Tanawha Trail - Two Hikes

#2 -TWO HIKES ANYONE CAN MAKE

Tanawha Trail to Wilson Creek Falls

Looking for a new place to hike this season, my Hiking Companion suggested we venture over to Grandfather Mountain.  If you are going to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway side of Grandfather, you must look to the Tanawha Trail.

We decided to stop at Boulder Field overlook just south of the Linn Cove Viaduct and access the Tanawha Trail.  From that overlook we saw in the distance some old friends, Table Rock, Hawksbill, Sitting Bear and Gingercake Mountains of the Linville Gorge.

The Tanawha Trail is a boulevard trail leading from Julian Price Park to Grandfather Mountain.  From this trial many other trails are accessed.  We did not have time to hike very far due to the lateness of the day so we chose to hike north to the trail head of the Rough Ridge Trail.

The Tanawha Trail runs parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway and in this case on the side of the ridge above the scenic Linn Cove Viaduct. 

From the trail we got occasional glimpses of the distant Table Rock Mountain.








The trail crossed a nice spring fed creek that seemed to bubble up from the ground among moss covered rocks.

About six tenths of a mile along the trail we came upon Wilson Creek which because of the recent snow fall melting off the mountain was a roaring water fall.

From the bridge we could see the water flowing to the Viaduct which we could see in the woods in the distance.   Looking up the creek we got to see another view of the Wilson Creek Falls




Like all little boys, the Fat Bald White Guy likes to play in a creek so it did not take long for me to locate a side trail and begin to climb upstream to a large rock formation

What I did not know was that beyond this rock outcropping was an ever expansive series of waterfalls and creek rapids.



 It was like the entire mountain was alive with water seemingly flowing from every direction

It was very neat to literally sit on a rock in the middle of a mountain stream and let the water flow all around me. 

I really don't know what is so exciting about exploring a mountain creek and marveling at the natural grace and quiet roar of waterfalls but it is a feeling that is simply invigorating.

It was hard to leave Wilson Creek and the many wonderful falls that seemed to erupt at every turn.  I wonder if this scene was atypical since the previous weeks saw a foot of snow on these mountains.   It may be that this was a once in a lifetime occurrence.




Leaving the creek we tracked back on the Tanawha Trail toward the Boulder Field.




Overall we hike about a mile and a half and got to enjoy a nice mountain trail that was not strenuous and got to play in Wilson Creek Falls.  I don't know how active these falls will be in drier days but the hike is well worth the trek to see one of mountain's naturally beautiful scenes..... a waterfall.

Leaving the trail I was drawn to the massive mountain but a couple of miles away.  Grandfather Mountain is calling and one day soon the Fat Bald White Guy and his hiking companion will be on top of the summit at Calloway Peak...

The access to the trail off the Blue Ridge Park was is a 9..... the trail is an 8....rocky but not very strenuous....the scenery is an 8....other than the fantastic waterfall not a very scenic hike.....overall the trail is an 8....it is one anyone can make and well worth the journey.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER HIKE THAT ANYONE CAN MAKE   PINNACLE TRAIL IN THE LINVILLE GORGE  http://fbwg-hiking.blogspot.com/2014/02/two-hikes-anyone-can-make-pinnacle.html

looking over Hacker's Point toward the North Carolina Wall off Rock Jock Trail in the Linville Gorge

Linville Gorge - Pinnacle Trail

     #1-  TWO HIKES ANYONE CAN MAKE

       Pinnacle Trail in Linville Gorge

I can't count the number of times we passed by the Pinnacle Trail.  It is the last trail head on the Kistler Memorial Highway, the southernmost trail on the western side of Linville Gorge.  It is a short trail, about a quarter of a mile each way.  The views are as spectacular as the trails is easy.

From a lower cliff facing southwest, we got the first view of Lake James to the southeast in the distance. The Blue Lake is an impressive feature of the landscape of the Linville River valley.

To the south the blue horizon of the south mountains seem to melt into the blue sky

To the west the faint blue line of the Black Mountains are part of the horizon.

As we climbed up to the promontory rock, we found a wooden overlook facing the desolate face of Shortoff Mountain.  This mountain is the southernmost peak of the eastern rim of Linville Gorge and has never recovered from a 2007 forest fire.  The resulting appearance is a mountain that looks more like one seen in the Rockies than in the Blue Ridge.

From the overlook we could see the Linville River flowing into the Blue Lake.  It is hard to imagine that this river started its route through the Gorge as it flowed over the Linville Falls some 15 miles to the north.

Climbing to the top of the rock promontory, I was provided a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. 
               

On the top of the rock, the National Geodetic Survey has placed a marker in the stone indicating the name "Pinnacle".

Looking to the north, a majestic winter view of the peaks of The Chimneys, Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountains. The damage from the recent Table Rock fire is displayed with the various rust colored streaks of fire damaged trees on the face of the mountain.

The contrast between the waves of the rock cliff and with the distance Blue Ridge Mountains makes for a nice picture.

From several locations on top of the Pinnacle, there were many interesting views of the surrounding countryside.

Climbing down from the Pinnacle we ventured down the Mountain to Sea Trail toward the river but realizing the hike back up was more than we had planned for the day we decided to return and got a nice view of the Pinnacle

Before we left we got another nice view of the beautiful Blue Lake in the distance.

And one nice view of the Pinnacle with the sun providing an interesting contrast with the blue late winter sky.

This is a great hike.  It is short and not at all strenuous. You can reach the trail head by following Kistler Highway to the southern end of the Gorge.

The trail is a nice 8....too short for a good workout but well maintained....the views are a 9....great 360 degree view of the southern part of the Linville Gorge and surrounding countryside... Access is an 8....long drive up Kistler Highway from either end but not hard to find when you get there....Overall a solid 8...No excuses if you want to hike Linville Gorge this is a hike anyone can make!

The other hike anyone can make is Tanawha Trail to Wilson Creek Falls....ck out that blog entry too! http://fbwg-hiking.blogspot.com/2014/02/two-hikes-anyone-can-make-tanawha-trial.html

New Years Day 2014 Hawksbill Mountain

NEW YEAR'S DAY HIKE TO HAWKSBILL



From Wiseman's View we spotted someone who like us hiked Hawksbill on New Years Day

FBWG and Jake

The nice folks who run the North Carolina Parks System encourage the citizens of our fine state to "take a hike" on New Year's Day....and what is a Fat Bald White Guy to do?....  We decided to return to our favorite mountain peak in the Linville Gorge....Hawksbill Mountain (http://fbwg-hiking.blogspot.com/2012/07/hawksbill-mountain-at-linville-gorge.html)....but with one change.... We are hoping to take a sponsor!  Yep, the new year offers the FBWG and his Hiking Companion to hike with a sponsor....if it is good enough for Dale, Jr....it is good enough for the FBWG.... For 2014, the FBWG and his hiking companion are hoping to be sponsored by the good folks at Bank of North Carolina.....and accompanying me today was a representative of the Bank of North Carolina, my good friend and banker extraordinaire, Mike Jacobs.  Drop into the Bank of North Carolina in Kernersville, and tell the folks there that the Fat Bald White Guy sent you....they will treat you real nice!  Mike had spent a great deal of time in his career in Boone, but had never hiked in the Linville Gorge. He was in for a treat.

Hawksbill Mountain (r) and "Bubba Ridge"(l)

We began our hike at the Sitting Bear Trail Head off of NC Forest Road 210.  We like to start here as it provides us with a nice 2.0 mile trek to the summit by way of the Jonas Ridge trail across an unnamed peak which I have dubbed "Bubba Ridge".  As expected we were the only hikers on this trail, not seeing another party until we were halfway up the summit trail to Hawksbill Mountain.  Since my Hiking Companion gave me a new camera for Christmas, she is now armed with my old camera....and she was eager to take some pics of The FBWG and his sponsor....I did tell you he works for BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA, didn't I?  (http://bankofnc.com/) 

Sitting Bear Mountain

Hawksbill Mountain from Jonas Ridge Trail

Along the Jonas Ridge Trail across Bubba Ridge, we got glimpses of both Sitting Bear Mountain and our destination, something you don't see on a summertime hike.  Somehow the peaks look a lot bigger if you can see where you are hiking but at least we were not doing Sitting Bear as I remember how steep that hike is!



Looking East from Hawksbill Summit Trail

We soon made it across the ridge and began the summit trail which is as steep but not as long as I remembered...and during one of my frequent breaks I took some pics of the views to the east.
Having only visited the summit of Hawksbill in the summer of 2012, I was concerned that the spectacular vista seen on that visit would be diminished on this winter's day.  I was right the view was not spectacular, but in the words of Bank of North Carolina Banker Extraordinaire, Mike Jacobs: "Words cannot describe this view, it is simply magnificent!"  Yep, you got that right!

Table Rock Mountain and Linville Gorge South

The weather was in the mid-thirties and a light wind made us thankful for the warm sun.  Mike was overwhelmed by the view and we scrambled across the rocks to a lower cliff to get a better view...and of course my Hiking Companion got some photos.  And true to form, she also got a nice promo shot for the cover of the first "Hiking with Fat Bald White Guy - Bank with Bank of North Carolina" advertisements.  I mean seriously, what better pitch man for a bank than a Fat Bald White Guy who hikes the most beautiful places in the State of North Carolina... Flo, the pitchwoman for Progressive Insurance ain't got nothing on the FBWG!  We took several pictures from the south side of the summit but this one I liked as the Blue Ridge seems to melt into the blue winter sky.

Hawk's Bill Cliff

Telling Mike that the north side of the summit offer even better views, he was anxious to see how any view could be better than the ones he just saw.   We went straight to the Hawk's Bill Cliff and he got to see a 180 degree view of the mountains and gorge north, west and east of Hawksbill Mountain.

Linville Gorge North

From this side of the summit, you can see Sugar Top Condos atop Sugar Mountain and the nice homes of Gingercake Acres.

We also got Mike to pose for another Hiking with a Fat Bald Guy-Bank of North Carolina promo ad with Table Rock in the background....hey it will catch on...'Banking with the Fat Bald White Guy' has a nice ring to it, don't you think? 

 On the cliff  facing the east we took a lunch break and  marveled at all the beauty of God's creation.

As I have often observed, Table Rock Mountain is the grande dame of the Linville Gorge and no matter where you are, you are drawn to this distinctive geological marvel.  Even as we enjoyed the views to the north and east, as we turned to return to the summit trail, the beauty of Table Rock again drew our attention.

Leaving the summit trail, I spied a trail running off to the left and upon inspection found it to be the illusive Ledge Trail.  The trail has been recently cleared as I observed freshly cut branches and red survey tape.  We quickly scampered down the trail and found ourselves beneath the Hawk's Bill Cliff.  We soon found our way to a small cliff facing north with a stunning view of the Gorge. 

Resisting the urge to explore the trail further, we turned back to the summit trail but not before we played around the cliff wall and looked for caves....only finding icicles.

Arriving again at the summit trail, I decided this to be a good place to erect a cairn.  We explained to Mike the history of this Cherokee traditional marker.  It will serve a good purpose to indicate the Ledge Trail, but more importantly it all allowed us to explain that by constructing this cairn, we offer our own prayer of thanksgiving to our Creator for all the gifts of nature we enjoy.  As we enter this new year, it is my hope that each of you that you will join with me in praying...

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

  So how do we rate this New Year's day hike....it was simply magnificent.....10+  especially as we got to share the day with a good friend and see him enjoy the beauty of the Linville Gorge.  Let Mike tell you:   "I can tell you I have seen many beautiful places in these mountains, but I don't think there are any that compare with what I have seen today"




Now remember....Banking with the Fat Bald White Guy.... it may be the new slogan for the Bank of North Carolina...don't laugh....if everyone reading the blog will go to BONC and say: "The Fat Bald White Guy sent me"....it could happen!

"I gave my heart to the mountains the minute I stood beside this river with its spray in my face and watched it thunder into foam, smooth to green glass over sunken rocks, shatter to foam again. I was fascinated by how it sped by and yet was always there; its roar shook both the earth and me." - Wallace Stegner