BRP & Mount Mitchell - 10/15/2011

After leaving the Toms Creek Falls Trail, we drove up Hwy 80 out of Marion to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The drive up Hwy 80 was incredible.  It's just a narrow two lane road with few guard rails.  It would be a lot of fun on a motorcycle or downhill on a bicycle, assuming you REALLY trusted your brakes.

When we reached the Blue Ridge Parkway, we headed South toward Mount Mitchell.  On the way, we stopped at this beautiful overlook: the Green Knob Overlook at Mile Marker 350 (4761').

View from the overlook.

Another view from the Green Knob Overlook.

I seriously never get tired of these shots.

BC wanted to hike to that ridge in the distance.

Looking up toward Green Knob.

What a face!

BC balancing on a rock at the Green Knob Overlook.

Elijah wouldn't stand up, but he was proud of himself nonetheless.

We didn't stay there long as we were excited about getting up to Mount Mitchell.  None of us had ever been there and I was excited to see in person what I had been looking at in pictures for quite some time while researching the Black Mountain Crest Trail.

There were a lot of cars pulling in at the turnoff from the Parkway, so we were worried about parking.  As it turns out, we need not have worried.  There was plenty of parking.  We got out of the car and immediately put on our jackets and hoods.  It was quite chilly and the wind was blowing at least 30 mph.  

We made our way up to the snack shop and bought Kristina a 12 oz hot chocolate for $1.20.  Yes, I wrote that correctly.  I told the girl who served us that I appreciated that we could come to such a popular park and not get ripped off for the hot chocolate.

We took the short walk up the hill to the top of the mountain and took some pictures:

BC and Elijah at the Mount Mitchell sign.

Views to the south.

View to the North along the Black Mountain Crest.

Same view of the Black Mountains from the tower.

Random awesomeness.

You could see almost forever.  The haze prevented seeing the waves at the beach, I think.

North along the Black Mountain Crest.  You can see what I believe is the trail along the ridge.

More random magnificence.

Yup!  There wasn't a bad view to be found.

Even the road and the towers on the peak to the south were scenic.

BC on the map of NC.

DuGout and BC at the Mount Michell sign.

The boys love climbing rocks.  This was just down the trail from the tower.

Just build me a little cabin here and leave me alone... with my family, of course.

Same view, only bigger.

More climbing.  Those are two happy little boys right there.

We considered walking a couple other trails while we were there, but with the wind blowing so hard, decided to head on down the road.

We continued South on the Parkway and stopped at the Craggy Dome overlook.  I was considering taking BC to the top of Craggy Mountain, but I couldn't find the trail and it was getting late in the afternoon.  So we headed over to Craggy Gardens Picnic Area so I could play football with the boys.  They had been waiting all day for that and every time we stopped, they asked if we could play.

We play ball for about thirty minutes while Kristina napped in the car.  Then we headed on home.

I can't wait to get back to Mount Mitchell and do some exploring on the trails there.  More to come, I promise!