February 1, 2009

Why my post is late...

The weather has not been so nice last week and as Sunday was predicted to be the warmest and nicest of this week the family decided to go for a drive--birding, photo ops, just get out of the house for a while. Destination: Carver's Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina border.

The weather was nice, a bit on the cool side and a bit breezy, but then what could I expect over a mile up? The elevation here at Carver's Gap is 5512 ft. The Appalachian Trail heads north through the fence here and climbs 314 feet (and about a mile along the trail) to Round Bald. The trail used to go straight up the bald but due to serious erosion problems has been redone and winds across the bald and through the spruce forest to the left.

About a half mile up the trail. Exiting the spruce forest.

Putting the "blue" in the Blue Ridge.

Round Bald

For some unknown but much speculated reason some of the summits in the area are treeless or nearly so.

A great surprise for my secret half-birthday celebration--my "holler." I had no idea that I would be able to see the valley I live in from Round Bald. I just wanted to make the climb when I got the chance. You can't see my house from here because of trees but it is near the upper-left corner of the large meadow just above center. It is about 11 miles by road and another mile by trail from home to this view and still quite some distance as the crow flies but 12x made it look like a short stroll!

Looking east into North Carolina from Round Bald.

Oh, right, why my post is late? I fell asleep at the computer while trying to decide on a "new" or "recap" Sunday six! All those half-birthday's and a mountain hike caught up with me!