June 28 Grassy Ridge Bald

Grassy Ridge Bald is part of Roan Mountain. It is a fairly easy walk from Carvers Gap, the main staging area for hiking on Roan Mountain. I arrived about 10 am to an already crowded parking area. There were still some spots to park along the road but it looked like it would quickly fill. After the heat wave we have recently experienced, the 47 degree temperature was a bit of a shock. I searched the car for a pair of gloves but none were to be found. The sustained 20 mph wind made a windbreaker, or rain jacket in my case, imperative. The hike begins in an exposed meadow but soon enters the forest pictured above. Forest walking gave me a short reprieve from the wind. 

Soon we were back in the wind and moving higher to the top of Round Bald. At 5826' views are spectacular. To the west Roan High Bluff 6267' and Roan High Knob 6285' loom. Easterly, Grassy Ridge Bald 6180' is the view. Being so close to Carvers Gap, there are more folks here than anywhere else on the trail. 

Found only in the Roan and Grayson Highlands area, is Gray's Lily. There were quite a few of the bright red bell shaped flowers gracing the meadows today.

Leaving Round Bald and continuing on the AT, we descend to Engine Gap and then up a minor bald, Jane Bald 5807', which sort of gets lost in the shadow of Grassy Ridge Bald.

The terrain only slightly descends from Jane Bald to an unnamed gap. It is in the gaps, we experience the highest winds of the day. Here the AT turns left and the trail to Grassy Ridge heads straight. It is about a 15 minute climb to the top.

If you wander about the top on the faint pathways which seem to go here and there, there is one which does actually continue along what is shown on the topo as Grassy Ridge. Following this trail involves some trail and error as there are so many deadend spurs and camping spots. I descended slightly to a gap and then gradually ascended along a rocky ridge with views to the south and the Blacks. 

Above, we are looking at Black Mountain, Mitchell to Celo. Just to the left of Mitchell, it looks like Pinnacle make an appearance. Further to the left, we are probably looking at Green Knob. Further, out of the photo, is the very distinctive Table Rock and Hawksbill mountains in Linville Gorge.

At about the 3 mile point, I turned around and headed back. The trail looked like it was heading down and there was a snake across it. So it seemed like a good spot to turn back. On the return, winds had settled down and there were many more folks out enjoying the great day.

The Baatany group has its goats fenced in near the trail. Here we see the rare two headed goat. One head keeps a constant vigil for pesky hikers. While the other can gorge on the lush meadow vegetation. 

Roan High Bluff beyond Round Bald

June 19 Grandfather Mountain the easy way

Beginning of 3 tiers of ladders

"The easy way" = paying $20 ($18 with AAA) to drive to the Mile High Swinging Bridge instead of hiking up one of the tortuously steep trails.The Piedmont was melting in 95 degree heat but here in the parking area it is only 69. Occasionally I caught a breeze too. Nevertheless it is humid and I did sweat like normal. The trails here are 1 mph trails. The rocks and ladders and scrambling required make that so. Many of the ladders have been replaced in the past year. They are still in the same place and really, no easier. They do look nice. 

One last ladder to the peak

The one mile hike to MacRae Peak is an hour long journey with numerous ladders. Views are spectacular most of the way. It is not place for agoraphobics. Due to the rough terrain and many ladders, I decided to hike with one pole. Climbing ladders and rock scrambling was a bit easier with one pole rather than two. 

In the chute

Dark clouds began to form to the west. For about an hour, it looked like rain, then OK, and back to rain. Finally, I made the decision to head back before hiking all the way to Calloway. It did briefly rain once back at the parking area. Several lighting strikes kept everyone's attention. 

Getting through the Rock Jumble

On the return hike, I opted to use the Underwood Trail. It has only one ladder but it is an intimidating one. Underwood Trail is quite rocky and takes the same amount of time. It is better protected from lightening, which was a factor today.

Underwood Trail has one ladder and it is a dozzy

June 14 Bean Shoals Canal

In the 1820s, a scheme to navigate the Yadkin River resulted in a partial canal built to bypass the Bean Shoals. The plan was to dam the river with a low dam to flood a series of ledges. Then build a canal below the dam to get by another series of river ledges. Money was spent and a partial canal was built. One of three proposed locks may have also been built. The canal was never finished and project abandoned in 1825. Decades later a railroad was built along the river. It appears the railroad filled in the canal and used it as its rail bed. Although these photos do not show it, an active railroad is right above the old canal walls.

From an access point in Pilot Mountain State Park, you can walk about a half mile along the intermittent ruins.This time of year, there is some poison ivy and other overgrowth. I spotted many spiderworts in the area.  

It looks like the river is about 100 yards wide here. You are looking at only one of three channels of the river. It is the widest and it can be forded. I walked across where there is a designated trail ford. It is about crotch deep at it deepest point. I was able to remain upright but it is easy to get off balance in the flowing water.