Well, I bagged Sitting Bear Mountain in Linville Gorge. It was the only major peak in the Gorge that I had not hiked. I think it's also the highest summit in the wilderness. I timed the hike well, being first at the trailhead and managed to have the footpath completely to myself for several hours. I did encounter a hiker and his dog near the summit cliffs--nice guy. Then, later, on the way down, I bumped into a tight-lipped shitheel who wouldn't even return a polite "hello". I'm all for solitude and such, but there's a point where misanthropy reaches the level of pathology. At any rate, it was a good hike. The trail is very, very steep as you approach the summit. It hits the mountain head-on with no switchbacks. It's roughly as steep as the Woody Ridge Trail in the Black Mountains, but doesn't hold that steepness for as long as the Woody Ridge path manages. Still, I had to very carefully pick my way down as I headed back. A fall there would be dangerous. Oddly, the rims of the Gorge held onto huge cloud formations with some tenacity, making for difficulty in grabbing good photos. I did manage a few decent shots, but it wasn't easy. After the hike I went over to the Linville Falls picnic area on the Parkway and had lunch. Then I drove over to Beacon Rock and took a few shots there, but again Grandfather Mountain (aka Tanawha) was socked in by clouds lingering over the summits. After that I headed home. It was a good day.
I tried an experiment with time lapse photography with the GoPro camera. I'd played around with it before, but while I was walking or kayaking to show sped up motion progress. In this one I kept the camera static and let the landscape do the moving. I want to do more of these.
I was the only one at the trailhead. Parking is at a premium at this trailhead. Maybe four spots.
View from the first set of cliffs.
From closer to the Sitting Bear summit looking back on the spot where I took the time lapse video.
Now and again the clouds would break. Right after this it got really dark and misty and made photography difficult.
The Linville Falls Picnic Area is amazing. Right by the Linville River.
Then I drove over to Beacon Rock below Grandfather Mountain. Most people don't know there's a GrandMOTHER Mountain. This is it, as seen from the exposed surface of Beacon Rock. It has a horrible radio tower, which is hear mainly hidden by clouds.
Tanawha was a tease. She played with the clouds and refused to reveal all of her beauty. At 5,964 feet she is technically the highest summit in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Less than 40 feet shy of 6,000 feet.
Well, since I was frustrated in my attempt to bag Sitting Bear Mountain a few days ago, I'm heading back to Linville Gorge in the morning to try again. It's the only major peak in the wilderness that I haven't hiked, so I want to strike it off my list before it becomes a frustrated obsession. In the coming years I'll be hiking and camping and backpacking so much that I doubt it would rank very high on my list, so best to do it now while I still think about it. I've heard the views from the top are pretty good. I'm always curious if I'll find a grandstand in the Gorge as good as the Hawksbill summit. So far, I have not found a view to surpass with that one.
From a recent visit to the Gorge. Not far from Table Rock.
Taken at The Amphitheater. A grand location.
I took this selfie on Hawksbill. So far, it's my favorite view in and of the Gorge. I doubt it can be topped, but you never know.
