Here's the rundown (long-post, but it's a good story):
The "Toll Road" or "Motor Road" goes from Black Mountain to Mount Mitchell-- only about 11.5 miles in a straight line, but 20 miles by the trail along the ridgelines. The route was built in 1915 or so to carry a railroad used to harvest timber throughout the Black Mountain Range.
The timbering was just about finished in the early 20s, and the road became a tourist route to Mount Mitchell, first as a railroad and then as a "toll road" for motor cars, through the 1920s and 1930s. Mt. Mitchell became the first state park in the 1920s, as folks wanted to see the highest peak east of the Mississippi.
When the Blue Ridge Parkway started development in the late 1930s, one of the first sections built passed by Mount Mitchell, so the private toll road was closed.
Today, the toll road is a hiker's route year-round. In winter, usually in February, the Black Mountain Marathon and Mount Mitchell Challenge run the toll road from downtown Black Mountain (elevation about 2500) to Mt Mitchelll (just above 6600) and back. Those folks are crazy.
The route is open to very few vehicles. One man and his wife live about halfway up the road -- no phone or electricity, but gorgeous views. He looks after a bear camp owned by the few private landowners left in the area -- most of the land in the area is owned by federal parks, muncipal watersheds, church retreats such as Montreat and Ridgecrest and non-profit foundations.
Here's the important part for Cruiser owners:
Once each year in August, as a fund-raiser, the Swannanoa Valley Museum (828-669-9566) sponsors a run up the toll road to Camp Alice, site of the resort at Mount Mitchell where the railroad used to dead-end. The cost this year was $75 per person for museum members and $100 for non-members, but drivers of cars capable of making the trip and willing to take three passengers can go free. (hint-hint, wink-wink)
Otherwise, about the only way to get a vehicle up there is to join the bear camp, but they only go about half-way up -- and the interesting parts of the route are alll above the bear camp.
I look forward to seeing a few of you guys next year.
LT
