurel sites
$40/UC Member, $45/non-member for the weekend. Funds will cover the site, dinner Saturday night, and ancillary items for the group. PayPal as friend to info@upstatecruisers.com. No refunds* but if we fill up someone on the waitlist can buy your spot from you. That is between you and them, but you will need to let us know you have released it to them.
This will be a loose schedule. Do as little or as much as you want. Want to come alone and solo hike the extra 3000+ feet to Mt. Mitchell? Cool. Want to bring the family and play in the creek? Cool too. Nearby is also the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Flats Offroad Park, Linville Gorge, numerous hiking trails, and so on. Anyone familiar with the area is encouraged to use the thread to share activities or lead a group. Whatever you do during the day, we will meet back around the fire to tell about it.
Hope to see you there!
*COVID-19 Contingency - The campground is currently closed but slated to reopen June 15. You will be refunded your payment if the event is cancelled due to extended closures.
From the Forest Service:
From Asheville, North Carolina, take I-26 west to exit 9 onto 19 east toward Burnsville. Follow 19 to Micaville and turn right onto Highway 80. Continue south approximately 12-14 miles to Mount Mitchell Golf Course. Turn right on South Toe River Road and follow signs to Black Mountain Campground. Campers must enter through the main gate at Black Mountain Campground to get to Briar Bottom.
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Weather is warming up and you have been locked down too long, but don't worry, it will get hotter. In the cool shadow of Mount Mitchell is the Black Mountain/Briar Bottom camp ground. It must be reserved almost a year in advance to take advantage of the mountain streams and Blue Ridge breezes. So, we did that. After last year's great time, we did it twice! We have doubled the capacity (20 vehicles).
We have reserved two campsites and hope to have them split the following way. There may be some overflow and we will attempt to accommodate as best we can.
Family site: You are coming with kids. Group meals will be around this pavilion. The kids won't be bothered by late night campfire festivities during bed time, and won't bother the night owls in the morning until they are ready for their coffee.
Grown Ups site: No kids to wrangle. The club campfire will be here, and may include kids around until later in the evening.
7/17-19: Briar Bottom Group Camp; Poplar and Laurel sites
$40/UC Member, $45/non-member for the weekend. Funds will cover the site, dinner Saturday night, and ancillary items for the group. PayPal as friend to info@upstatecruisers.com. No refunds* but if we fill up someone on the waitlist can buy your spot from you. That is between you and them, but you will need to let us know you have released it to them.
This will be a loose schedule. Do as little or as much as you want. Want to come alone and solo hike the extra 3000+ feet to Mt. Mitchell? Cool. Want to bring the family and play in the creek? Cool too. Nearby is also the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Flats Offroad Park, Linville Gorge, numerous hiking trails, and so on. Anyone familiar with the area is encouraged to use the thread to share activities or lead a group. Whatever you do during the day, we will meet back around the fire to tell about it.
Hope to see you there!
*COVID-19 Contingency - The campground is currently closed but slated to reopen June 15. You will be refunded your payment if the event is cancelled due to extended closures.
From the Forest Service:
- This is a tent-only campground; no wheeled camping units or RVs permitted (they were okay with trailers in the site last year, but no guarantees)
- Campground open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; notify campground of late arrivals by calling 828-675-5616
- Campers must enter through Black Mountain Campground to reach this facility
- Daily fees are for up to 50 people and 10 vehicles per site
- No public address systems are allowed
- This facility is located within a bear sanctuary; keep all food out of site in containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle, secure trash in provided bins and remove all food from area after eating
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
From Asheville, North Carolina, take I-26 west to exit 9 onto 19 east toward Burnsville. Follow 19 to Micaville and turn right onto Highway 80. Continue south approximately 12-14 miles to Mount Mitchell Golf Course. Turn right on South Toe River Road and follow signs to Black Mountain Campground. Campers must enter through the main gate at Black Mountain Campground to get to Briar Bottom.
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11 more slots before we start the wait list. And then you get to renew too (you could do that now of course). 
