SHINING ROCK & MIDDLEPRONG

This rock outcrop, known as “the ,” is filled with shiney quartz, hence the name, . Land of ridges • steep terrain • streams hining RockWilderness in Rock and is also in the . The Pisgah National Forest is wilderness is also made up of steep and rugged high- made up of a series of high- elevation ridges. Elevations range from 3,200 feet at elevation ridges on the north the west fork of the Pigeon River to 6,400 feet near slopes of Pisgah ridge. The . The west fork and middle prong of terrain is extremely steep and the Pigeon River are born amid the high valleys of this rugged, with elevations rang- wilderness and are fed by numerous streams. S ing from 3,200 feet on the Shining Rock was designated a wild area on May West Fork Pigeon River to 6,030 feet on Cold Moun- 7, 1964. With the signing of the Wilderness Act in tain. Shining Rock Ledge, which forms the area’s 1964 by Congress, Shining Rock became one of the backbone, is over 5,000 feet high, with five peaks at original areas of the National Wilderness System. The 6,000 feet. Streams and drainages abound to form the 1984 Wilderness Act increased the east and west forks of Pigeon River, a major tributary original 13,600 acres to the present 18,483 acres. The of the Tennessee River. 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act created the lies west of Shining 7,460-acre Middle Prong Wilderness. value. The guiding principle is to allow the natural processes to shape the environment. The act also required wilder- ness to retain “its primeval charac- ter and influence” and that it be protected and managed so it “ap- pears to have been affected prima- rily by the force of nature.”

Experience wilderness As a visitor to the wilderness, you will be faced with the chal- lenge of being completely on your own away from the comforts and conveniences of civilization. No trail signs, shelters, campgrounds, water spigots, vehicles, or restrooms are available. You probably can follow the more popular trails in the area, even though they are not marked, but you should know how to read a topographic map and use a com- pass. Most wilderness trails in the mountains are primitive, rugged, and often steep. Stream crossings can be tricky, because bridges are not provided. Backpackers take a break to enjoy spectacular vistas of wildernesses. Before you enter the wilderness, ask yourself if you truly want a Wilderness is ...? wilderness experience. You can explore the backcountry of the Wilderness means different bills identified specific areas, such national forests on hundreds of things to different people. To as Shining Rock, as worthy of other trails. Outside of wilderness, some people, wilderness is a state special management requirements trails are maintained, and usually of mind: an opportunity for that are different from most other signed and blazed. Many trails solitude, contemplation, or chal- Federal lands. Wilderness is de- offer wonderful opportunities for lenge. To others, wilderness is a fined as “…an area where the earth solitude, challenge, and magnifi- place of scenic beauty touched and its community of life are cent mountain scenery. only by nature. untrammeled by man, where man Congress considered the wild himself is a visitor who does not lands of America to be so pre- remain.” cious—culturally and ecologi- If a choice must be made cally—that it legislated their between wilderness values and protection with the 1964 Wilder- human use, preserving the wilder- ness Act. This act and follow-up ness resource is the overriding Spring arrives in Shining Rock Wilderness with a blanket of wildflowers. ● Collections of berries and nuts if only for per Seeking solitude sonal use. ● Since Shining Rock is one of the most heavily used Scientific research compatible with wilderness values. wildernesses, some Shining Rock trails offer little ● opportunity for solitude. For greater solitude, avoid Administrative use of motorized equipment in visiting in the summer, early fall, and especially on the extreme emergencies. weekends. You should also be willing to hike a dis- tance away from the trailhead and avoid Shining Rock Gap and trails that are heavily used. The Mountains- What is prohibited to-the-Sea Trail is the most used in Middle Prong. in wilderness? ● Permanent structures. What is allowed ● New road construction. ● Timber harvesting. in wilderness? ● Mechanical transport (No bicycles, wagons, or ● Primitive recreation activities, such as backpack- carts. Nonmotorized wheelchairs are allowed, ing and camping. but no special accommodations are made: all ● Hunting and fishing under State and Federal laws. trails are narrow, rocky, and steep). ● Trail construction and maintenance to primitive ● Motorized vehicles and equipment. standards. ● Removal of plants, stone, or moss. ● Outfitting and guiding services under special-use ● Removal of historical or archeological artifacts. permits. SHINING ROCK WILDERNESS TRAILS TRAIL NAME NO. MILEAGE DIFFICULTY USER Art Loeb (3)...... 4 ...... 6.8 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Art Loeb (4)...... 5 ...... 3.8...... Difficult ...... Hiker Big East Fork ...... 14 ...... 3.4 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker ...... 39 ...... 1.4 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Fork Mountain ...... 59 ...... 6.0 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Greasy Cove...... 66 ...... 3.2...... Difficult ...... Hiker Ivestor Gap ...... 72 ...... 3.7 ...... Easy...... Hiker, Horse

Little East Fork...... 81 ...... 5.4 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker, Horse

Old Butt ...... 100 ...... 3.6 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Shining Creek...... 114 ...... 3.4 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker

MIDDLE PRONG WILDERNESS TRAILS TRAIL NAME NO. MILEAGE DIFFICULTY USER Buckeye Gap ...... 22 ...... 3.1 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Green Mountain ...... 67 ...... 5.0 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Haywood Gap...... 68 ...... 6.0 ...... Difficult ...... Hiker Mountains-to-the-Sea...... 91 ...... 7.8...... Difficult ...... Hiker

Carry the 12 esssentials

● Tell a responsible person your complete travel plans; include a description of your vehicle, where you are going, and when you will return. ● Carry the 12 essentials, even on a day hike, and know how to use them: — map and compass, — whistle (to signal for help), — flashlight, — waterproof matches, — candle (to help start a fire in emergencies), — sharp knife, — first aid kit, — extra food, — water, — space blanket or poncho, — nylon cord (to create an emergency shelter), ● Be aware of hunting season. Wear hunter orange — extra clothing. clothing during hunting seasons. ● Refer to your map often and know where you are ● Be aware that ticks, stinging insects, poisonous at all times. snakes, and poison ivy are present. ● Don’t expect a cell phone to help you—service is ● Pack proper clothing and equipment. often unavailable in the mountains Be wise in planning To maintain ● The most common cause for search and rescues is wilderness values: underestimating the time required to hike and over estimating your ability. ■ No campfires are permitted. ● You can only travel at the speed of the slowest hiker in your group. For safety, don’t hike alone. ■ Group size is limited to 10 people. ● Allow an average pace of 2 miles per hour in ■ mountain terrain, plus 1 hour for every 1,000 feet Trails are NOT signed or blazed. of elevation gain. ● ■ Avoid physical exhaustion. Exhaustion leads to No motorized equipment is exposure or accidents. permitted (no chainsaws). ■ No wheeled vehicles are permitted If you get lost, . . . . (no carts, no bicycles). ● Keep calm and stay put. Panic is your greatest enemy. ● If you spend an unexpected night out, use clothing and shelter to stay warm and dry. Pile brush Trail difficulty around you to get protection from wind and cold. ● All Shining Rock and Middle Prong trails are Rescuers will be able to find you if you don’t rated “difficult,” except Ivestor Gap. Only those move around. Use your whistle to signal for help; who have the equipment, knowledge, and experi- a whistle will outlast your voice. ● ence to meet any condition of terrain, climate, or In an emergency, start a fire for warmth, comfort, exertion should attempt leaving the trails. and to help rescuers locate you. EASY: Obvious routes requir- ing little skill or challenge to Beware of bad water follow. They have easy grades ● A mountain stream may look clear and pure, but and a relatively smooth tread, it may harbor microscopic parasites that can with some short pitches up to make you sick. Boil or treat all drinking water. 20 percent maximum, ● Avoid dehydration. Drink as often as you feel thirsty. An adult needs 3 to 4 quarts of water per MODERATE: Routes that are day when hiking. usually recognizable, but require some skill and chal- lenge to travel. They have Be considerate moderate grades and a smooth ● Respect other visitors and protect the quality of to rough tread, with some their experience. steep pitches up to 30 percent ● Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. maximum. ● Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock. DIFFICULT: Route may not ● Camp away from trails and other visitors. be recognizable and will ● Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud noices. require a high degree of skill and challenge to follow. Difficult routes have a steep, strenuous grade, a rough tread, Properly dispose of waste

● Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. ● Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6-8 inches deep at least 200 feet (70 adult paces) from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. ● Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products in zip lock bags or at least bury all toilet paper in the cathole. Do not burn your toilet paper. ● To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use little Dig catholes at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. biodegradable soap. Scatter dishwater.

● To avoid damage to the soils, bring a backpack Watch body temp stove. ● ● Treat hypothermia quickly by drying and warm- Carry adequate water. Adults need 3-4 quarts of ing the victim. The victim may deny any problem water per day when hiking. Surface water should ● Believe the symptoms, not the victim. be boiled for at least a minute or purified. ● ● To prevent hypothermia, layer clothing. Put on Be aware of Giardia and Cryptosporidium. These your hat and gloves before you get chilled, keep parasites cause diarrhea and stomach cramps and dry, eat high calorie snacks, and avoid fatigue. might be found in any untreated water. Be weather wise Camp, travel on durable surfaces ● Watch for changing weather conditions. Leave high ridges and stay away from exposed rocks ● Durable surfaces include established trails and and trees if a thunderstorm approaches. campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow. ● Be prepared for sudden temperature drops at high ● Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet elevations, even in the summer. (70 adult paces) from lakes and streams. ● Don’t camp under snags or trees with large, dead ● Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a limbs, especially during high winds. site is not necessary. In popular areas, Plan ahead, prepare ● Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. ● Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even ● Know the regulations and special concerns for when wet or muddy. areas you will visit. At Shining Rock and Middle ● Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas Prong, no campfires are permitted and group size where vegetation is absent. is limited to a maximum of 10 people. In pristine areas, ● Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emer ● Disperse use to prevent creating campsites. gencies. (Read “Be Prepared” section). ● Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. ● Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. Weekdays in the spring and late fall are best. ● Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4 to 6. ● Repackage food to reduce waste carried into the backcountry. 1 2 4" MIN. DIA. 4' Rock Find a good branch and Toss rope balance food 15 ' over branch. bags.

1" Min. 3 Dia. 4

Position rope Hoist first sack to support to branch. Tie second sack as Horse no-trace hints food-not high on rope as bear cubs! possible, leaving The only trails open to horses are in Shining out a loop. Rock Wilderness. These trails, Ivestor Gap and Little East Fork, are designated on the map with a horse symbol. The trails are also open to pack animals, such as llamas and mules. While riding or packing offers another dimension 5 6 to your wilderness experience, horses and pack animals require special considerations and care. To retrieve: Horses and mules concentrate all their weight on hook loop 4' with long the small spot where their hooves rest—as much as Toss to stick and 1500 pounds per square inch at each foot. This position. pull down. weight, along with the amount of manure that comes 10' from a large animal, can damage the land. Min. Perhaps the most impact to the land occurs when the party stops to rest or camp. To minimize the impact of you and your horse’s visit, please follow Bearproof your food. Place food items in two bags and hang from a tree. these no-trace techniques: ● Take only fit, calm, experienced animals. Bears in backcountry ● Ride single file and make sure your animals stay on trails. ● If you see a bear, keep your distance. ● ● Water horses at natural fords or from a bucket. If a bear approaches, DON’T RUN. Slowly ● Keep stock tethered at least 200 feet away from back away watching the bear. Try to streams and away from trails and campsites. frighten the bear by yelling, throwing ● Avoid temporarily tying stock to trees. Use rocks, and make noise. ● a highline with tree-saver straps to tether your Maintain a clean camp. Pack out all food animal. This prevents stock from trampling roots and trash. ● and chewing bark. Keep your cooking and eating area separate ● Break up and scatter manure and fill in pawed from sleeping area. Keep tents free of food holes when breaking camp. and food odors. ● ● Pack some grain, since grazing is limited. Be At night, secure your food and other attrac- certain that feed is weed-free to prevent noxious tants (such as toothpaste, soap, and trash) at plants from spreading. least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from the tree trunk. Leave what you find ● Preserve the past. Observe, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts. ● Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them. ● Avoid introducing non-native species. ● Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches. Respect wildlife ● Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow ABOVE & BELOW: Backpackers must be self-sufficient or approach them. and carry all the necessities: shelter, food, and water. ● Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes LEAVE NO TRACE them to predators and other dangers. ● Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations Following Leave No Trace prin- and trash securely. ciples helps protect the precious ● Be aware: this is bear country. Cook and store land, water, and experience of food away from your camp. Hang food at least 10 the backcountry. Please learn, feet from the ground and 4 feet from the tree practice, and pass on the follow- trunk. (Look at diagram to the left.) ing ethics. ● Control pets at all times, or leave them at home. ● Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or in the winter.