Giles County High Point Trip Report
Bald Knob on Salt Pond Mtn
Date: October 3, 1999
Author: Ron Tagliapietra
From US 460 north of Blacksburg, turn right on VA 700.
Follow this six or eight miles to its end (stay right and crest the hill)
at the resort area of Mountain Lake. The lake sparkles below but drive
toward the back of the large lot. Walk uphill to the Nature Conservancy office.
With the office on your right, turn left up the road/driveway and walk some
30 yards until you see the sign on your right for a trail to the Bald Knob Road.
The trail is blazed in red and switchbacks uphill five minutes to the road.
At the road, go left and follow it ten minutes to the fork on the summit area.
The left fork goes a few steps to a grand view with a stone bench and a rocky outcrop.
The right fork goes a few steps to a small fenced area containing several
small radio towers.
Follow the fence left and walk beyond the fence a few steps
on an uphill "path" that ends at a brushy thicket. The last rock to the right
has the benchmark (Salt Pond, 1934), but the rock just right of it is probably
the true HP. This is a great family walk to one of the 50 highest
Eastern county HPs and a 2000-foot prominence peak.