On the lookout platform at Mt. Mitchell

 On a clear day (which we had) you can see for miles.

 Those are the feldspar mines in Spruce Pine, NC., the strip mining that shows this far away. (Above and below)

Lest we bemoan the mines as environmentally toxic, remember that we support their very being, because the silicon that comes from them is the finest for use in technological devices like phones and computers...which I'm using right now.

 The last 100 feet (I guess) up the ramp to the lookout platform.

 When 20 or so people are milling around, taking turns taking photos at various parts, it's a fluid experience.

Continental divide

Eastern Continental Divide, Elev. 3350 Ft.

There's one of those wonderful bridges, stone arches under the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I've puled over into a parking area (is there a trail nearby?) as I left the parkway and am about to go down the mountains on US Hwy. 80.  It runs between Burnsville and Marion NC...and is not half as straight as the parkway.  That's a joke.  The parkway meanders along ridges and goes up and down somewhat gradually.  80 is more steep and has sharper switchbacks and travels into Buck Creek gorge (I think that's the best name for the steep sided first 5 miles of it.

The first signs of civilization are small camps along the creek, here's Buck Creek Trout Farm.  Apparently people like to camp up here and fish.

I had been to Mt. Mitchell, elevation 6684 feet, and left the parkway at half that when I crossed the Continental Divide (See Mt. Mitchell climb here.) ...the first 600 or so feet descent within the state park, then the next over maybe 8 miles of the parkway, which didn't feel very steep.  The Eastern Continental Divide is literally where the ridge of mountains has rainfall flow either towards the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico.

But going down 80 was a thrilling ride. I'm glad I didn't have anyone riding with me, as I slowed to take pictures while balancing my phone on the steering wheel.  And nobody else was behind me either!  I did see a few cars going up the mountain, mainly pick ups.

This was on a weekday.  I avoid doing the parkway on weekends. It is crowded enough.

A bit of curves

 Coming down winding US 80 from the Parkway north of Mt. Mitchell toward Marion...pretty curves which would have color and sunshine popping out of the deep shade of mountains.

What's the name for these deep creek bed based valleys between the ridges? I know they are too small to be valleys, or coves...perhaps.

Lake Tahoma is small, and has this one boathouse that I captured as I slowly went by.  Other photographers had pulled over to capture the pretty colors on the other side of the lake.


Today's Quote:

It is during the most difficult times that we need to trust and find solace that, in fact, things are in divine order.

The hardest climb

 Mitchell didn't prove it himself, but his argument with another professor as to which was the highest peak, was finally determined that this was higher than Mount Craig (nearby.)  Mt. Mitchell is 6684 feet above mean sea level.

 Dense evergreens are on the steep sides of the peak, with minimal undergrowth.  But because of pollution and disease, many deadfalls lie on the ground, making it treacherous to try to walk through the woods.

 Where a bit of water has flowed down the hill, it remained as ice in the shade.  There were also ice cycles nearby. (See former post Here)

 It was a beautiful day, and there were a lot of people (from all over the US) hiking up the wide paved path to the lookout tower.

 I had thought I might be one of the slower people climbing the top switchback slope.  But many others were also elders and as out of shape as I was.  Also the air was a bit thin for those who live in lower elevations.

 I love hearing various runners talk about various kinds of races, including some that come up here from Black Mountain, which is about 10 miles due south...and not visible due to other mountains.

The Mountain to the Sea hiking trail also passes along the slope of the mountain.

I slowly climbed to the top, stopping frequently to catch my breath, and taking smaller and smaller steps.  I basically had the hardest workout I'd had in months...but what a sense of accomplishment for this grandmother to reach the top finally!

And if my various readers would like some advice from a 76 year old woman who just got her heart rate up for the 30 minutes it took me to climb that ramp...

Please VOTE.  If there's anything you find distasteful about the current political climate, a vote to change things is the first step a citizen should take, before complaining or anything else. VOTE.

Craggy Gardens

 Burnett Reservoir (source of all water for Ashevile) really stood out well Oct 30, 2018, with most of the trees having none or brown leaves, and some green still on lower levels.

 Craggy tunnel of the Blue Ridge Parkway, where a lot of travelers passed through to go park on the other side of this ridge, where another parking area leads to a hike to the top of Craggy Gardens.

Rhododendron has all lost it's leaves, and the rocks show better on Craggy Mountain.  At the top there actually were some people looking down over the scenery.

Today's quote:

A bird is safe in its nest — but that is not what its wings are made for.

AMIT RAY

Black Mountain Halloween!

 Ran into some friends coming along State Street.

 Then I turned up Church Street, which was closed off and had all the families and children coming along to get tricks and treats.  I only looked for about 10 minutes, then went back to the studio.