Craggy Gardens

There was really not a lot to photograph at Craggy Gardens in the Summer. Flowers that would otherwise  be in the meadow were not in bloom. 

The excitement came on the way to and leaving Craggy Gardens. I came across 4 bears total and this last picture was a mama bear with two cubs. Unfortunately I was unable to get any pictures of the cups. It's great seeing a black bear in your car; not so much on a hiking trail, which I never have has to date.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway - Waterrock Knob & Bear Pen Gap Trail

Waterrock is at milepost 451.2. It is a hike to the top and back down. Total distance of 1.06 miles. An elevation gain of 456 feet.

This is looking out the direction you were traveling down the trail.

This is the view when you turn around to head back down the trail.

An unknown location on the Blue Ridge.

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At Milepost 427.6. Bear Pen Gap Trail on Blue Ridge Parkway .org website says, "access to Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Length: 0.22." But if you actually go all the way to the MTS trail, it's 0.64 for a total of 1.28 miles.

I didn't bring water because I thought it would be a short hike. I was sure glad a spring was coming out of a hill so that Gypsy could drink water.

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Looking Glass Rock at an Overlook - milepost 417

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Green Knob Overlook is located at milepost 350.4

Unknown to me, my Blue Ridge Parkway ride would come to an abrupt end in 56 more miles. I did drive the entire detour from Boone to Sparta and ended up in Elkin, NC, after deciding to call my trip officially ended. I liked the town of Elkin, and the Elk Inn was great for a **star motel. Angry Troll Brewing was the only brewery open on a Monday night. That was okay because their beer was excellent, the pizza was tasty, and it was a lovely night sitting at the sidewalk tables.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway-Duggers Falls/Duggers Loop Trail

Normally I wouldn't even consider bothering doing a post on such a short trail, but this trail is mentioned among the 58 or so North Carolina trails in the Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Guide. Everyone's ability isn't the same and what may seem like just a leg stretcher to me is all someone else may care to walk. Duggers Falls is at the same location as the Linville Falls (mile post 316.4). Starting at the restrooms and gift shop turning left (yellow arrow pointing the way) the Duggers Falls is a small creek waterfall, and in comparing it to the Linville Falls, it's like a tadpole to a whale. 

One of a few placards along the trail of quotes by someone about nature.This one I particularly like.

Just as the sign says, it's a 20-minute walk.

The bridge over Duggers Creek

Nothing much to look at but was a relaxing sound.

This was the return bridge back to the Jeep. Aaron is helping mom steady herself on the rocks.

Blue Ridge Parkway-Linville Falls

'If water had adventure parks, Linville Falls would be Six Flags over North Carolina" is what Joe Miller the author of  100 Classic Hikes In North Carolina said about this place. Well, it certainly ranks among the "must see" falls.

 At this, location it's called "Erwins View" of the Linville Falls.

The Upper Falls.

You have the Upper Falls then you have the narrowing of the stream between the boulders that is rapidly falling which is called the Chimney, and the final fall is what you see in the first picture. 

Gorge View. That is a very long ways down.

From the Visitor Center you walk 0.4  miles to the Upper Falls, then another 0.2 to the Gorge View and another 0.2 to Erwins View. This is all up hill with an elevation gain of 145 feet.

 On our way back crossing the bridge just before the Vistors Center we see a fisherman fly fishing. 

Aaron and I have seen many waterfalls and the Erwins View was impressive, but this was somewhat of a letdown due to the fact everything was fenced off. It was all look but no play. Even Gypsy keep tugging at her leash wanting to wade and take a drink in the water but fences and sign telling us "do not go beyond this fence $5000 fine or imprisonment" kept that from happening. 

Blue Ridge Parkway-Fryingpan Trail

At the entrance of the Mount Pisgah Campground is the trailhead of the Fryingpan Trail.

Started about 8:50 in the morning and returned to this same spot at around 12:15 PM.

On a hike like this, I wish I would have something other than a phone camera or a phone with better quality picture capabilities. All these flowering plants were more gorgeous seeing them with the human eye. I can only identify about two, and that would be the Tiger Lilly & Mountain Laurel. I just guess some of the other flowers are maybe Azalea, Dogwood and White Snakeroot.

Can you spot the Mountain Tree Monkey? This part of the trail is a plateau of 5180 feet. We soon descend down to the to the Fryingpan Gap.

After a mile hike through the narrow thick vegetation, it empties out at the Fryingpan Gap onto Forest Service Road 450. Here we take a sharp right and start to ascend to the Fryingpan Fire Tower. It's one of the most impressive views I have ever seen, though the surrounding area with some buildings and weather tower wasn't pretty to look at. But being at a height of  5721 feet plus on a fire tower, the view is priceless. The 6030-foot Cold Mountian to the West looks majestic.

Mountains are so beautiful!

We never had to use bug spray, and Aaron was able to cool off by taking his shirt off and using it as a bandana.

We made it back to our campsite at lunch time, then we spent the rest of our day wading or swimming at the Yellowstone Falls.

Blue Ridge Parkway-Mount Pisgah

 With a 712-foot elevation gain, the 1.5-mile hike up to the top of  Mount Pisgah (5721 feet) was a real cardiovascular workout. If you are familiar with the Bible, you might recognize the name. Mount Pisgah is the biblical name for the mountain that Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. 

Woop, there it is! On this side of that tower, we will get a grand view looking westward.

Last three words are "steep in spots."

One of those "steep spots."

Visibility wasn't very good on this day, and we made it back to our jeep just in time before the thunderstorms.

We came, we saw, and we conquered. There is something about climbing to a high elevation and viewing other mountains. You just get this feeling that you accomplished something especially when your forehead and shirt is wet from sweat.

Gypsy had no problem sleeping. On this night she retired early.