I recently published an updated blog of my favorite places to watch a sunset in Western North Carolina (an update of an older post I did on subject what feels like eons ago), which got me to thinking that I’d never properly watched the sunset from Sam’s Knob.
My absolute favorite place for a sunset hike in Western North Carolina is the Black Balsam, Tennent Mountain loop hike. I go up there multiple times a year (sometimes, multiple times a month). My favorite spot on the hike to sit and take in the views is a small ledge directly above the parking area, which looks directly onto Sam’s Knob, a smaller hike and mountain whose trailhead shares the parking lot with the Black Balsam trailhead. Sam’s Knob is in so many of my favorite sunset photos, and yet…as stated in the previous paragraph, for whatever reason (maybe because, despite what I like to think, I’ve become a bit of a creature of habit), I’ve never watched the sunset from it’s summit, something I rectified on the eve of this year’s Fourth of July.
While it’s my favorite sunset because of its gorgeous views, you’re rarely alone for a Black Balsam Sunset. There’s usually scores of other hikers, scores of folks who just park and walk out to see the sunset, usually handful of professional or semi-professional photographers, generally at least one engagement photoshoot, and not infrequently, an actual wedding party (I was up there one time when five different couples were getting married along the trail, and let me tell you, two of the wedding party photographers loooked to be gearing up for a this-is-my-backdrop!-feud) It doesn’t necessarily take away from the beauty of the sunset (sometimes it comically enhances things), but it could occasionally become an annoyance.
I’d assumed Sam’s Knob wouldn’t be as crowded as Black Balsam—and I certainly didn’t anticipate any weddings—but I was pleasantly surprised to encounter no other hikers on my way up, and found the summit to be empty once I got to the top.
Sam’s Knob is a quick hike—only 2.5 miles roundtrip, which is probably why my sunrise hike is usually the other loop—so even though I started around 7:30 PM, I got to my viewing area by 8:00 PM, which left plenty of time for an 8:44 PM sunset. I brought a book and a notebook, anticipating some reading or writing, but honestly, I found myself simply lying back and taking it all in, watching the sky change color and the clouds float by. I typically find the word “rejuvenating” a bit too self-care adjacent for my liking, but after a particularly stressful work week and a very busy June, that’s exactly how it felt.
Usually, I vacate Black Balsam pretty soon after the sun goes down. It’s an hour drive home, I’m guilty of always having something to wake up for (you can’t make waking up before 5:00 AM a key part of your personality without consistency!), and often I’m worn out from the longer hike and don’t feel like walking back to my car in the dark. This time, though? Even though the hike back to the car was longer, I didn’t have anything particular planned for the next morning except for using the holiday as an excuse to sleep in, so I stayed up on the top of Sam’s Knob just doing nothing and taking in the post-sunset color changes until it was almost properly dark. I started back to my car around 9:30, feeling reminiscent of the very youthful feeling of not wanting to go inside till as late as possible on a summer night.
When I got back to the parking lot, a wedding party was returning from the Black Balsam Trail. They seemed in good spirits, except for one bridesmaid in the back who didn’t get the memo to wear comfortable shoes. Now back on pavement, she was carrying a pair of heels. “Why the fuck did she not tell me to at least bring boots?” she complained to the fellow bridesmaid who had kindly hung back a bit to wait for her.
AshevilleExplorer 
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