Mt. Mitchell State Park

Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi. Part of the Black Mountains near Asheville, NC, Mt. Mitchell soars 6,684 feet above sea level. Not as high as mountains out west, but it's lush and cool, and it's the place to go to get a near 360 degree view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

So it was our first stop on this visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Now part of a state park, Mt. Mitchell is located just off the Parkway between mileposts 355 and 358. Several years ago, the park tore down the old observation tower (which I often referred to as The Tower of Terror) and built a new platform. This, and a hike down the .75 Balsam Trail, just off the pathway to the summit, was our goal.

The threat of thunderstorms storms eliminated the hike, but we headed to the summit in the hopes of finding skies clear enough for a spectacular view. We got it, but unfortunately, our camera lens is broken, so we had to take photos with the zoom lens and our camera phones. Consequently, we couldn't capture the panoramic vista visible from the top of the platform.

Observation platform from Hwy 128

View from the paved path that leads to the summit:

Observation platform:

Atop the platform:

The platform is great. The view, stunning. I left with only one concern.

Mt. Mitchell is named after Rev. Elisha Mitchell, who correctly determined the mountain's standing as highest peak in the east. Shortly after, Senator Thomas Clingman claimed a nearby peak was higher. While in the mountains to confirm his measurements and put the dispute to rest, Rev. Mitchell lost his life after falling over a waterfall. (Honest. I did not make that up to emphasize last week's Waterfall Warning post!)

Rev. Mitchell is buried at the summit, beside the observation platform. A fence once protected his grave, but now, a low, stone wall filled with rocks surrounds the monument. During our visit, children sat and climbed on the wall, munching on tofu and crackers. When I voiced my concern over the change to the gravesite, they jumped up and away. They didn't have a clue.

I miss the fence.

Because of the altitude and a never ending breeze, Mt. Mitchell is usually a bit chilly, so bring a jacket. If you forget one, you can purchase a jacket or sweatshirt at the Visitors Center located at the parking lot below the summit, or at the restaurant you'll pass on the way to the peak.

Either way, stop at the restaurant and try their hot peach cobbler. It's the best I've tasted, and when I mentioned that to the woman at the cash register, she smiled. As it turns out, it was her grandmother's recipe. "She called it her Depression Cobbler," we were told. During the Depression era, sugar was difficult to obtain, so women like this dear lady's grandmother had to come up with alternate methods, such as cane and sorghum, for sweetening the treat. Her ingenuity lives on today.

On a final note, Mt Mitchell offers several hiking trails, ranging from easy to strenuous. For more information, see the park map at http://ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/pics/parkmap.pdf.

South on the Parkway

A great day on the Parkway! A few sights we passed while driving south to our first stop, Mt. Mitchell:

Linn Cove Viaduct from across the Parkway

And, in a shot difficult to snap due to the sun setting just beside it, the much photographed viaduct from the highway below:

Below, Grandfather Mountain from the Parkway. While driving today, we had the privilege of seeing the old mountain from several different perspectives. I knew Grandfather played a large role in this region, literally and figuratively, but I'm just beginning to learn how significant it is.

You can't drive along the Parkway and not see colorful wildflowers blooming along the road. It's too early for Mountain Ash, so I don't know what these are. The color is rich, and about as red as the Fire Pinks and Bee Balms.

St. Johns Wort. Yes, it's a flower!

Purple fringed orchids.

As mentioned, our first stop was Mt. Mitchell to see the new observation tower, visible from the road:

More on that in my next post, along with a sweet story about Granny's Depression Era Cobbler. And yes, it relates to Mt. Mitchell!

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

I've blogged about the Blue Ridge Parkway in the past, but there is so much to do along America's favorite scenic highway, it's doubtful we can do it all in our lifetime.

But we're trying. After arriving in the High Country this afternoon, we popped on the Parkway near the Yadkin Valley Overlook and drove south to Price Lake. Along the way, we found rhododendrons, Touch-Me-Nots, Fire Pinks, Bee Balm, fantastic views and more. A few shots from today's excursion:

Bee Balm flourishing along the Parkway:

Fire Pinks:

Rhododendrons reflecting in Sims Pond:

Price Lake:

We're about to work on tomorrow's itinerary. Targeted destinations for this trip: the observation tower at Mt. Mitchell, Grayson Highland, and numerous waterfall and wildflower hikes in between. Photos to come.

Waterfall Warning

Two weeks ago, I removed this post almost immediately after publishing it when I learned not one, but two people had died in recent waterfall accidents. I didn't want to come across as flippant and cold in the face of the families' grief. Quite the opposite. I ache over these deaths, which is why I continue to write about the dangers involving these beautiful attractions.

Numerous others also strive to educate others on this particular danger. Rich Stevenson keeps a clear warning on his website, www.ncwaterfalls.com. Author Kevin Adams includes them in his books and on his website. Warnings are listed on brochures and in field guides, and in many places, signs are posted along trails. Yet every year, someone dies on a waterfall.

Two years ago, I wrote a post specifically covering this danger. The link is on the right. Carolina Towns and Trails has received over 20,000 page views since I published that warning, yet only 119 people have accessed that particular post.

The warnings are out there, but they're often ignored. Why? Perhaps because we trust our own judgment. But as I often tell people, when you're in the great outdoors, you're playing by nature's rules, not your own. Rule number one about waterfalls?

They're beautiful, but they can be deadly.

Yet people still take risks. Last week, a visitor left a telling comment on my Laurel Falls blog post. This was after the two recent deaths, and in spite of signs clearly posted along the trail. I shuddered when I read it:

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more. We just returned from the falls and I could not believe how careless people are with their children. I could not imagine taking my 3 year old on this trail, yet there were children just old enough to walk left dangerously close to the edge of rocks. As I attempted to cool off, I went off to the side (away from the other tourists) to have a cigarette. I fully intended to take the butt back down with me. One young girl who I had watched walk away from an infant in her care near the edge of the falls asked me to put my cigarette out because there were children nearby. I did, but I was outraged that cigarette smoke was more concerning than a fall of the side of a mountain. It feels good to know others felt the same.

It echoed the comment someone left a couple years earlier. I can easily imagine what these people encountered. We had a similar experience during our visit.

The waterfall is just below the edge of the rocks.

Please remember, whether you're on a trail or visiting a waterfall, whenever you're experiencing the great outdoors, YOU are responsible for your safety. Be prepared and exercise extreme caution. Playing near the edges of cliffs, wet or dry, is dangerous. Keep back. Climbing on boulders, wet or dry, is likewise dangerous. Don't trust your wisdom, knowledge or experience. Find and follow the experts' advice.

If you've stumbled on this blog searching for information on the breathtaking cascades hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains, please take a moment and read A Word of Warning about Waterfalls.

Please.

For more information on the recent deaths, please see Rich Stevenson's message on the following websites. Yes, this is so important, he posted it on three pages.

www.ncwaterfalls.com
www.ncwaterfalls.com/horse1.htm
www.ncwaterfalls.com/elk1.htm

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. May they be the last.