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Kodiak here. While everyone's back is turned, I thought I would take you a quick Friday Foto tour.
Our neighbor, Cataloochee Ski, is using the quiet summer months to install a new chairlift.
Everything in our field is lush and green from the summer rains.
Looks like another great weekend on the horizon.
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.
Kiska here. What are we looking at today?
Big Bald Mountain on the left and Frying Pan Mountain on the right.
The Catawba Rhododendron is beginning to bloom.
I could just stare at this all day.
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The nominations are being tallied and a selection will be made. Come back tomorrow to find out the winning animal charity!
Yes - the hu-dad has finally cut the grass in our field.
Ok, we may not disappear under the grass in our field now that the hu-dad has finally cut it, but our giant tree still threatens to dwarf us. Look very carefully at the picture above – click on it to enlarge if need be. Yes, that is the red team in the lower left just beyond the shadow of the tree.
Today, we pause to say thank you to all of the service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We are humbled at what you have given for us.
Our community is small and we were struck by an article that appeared in our regional newspaper yesterday – a story of the only native of our county who has been killed in Iraq. The story is but one representation of so many, but we wanted to share it. Mike Parrott – thank you.
It has been a long time since we have posted a video, so we thought we would show you a simple Sunday afternoon walk – followed by a little Queen Natasha the Evil roaching. What could be more fun in under 2 minutes?
We live in the heart of the original Cherokee nation. During the infamous Trail of Tears, many of the Cherokee hid out in our mountains to avoid the forced march and today that group’s ancestors live on the Qualla Boundary – the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation reservation. Because of that heritage, many legends and names live on today (including Cheoah, the Cherokee word for Otter and the official name of our own Cheesewhiz the Siberian).
One of the legends is of a fierce, slant eyed giant called Judaculla. Judaculla lived in the Richland Balsams (one of our favorite hiking areas) but held court in a cave in a nearby mountain. Thus, that mountain’s official name is Whiteside Mountain, but it is more commonly called Devil’s Courthouse (which is actually the name of just the rock outcropping – not the whole mountain). Today’s pictures all come from a day at The Devil.
The rock outcropping of Devil's Courthouse - the rest of the pictures are from the top - elevation 5,720 feet (1,743 meters).
Cheoah (a/k/a Cheesewhiz) says the climb to the top was just a little tiring.
Natasha and Kiska were most interested in whatever was rustling through the brush.
But at least some of us knew to just relax and enjoy the views.
And the views in every direction are spectacular.
A fuzzy Rusty sure enjoys it.
We love clear spring days when you can see for miles.
When our favorite tree is framed against clear blue skies.
Just sitting and enjoying a great day.
Natasha - We are enjoying our mountain views from our hike and thought you would enjoy a few.
Like this one taken from Richland Balsam - the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway at over 6000 feet (1800 meters).
We enjoyed watching the clouds hug the valleys below us.
Always fun watching the clouds wrap around the mountains.
But we also just enjoyed the long-range views.
And the sun beams dancing in the distance.
Enough to make Kiska smile.
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?
We wanted to join many of our blogging friends in posting some of our sky and cloud pictures.
These pictures were taken on one of our hikes earlier this week.
Qannik says he just wishes some snow would fall from those clouds.
Natasha
Rusty
Kiska
Kodiak
Qannik
Cheoah
