Grandfather Mountain High

I seem to be in mountain mode these days. Its a good time to do it since there hasn't been any wind around here. I'm still conditioning for my upcoming Colorado backcountry trip and decided a climb up and over Grandfather Mountain would help. So the family and I drove up to Blowing Rock late on Thursday and arrived in time for a nice dinner. The next morning, they dropped me off at the Boone Fork Parking Area off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock. I started my hike here while the family drove on to visit the Linville Caverns and go to a local "pick-your-own" apple orchard. The plan was for them to drive up and meet me at the top of Grandfather Mountain that afternoon at the end of my hike.

So off I went...with a 50 lb pack on my back to help simulate what I would be carrying for the CO hike. I snapped a bunch of photos along the way, posted them here with some commentary.....sit back with some tunes, a beverage, and enjoy (click on the photos to enlarge them...they look much better that way).


This is the Daniel Boone Trail on the way up from the Blue Ridge Parkway...very rocky and rooty.



This is a view of the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a segmental concrete bridge winding around a very steep and rocky ledge and was apparently the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be built.



Close up of the Linn Cove Viaduct



Grandfather Mountain is known for having very high winds. Wind speeds over 200mph have been recorded. This is a picture of trees downed by wind. This picture doesn't really do it justice but there were a lot of downed trees in this area as if a big wind shear had taken them all down at once.



Standing at the top of Calloway Peak (5,964 ft), the highest point at Grandfather Mountain, looking south towards McCrae Peak where I'm now headed.



WARNING! A sign at one of the designated camping spots along the trail



Looking back north to where I just hiked from - looking at Watauga Peak (rock cliff in the middle) and Calloway Peak (highest point on the right)



Yes, this is part of the trail...a climb up these rocks. This was easy compared to what was to come.



Working my way towards McCrae Peak, standing at Attic Window area, looking back north from where I just hiked from (Watauga and Calloway Peaks)




Self portait - behind me looking west is Sugar Mountain and Highway 105



Yes, the trail snakes along the cliffs and its very very far down. Not for the faint of heart. I was scared to get too close, especially with the wind whipping up those rock faces.



The trail takes you along these rocky cliffs. I'm getting ready to hike over those rocks down to that next wooded point towards the right.



This is looking down a rocky chute. The wind was gnarly as it was funneling up that chute. I'm getting ready to climb down this chute (with my 50 lb pack on....ridiculous).



Looking back up that rocky chute I just descended



Another part of the trail....going over and under giant rocks



Steep sections with ladders and cables mounted to help you along. Because of my 50lb pack, my center of gravity was way from normal. So I had to be extremely careful and focused with my footing for every single step.



The geological survey marker on top of McCrae Peak - 5,939 ft



On top of McCrae Peak looking down towards the Mile High Swinging Bridge area (and the crowds)



Close up of the Mile High Swinging Bridge and the crowds. They are rebuilding the visitors center there. You can drive your car up to that point. This is where I was headed to meet my family. I didn't see a single soul for the first 3 miles of my hike. Saw a few people the next 2.5 miles. Then the last 1 mile got crowded.



At top of McCrae Peak looking back northeast at the Blue Ridge Parkway



Looking back north at the different peaks I just hiked down from



The last steep section I just descended as I neared my destination (and more crowded as you can see)



It took me almost 2 hours to hike the last 1.5 miles because of all the steep sections, ladders, rock chutes, etc. I don't recommend hiking this section of Grandfather Mountain (around McCrae Peak) with a 50 lb backpack. I want to go back and do it again without the pack. Overall, it was a very beautful day to hike, high temp was low 70s, no humidity, partly cloudy with a nice breeze, and no worries of afternoon storms coming in on this day. Although my heart is in the water (ocean and lakes), I still love the mountains.