Fresh Air

looking east toward Lake James

The past few days I took off for a break along the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking and camping. I went to Linville Gorge, Table Rock and Grandfather Mountain. All of these amazing places aren't really that far from my little corner of WNC. It was nice to find pockets of fall color still hanging on. Depending on your elevation, fall had either passed by two weeks ago, or here, at Table Rock, was in full peak. You can see the dappled colors of fall within each mountain fold. These views are from high atop Table Rock looking down into the Linville Gorge Wilderness area. Click the link for last year's post on my backpacking trip down in the gorge. It's really one of my favorite areas. From the top I could see Roan Mountain, near home, Iron Mountain, Mount Mitchell, and Grandfather Mountain, all favorite areas within sight and not much of a drive.

looking across the Linville Gorge

looking north at Hawksbill Mountain and Grandfather Mountain in the wayback

It's nice to feel refreshed and to have had time to get out to see the fall color before it's all gone!