Middle Prong Wilderness

[Bruce Hudson]

Maybe it's the case that when de Hart describes the need to "rock hop" across the river this particular 65 year old guy should with a 35+ pack should just avoid those hike. Over the holiday I wanted to take advantage of the long week, but also wanted to avoid what I knew to be the largest crowds in Pisgah. And for some reason I've been curious about Middle Prong for a while. de Hart suggests working out of the Sunburst camp grounds off of 215 to get to the trail head for the Haywood Gap trial via an old logging road that runs south out of Sunburst. No problem, a little further on the gravel logging road then I might like but the trail head was clear and the trail easy to follow. However, I gather the I was to rock hop the middle prong at an area in which the trail seemed to dead end with the river running pretty strongly and a little water falls at the south end of the visible area. I always hike alone and as little as that trail is hiked I couldn't see myself trying to negotiate those rocks. It was probably there had I gotten across but there was no sign of a trial on the other side from where I was.

I had the same problem on Big East Fork off of 276 when you have to rock hop across the east fork of the Pigeon River to get to the Greasy Cove Trail. I guess I'm wondering if many people are backpacking those trails with full packs or am I just too protective of my old bones to take the risk. Is the Middle Prong worth the effort if I go in via a different trail? Any recommendations?

Bruce Hudson

[Delirious Nomad]

I love Big East Fork trail. I 've taken it several times and crossed the fork to head up to Shining Rock. Beautiful trail. I have rock hopped using trekking poles,and it's not too bad if you cross a bit right of where the trail hits the water.

I have also been to Middle Prong - and honestly I was not all that impressed. It was just sort of an average hike. We went in from the BRP and headed in from that direction and returned in sort of a loop. If you are driving from Raleigh - I would recommend Big East Fork over Middle Prong.

Something else I have started doing is carrying Tevas or other water shoe. If the rains come and the water gets high - it definitely helps to be able to change to the sandals and wade through the water. Sure - it's kind of a pain to have to stop and switch footwear, but it's just worth it sometimes...

[Berserker]

I have also been to Middle Prong - and honestly I was not all that impressed. It was just sort of an average hike. We went in from the BRP and headed in from that direction and returned in sort of a loop. If you are driving from Raleigh - I would recommend Big East Fork over Middle Prong.

I was with DN on this hike, and yeah that section was not real exciting. There wasn't anybody on it though if you are looking for solitude. I have also been up on top of Green Knob, and that was actually a pretty cool hike. It is a tough climb to the top though, and the trail is not real well defined.

[humunuku]

I like middle prong, it doesn't have the wow factor that shining rock has, up it has it's got some good stuff.
Green Mtn Trail (#113) is pretty over grown and is silly steep leaving for Sunburst area...but what you get for you calf destroying climbing in some great views of Shining Rock wilderness area from a different vantage point, its pretty cool looking at all the mountain that i usually hike from that side. Also toward the south end of Green Mtn is a nice "private" bald...very few people up there, but fantastic views.
I would never ever want to go down to sunburst on this trail..esp. if it is wet

Haywood (#142) is nice, no views, but some nice water falls, you do need to cross the river before the bigger falls and go directly up the bank (kinda steep and not obvious), once your across that, the train is easy to follow...quite trail.

I haven't done Buckeye (104) but i'm sure spiritwalker will describe that for you.

The MTS thru Middle prong and East along the parkway is great.

My suggestion is check out Middle Prong and Shining rock on the same trips. You can loop them together with the MST and Fork Mtn...