Grandfather Mountain (WARNING: Pics)

[AirmensMom]

Harleydad, MissHoneychurch, and I went to Grandfather Mountain on Sunday. The weather was very strange, going from drizzle to downpours, foggy to clear and sunny. We had the mountain almost to ourselves. Very cool!

This is the entrance to the habitat area.


The bears live on this huge rock.


MissHC and I walked on a trail in the woods to get to the top. Harleydad drove the car up.


This is the Mile High Swinging Bridge. We walked across it.


MissHC was brave enough to go past the bridge to the very top.


Here's MissHC, on our drive back down the mountain.


This is a view from the Linn Cove Viaduct (on the Blue Ridge Parkway).


We could see the viaduct once we got down the road a bit.



I hope MissHC will post some of her pics. She got some great shots.

We had a wonderful time! :bounce:

Edit: MissHC posted some pics! :bounce: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7734686&mesg_id=7734824
Thank you, MissHC! :hug:

[Taverner]

1. Where is this?

It looks beautiful

[AirmensMom]

3. In North Carolina

on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

http://www.grandfather.com/

[Taverner]

9. Figures it would be far away :)

I got to drive through the BR Mountains once from Charleston, WV to DC. It was the middle of summer and completely beautiful.

[AirmensMom]

11. It is pretty far for you, isn't it?

Then again, you can get better wine. :D

We went to another part of the parkway last summer, but didn't take pics. We were on the motorcycle and I was scared to death of the winding, narrow roads. I enjoyed it much more this time, in the car.

[zanne]

47. When I saw those beautiful flower blossoms...

I figured it must be in the Carolinas. What a beautiful place! I especially like the picture of the trail.

[AirmensMom]

50. We have them here in TN, too.

They're just finishing up.

We took dozens of pictures of the trail. It was the most beautiful trail I've ever seen. It was a spur of the moment decision to go and I'm so glad we did!

[MissHoneychurch]

2. Btw

I don't have earplugs in but ear wool to keep the cold wind from hurt my ears. Thought I should mention it.

[AirmensMom]

6. I didn't even notice them.

:hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

7. That's alright

:hug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. Gorgeous shots.

They put me in the mood for a road trip!

[AirmensMom]

5. Thanks.

We are fortunate to live so close to so much beauty. :D

[LynzM]

8. Nice pics!

Those first few photos look very surreal, sort of ethereal...

love the rocks, and love seeing the pics, thanks for sharing! :)

[AirmensMom]

10. Thank you.

Now that you mention it, I agree. Thanks to the fog for that.

I took about 200 pics ... it was hard to sort them out. But there's so much to look at and take pics of. Thanks for stopping by to look. :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

12. Hey Lynz

:hi:

It was an amazing day. Taking pictures of the trees in the fog was an experience for me. Loved it. Couldn't stop taking pictures. thank goodness for a digital camera :rofl:

[AirmensMom]

13. Can you even imagine the cost

of developing and printing all those shots? :wow:

Digital cameras rock! :bounce:

[MissHoneychurch]

24. I cna more than just imagine

there were times before I got my digital camera that I would take a lot pics on film and spend a lot of money ....

[AirmensMom]

30. Reminds me of when we went to Disney World ...

way back in '93. I think we spent over $100 just having film developed, and we didn't take nearly as many pics as we wanted to.

[LynzM]

36. Hey you!

:hi: I'm glad you had such a fantastic day! I agree, thank goodness for digitals, to let us take all those bad shots in exchange for the really excellent ones! :rofl:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. My dear AirmensMom!

Wow, these are wonderful!

And as you said, so much variety in the weather!

There's just something so wonderful in the mountains, with the huge rocks, and all the trees...

I can bet you had a wonderful time!

Thanks for posting these!

:hug:

[AirmensMom]

15. Thanks, CP.

We did have a wonderful time. :bounce:


:hi:

[Inchworm]

16. Beautiful pics, and close to home

You were there last Sunday and had good weather? I guess that front didnt come in until Sunday night. They reported like 60 MPH sustained winds with hurricane force gusts.

Ya'll lucked out. Woot!

I live about 2 miles from the Parkway in NC. It's a beautiful place.

:woohoo:

[MissHoneychurch]

17. We really got lucky with the weather

it was really amamzing. And we had the Grandfather Mountain almost to ourselves :D

[AirmensMom]

18. Yes and sort of.

It poured rain when we first got there, so we ate in the cafeteria instead of having the picnic we had planned.

We got home after dark and didn't see the damage we got here until the next morning. One of our big oak trees blew down and took most of that section of the woods with it. No structures nearby, fortunately.

You live that close to the Parkway! :wow: Lucky you! It takes us about an hour to get there.

[MissHoneychurch]

19. MORE PICTURES

Some animals









Fog









The bridge









The view

[AirmensMom]

20. Those are awesome!

:applause:


:yourock:

[Inchworm]

21. You caught the foggy mountain wonderfully

I love misty mountain mornings.

:loveya:

[MissHoneychurch]

22. I had a field day

I tell you that. It was my first experience with taking pictures in the fog, I enjoyed it.

I know now exactly why the mountains are called Great Smokies.

[YDogg]

34. Thanks for the wonderful images!

:hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

44. thanks for posting these pictures, lovely !!

:hug:

[stuntcat]

46. It's the most beautiful place in the world, to me.

Anywhere in the Blue Ridge really, but I've been to that same spot, I took pictures of those very animals :loveya: (probably not the very same squirrel though)
I wish I'd been there too, thank you for posting these!

[mike_c]

23. I love spring in the Blue Ridge Mtns....

Those ethereal foggy days are so beautiful. Thanks for posting such beautiful pics and reminding me of some of my old haunts!

[MissHoneychurch]

26. You are welcome

any time again. It was beautiful to watch when the fog went and the sun came and the other way around. Never experienced such different weather within hours.

[AirmensMom]

28. You're very welcome.

We're both happy to share the pics. I hope you can get back and see it in real life again.

[YankeyMCC]

25. Very thx nt

[MissHoneychurch]

27. You're welcome

:D

[AirmensMom]

29. You're welcome.

:hi:

[AirmensMom]

31. Kick

:kick:

For the afternoon crew. :hi:

[YDogg]

32. Thanks for sharing the pics! Grandfather Mountain is one of my favorite spots, ...

... though it's been years since I've been to the summit. Someday ...

[AirmensMom]

39. You're welcome.

This is my first time, but I certainly would like to go again. I can imagine that it's different every time.

I hope you get to go back.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[bigwillq]

35. Those are some kick ass pics.

I love the bear pic! :bounce: :hi:

[AirmensMom]

40. Thank you!

MissHC's bear pic is good. We tried for more, but it got so foggy that we finally couldn't see them at all.

:hi:

[demmiblue]

37. Wonderful pictures!

I have always wanted to go there for the Highland Games/Gathering of the Clans. Someday, someday!

[AirmensMom]

41. Thanks!

Someday ... I hope you get to go. :bounce:

[Sequoia]

38. Tha-a-anks for the mem-m-mories.

I miss my NC.

[AirmensMom]

42. You're very welcome.

:hi:

[Sequoia]

51. Right now, I'd rather be there. It's 8:15am and 85 degrees already

With a high expected in the triple digits.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

43. thanks for posting --

:hug:

[AirmensMom]

48. You're welcome.

:hug:

[graywarrior]

45. Stunning!

[AirmensMom]

49. I agree.

It's a beautiful place. We will definitely go back.

:hi:

[mwdem]

52. Beautiful pics! I so miss N.C.

I've been away too long.