Two days of rain in warm temperatures melted all the snow on these mountains. Sunday was perfect though. Will and I drove up for a mid morning start from the Boone Fork Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our destination was Calloway Peak, at 5964', the highest peak of Grandfather Mountain. There were a few clouds in the sky as we started and temperatures were right around freezing. There was a light coating of sleet which had fallen overnight. After registering, we hiked the Tanawha Trail a short distance and then accessed the Daniel Boone Scout Trail which goes to the top. It is all uphill in this direction. About a mile up we take a breather at Flat Rock, then continue up. There is more sleet on the ground and the trail is solid ice in many spots. Another mile brings us to a large rock which requires a tricky scramble. There are a couple tiny footholds and a very well placed handhold that allowed us to tackle this ominous rock with relative ease.
Now we are in a section of trail that is solid ice. There is one more rock which requires a minor once over before scrambling down. Then the ladders begin. They are in good shape, free of ice except at the top of one. We manage the 3 ladders very well and easily pull ourselves up a steep area by using the cable in place. There are just a few more steep spots before we enter the small exposed area at the top. Before stepping out, we gear up with windbreakers and everything else we have with us. The weather forecast had said 70 mph gusts but we didn't experience anything even half that much.
Our "top time" is brief as the winds did chill us down. We decide to go on further to the next overlook but after about 100 yards we encounter a ladder atop an iced rock. It looks like we could manage it but we have a great view where we are standing so decide to stay here for a few moments and then retrace back to the top.
It was too windy to eat lunch on the top, so down we went. I kept searching for the plane wreckage which is in the area, not far off trail but the snow made it impossible to locate. About a mile down, we met our first hikers of the day, a small groups of kids with a couple adults including a guy in shorts training for a 3 week "vacation" on Denali.
Lunch is at the Viaduct Overlook. We can see Charlotte from here. It was the clearest I have ever experienced.
Kahtoolas helped me on the icy areas greatly. Will was able to manage the whole hike without foot traction and I didn't see anyone else with it.
We took Cragway and Nuwati Trails back. Total miles were only about 6. It took over 5 hours to go up and back.
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