What is a little water running on our trail?

As our faithful readers know, only really extreme weather interferes with our hikes.  So a recent rainstorm and high humidity did not prevent us from ascending Waterrock Knob on Saturday.  The Knob, at 6292 feet (1918 meters), is one of 40 peaks in North Carolina that are greater than 6,000 feet.

Maggie Valley as seen from near the peak of Waterrock Knob.

We really like this hike because there is a view over our town, Maggie Valley.  If you look carefully in the next picture, just to the right of the second hemlock tree (click on the picture to enlarge it), you will see a straight cut up a mountain.  That is the chairlift at Ghost Town in the Sky.  We live just a little further up and to the left of Ghost Town (basically, behind that hemlock).

Another view of Maggie Valley with two dead hemlock trees near the peak of Waterrock Knob.

We get asked all of the time about the dead or dying hemlock trees that can be seen all over our mountains.  They are under attack from the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.  You can read a great article about them from the National Park Service here.

Natasha cools off by roaching in some wet grass.

And then we marched shoulder to shoulder back down the mountain to the parking lot.

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We posted the link to this story on our Facebook Page yesterday, but wanted to make sure everyone saw it.  Happy Retirement to Rusty Bradley, the Park Superintendent of Mount Mitchell State Park.  Mount Mitchell is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River and is known for its “fun” winter weather – some of which is detailed in the article.

We are enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway now that most of it has re-opened from the winter.  We are able to access our high altitude trails along the Parkway and, sometimes, just relax and enjoy the views.  Here are pictures from our recent venture to Craggy Pinnacle (and the link is one of our old posts showing you why this is a great area to visit in June when the Catawba Rhododendron are in bloom).

Natasha and Kiska are enjoying the long range views.

Natasha even gets up on the rock wall for a better view of Craggy Dome.

Or a better view of whatever just crashed through the brush beside us.

Qannik needs to sit to take in the scenery.

Kodiak also gets a rock wall lean to take in the views.

Rusty has to strike a pose.

Admit it - you want to reach through and pluck that blowing coat.

Qannik and Kiska see some movement below us.

Nothing like smiles from our wooly coated girl.

Cheoah has found her perch.

Ok, hu-dad, where is the next hike?