A Drive Along The Blue Ridge

After that all day hiking event on Thursday, we weren’t too eager for another hike, but didn’t want to just sit around the house and then be stuck inside because of rain over the weekend.  Gene had picked out what he thought might be a little leg stretcher.  He found a short 5-mile loop hike with a 3-mile option if we didn’t want to go the whole distance.  As it turned out, I didn’t even take the first step.  He did better than I, but turned around after about a quarter mile.  Guess we were more tired than we thought.

To get to that hike we had to go over to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  After finding the trailhead, we spent a few minutes looking around at the little park there before finally deciding we really weren’t up to hiking after all.  What to do now?  We had driven all the way over there (along US 276 through beautiful rural North Carolina which wasn’t a waste of time by any means) and we had most of the day left with no plans or commitments.  A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway seemed like a worthy option.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is part of the National Park Service designated a National Scenic Byway.  This two-lane road runs primarily along the crest of the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains for 469 miles between the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Oconaluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina.  There are many pullouts at scenic overlooks.  The park service also maintains several historical structures along the parkway.  Stopping at the overlooks and at every historical exhibit can be very time consuming.  Driving the Blue Ridge would be like driving Skyline Drive in Shenandoah or the Natchez Trace Parkway.    Exploring every nook and cranny could take days.

Since that trail we were going to hike was only three miles south of Pisgah Inn we decided to let that be our starting point for our 40 mile drive south to the exit for Wayneville.  The Parkway, being on the ridge, is at high elevation.  We were above 5,000 feet for our entire drive and in the clouds.  Along this 40-mile stretch we drove over the highest point on the entire Parkway at 6,053 feet.  The fog was so thick at times we could hardly see the lines on the road.  Later in the day, the sun was able to do its thing and we had occasional views.

We enjoyed the drive and since there are several great hiking destinations along the Blue Ridge, we’ll be back.

We want to give a big welcome to our latest follower, Becca.  Becca is also a hiker and a bicyclists, and a lover of the outdoors. Welcome and thanks for tagging along, Becca.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for tagging along.

On To Rockfish Gap

Our hike yesterday took us from the Humpback Rocks parking area to Rockfish Gap. What a wonderful section of trail. It was very well maintained, even having been recently weed-eated. It was a rare treat along the AT in this area to hike on dirt rather than pick our way over rock. The up and down hill areas were well graded with rock steps at the switchbacks.

Farm equipment along the trial

The Paul C. Wolfe Shelter is a work of art. Sitting above Mill Creek, it boasted a large cooking porch with a picnic table. The sleeping platform was almost spotless. I had a fleeting thought that it had been vacuumed and dusted. I guess not, but it was very clean. I do not have any personal experience with the privy at this shelter, but I did read in the shelter register that it was outstanding. Mill Creek offers a swimming hole and waterfall for weary, dirty hikers. Our hats go off to the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club that maintains this section. Great job, guys.

Cooking porch at Paul Wolfe Shelter

We passed the remains of an old chimney just off the trail. Sometimes it is hard to imagine anything ever being here other than forest, but the trail passes through many areas which were thriving communities in the past. Most of these places have long since returned to a wilderness area.

Since we were near the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center, after our hike we stopped by to tour the Mountain Farm. It is a reconstruction of an early European pioneer farm in the area. The 19th century farm buildings are open for investigation and there were volunteers dressed in period clothing as well as a park ranger to answer questions and demonstrate pioneer skills. There were onions coming up in the garden and chickens in the chicken coop.

Log Cabin at Mountain Farm

Root Cellar

Humpback Rocks

Today’s hike was again along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Gene dropped me off at the Humpback Rocks Picnic area and I took a short connector trail to the AT.  Hiking north along the AT I climbed over Humpback Mountain and met Gene just before the side trail to Humpback Rocks.

Spider Wort

There was a bit of trail magic on the sign post. Someone had left beer for the weary hikers. There were 2 cans getting warm in the morning sun.

This being a beautiful sunny day of a holiday weekend, the crowds were out. There must have been 20 people on the Rocks when we were there.

Taking a break on the rocks

Humpback Rocks is a large rock formation on the edge of the mountain overlooking Shenandoah Valley. After our break on the Rocks, we continued north to a side trail which led to the Humpback Rocks Parking Area where Gene had left the truck.

View from Humpback Rocks

Even if you aren’t a hiker, the Blue Ridge Parkway is worth a visit. Being a unit of the National Park Service, it is well maintained and features many, many overlooks and interpretive signs for historical, agricultural, and geological features. The speed limit along the Parkway is 45 mph which is slow enough to allow the motorist to soak up the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A "hog wall"

View of Rockfish Valley from a Parkway overlook

Of the pictures there are two from the Parkway. The stone fence is a remnant of the “hog walls” constructed in the early 1800 by slaves and farmers to help control foraging by half-wild hogs. The view of Rockfish Valley is from an overlook near milepost 3.

Cedar Cliffs Hike

The Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles from the end of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Like Skyline Drive, the AT roughly follows the Blue Ridge Parkway meandering back and forth across the road for about the northern 100 miles. Just like along Skyline Drive, this gives the day hiker easy access to the trail at several points.

Azalea is in bloom

Today I hiked south from Dripping Rock parking area halfway to the next road crossing and back again. This took me past Cedar Cliffs overlook. It was a beautiful, clear morning so the view was fabulous. There was a group of about 8 at the overlook when I got there. They were making pictures, enjoying the view and each others company. One of the gentlemen asked me how far I was going and when I told him, he informed me that I would probably see the rest of their group. They had dropped off the rest of their group (14 others) at the Three Ridges parking area and they were hiking this way. Sure enough, I met them about an hour later on down the trail. Everyone spoke as they passed and I continued on my way for about another half hour. I rested a few minutes then turned around to head back to the truck.

Shenandoah Valley as seen from Cedar Cliffs

When I got back to Cedar Cliffs, the whole gang was still there just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the creation. What a wonderful way to spend the day. Here was a large group of friends (apparently a regular hiking group) who had come out to do a 4 mile stretch of trail. Those that didn’t want to do that much hiking, were soaking up a few rays at the overlook. If I had looked closely, I probably would have seen a thermos of coffee and Danish. It made me wonder why people don’t get out more.

Fringe Tree in bloom

It was truly a gorgeous day to be out and the only thing seemingly more plentiful than the fresh air and breathtaking views were the azalea and fringe trees in full bloom.