GrandFather Mountain, North Carolina
We spent the night in Black Mountain NC, a quaint walking village just east of Asheville. The town was loaded with visitors. It is the beginning of the fall season and travelers from all over have come to western North Carolina to view the changing of colors. The next morning we visited the local farmers market, bought some apples and then took off for Grandfather Mountain about an hour and half north toward Virginia. The mountain is the highest peak on the Blue Ridge Mountain chain and we have been dying to visit it.
Grandfather Mountain is a nature park and pre-purchase tickets are required to enter as there is limited amount of parking space. We purchase our $26 per person senior ticket a couple of months back. Our reservation was for 11am and when we arrived at 10:30 there was a line of cars in front of us that took us exactly 30 minutes to get in…..Denise planning was perfect!….As we enter the entrance gate, we confirmed our reservation and received a CD for a guided tour of the park.
We quickly learned from the CD tour that the climate and temperature on the mountain resembles Newfoundland, Canada. Since Denise’s mom is from Newfoundland, it meant something special. Being cold is in her bones, it was a chilling 43 degF and very windy and she loved it!.
At this mile high elevation, bright colors were already showing.
The park has many trails but the most popular is the swinging bridge. Today, the wind was very gusty. When we first arrived at the bridge, it was closed due to high wind. The gate keeper told us the wind speed are checked every ten minutes and probably the next check will be good.. So we hung out for 15 minutes and the gate opened. He said it is still pretty windy with sustained wind speed of 40-50 mph but we should be safe. As we traveled across the bridge, the harmonica wind sound and the bridge swaying was fun for me but cautious for Denise. Afterward, Denise said that was the most awesome thing EVER!
Our CD guide mentioned that the wind could create a harmonica sound as it passes through the suspended bridge cabling. I think I heard Neil Young “Harvest Moon” as we crossed!
The 43 degF and the wind, for me, was extreme cold! It doesn’t get this cold in Florida or Arizona I tell Denise! I’m ready to head south.
With the wind so strong, hiking was a big challenge!
We met Mildred!
Yes, Denise was scared, I was not…..I knew I could out-run her! lol!
Even though it was very cold and windy, the view and experience is priceless!
Nice leave the wife behind to be eaten by the Bear! LoL Looks like fun