Linn Cove Viaduct in Fall

Linn Cove Viaduct in Fall, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Here’s Linn Cove Viaduct two weeks ago, just at peak colors for this area of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Table Rock & Hawks Bill Framed

Table Rock & Hawks Bill Framed, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Here’s a view from the Blue Ridge Parkway of Table Rock and Hawk’s Bill framed by fall colors.

Drama on Grandfather

Drama on Grandfather, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Clouds roll over and around Grandfather Mountain.

Sunset Over Mt. Mitchell

Sunset Over Mt. Mitchell, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Driving away from Mt. Mitchell on the BRP north, we watched the sun set behind it.

Flowers in Eastern Sky

DSC_6272, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Shelter View

Shelter View, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

One of the picnic shelters at the top of the state park.

Mt. Mitchell

Mt. Mitchell, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

A detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway worth taking is up to Mt. Mitchell. A wonderful NC state park hosting the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The actual height of Mt. Mitchell is 6′684ft. This is a view from the top parking lot, just below the observation deck. It’s beautiful mountain and a has spectacular view all around you.

My Favorite

My Favorite, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Max, tearing all over the fields we were in.

Green Carpet

Green Carpet, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Ferns

Ferns, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Middle Prong is full of vegetation, shade, and great saturated color. These ferns on the side of the trail caught my eye as we were leaving our lunch spot.

The Point

The Point, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

While hiding in a quiet spot eating, what I could only call a gourmet lunch (thanks to Polly’s in Brevard), a passer-by leads a pack of people to “the point”, he called it. I had no idea we were anywhere near a “point”. Curiosity got the best of us and we headed out the same way…to the point. Behold! a great vista looking north.

Proof

Proof, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Proof that someone was here long before it was a hiking trail.  Logging was a huge part of the economy in the early 1900’s.  To read more, click here:  Middle Prong Wilderness

Enter Middle Prong

Enter Middle Prong, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

From the trailhead on Hwy 215, you can enter the Middle Prong Wilderness. This is one of the few pristine wilderness areas left. It’s not overly used or maintained. When you enter you feel a real sense of being out, away from it all.

www.hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/middle.html

Check out this link for further explanation and more info.

Ladder B&W

Ladder B&W, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Ladder on the Boone Fork Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Green Trunk

Green Trunk, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Boone Fork Down Low

Boone Fork Down Low, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Boone Fork

Boone Fork, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Boone Fork as it is headed under the Boone Fork Bridge and Blue Ridge Parkway

Picket Shadows

Picket Shadows, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

Shadow Tree

Shadow Tree, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

The details in the shadows from this tree were so fantastic. Couple that with green spring grass and blue skies and it’s a spectacular subject.

Cross Country

Cross Country, originally uploaded by boonejag75.

We don’t get snow very often anymore, but this week we got enough for the cross country skiers to get out and take some laps around the lake and thru the maze.