June 12 Murray Lane Monster

Arguably, the most ambitious wood carving attempted by my late father, John Plant Jr, was this Loch Ness type monster. From one piece of wood and almost perfectly balanced, it began as his last wood carving project. After developing a 3/4 inch wide crack between the snout and top of the head, it was abandoned and sat in the barn for about 20 years. More recently, it was moved to the shed. While cleaning out the shed last month, this thing was constantly in my way. Finally, I moved it outside while I finished my task. After finishing, rather than move it back, I loaded it in my truck and drove it back to NC.

Now, it was sitting in my basement, getting in the way. Perhaps, the crack was the reason for abandoning it or maybe Dad was tired of carving and interested in other endeavors. There was a half hearted attempt to patch the crack but it made the monster look worse. I examined the crack and filled it with plastic wood, then painted over it. I was so pleased with how it looked, I began to imagine what I could do with it. Googling "dinosaur eyes" gave me the idea for painting them. I'm still wondering how I might add menacing teeth. That may come. 

Here is how the fellow looked while residing in the shed. And here he is after 6 coats of waterseal. The next step was to build a base so he'd be rising up out of the bushes next to the house. There he keeps a constant vigil over our drive. When you visit, say "hello" or "hi y'all" to Murray

Some of Dad's other carvings are below. On a 1960's epic journey to Alaska - 7 kids, Mom and Dad in the rented Dodge Motorhome - he became acquainted with the Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia and their art. Many of the pieces have their influence.

June 6 Grandfather Mtn

Russ and I have a special hike planned for today. We'll be leaving a car at the Profile Trailhead on 105 and taking another vehicle to the Grandfather Mountain Swinging Bridge to start a hike. You can do this, although it is discouraged and the $20 per person entrance fee would make this a $40 per person option. That is all negated if one of you has an annual pass. Hiking partner Russ was a personal friend of Hugh Morton and has for many years received an annual pass. So we can do this hike on the cheap.

First impression is, the door is almost ripped off the car when we open it at the top, The winds are gusting into the high forties. We can't put sunscreen on outside, so retreat to the restroom. Once we are geared up, we head into the wind and it is ferocious until be get sheltered in the forest.

Above you can see one of our destinations, MacRae peak.

The terrain is so difficult, ladders and cables are needed to negotiate the steep ascent. The wind makes it more difficult on the ladders.

Some are long and tedious, like this one Russ is just starting up.

The final ascent to the top of MacRae is this ladder. Many a photograph has been taken here.

That's next. Get a  good breather and choke down some protein before tackling this.

After leaving MacRae at 5844', we head down to a gap and tunnel through the rock jumble before heading up the chute. The chute is in the photo above, just off the left side. At the top of the chute is the Attic Window at 5949', our highest point today.

We manage the final leg on Grandfather Trail, taking 2 hours to go 2 miles. Now it is 3.6 miles down Profile to the new trailhead, It is very rough and rocky trail for the first .5 mile and then it is just steep and a little rocky. About the time I am ready to be finished, the trail to the old parking lot is blocked and we head up. And we head up. It is a long upward climb to get to the new trailhead. We manage to hike the 5.6 mile trail in 5 hours. 

June 5 High Roan AT Hike

Beginning at Carver's Gap, our plan was to hike to Hughes Gap on the AT with a 2.5 mile side excursion to Roan High Bald. Heading into the woods, we were transported to a magnificent forest of lush evergreens and green undergrowth. What a special place this is. 

We crossed streams and numerous wet areas. It was thrilling to walk through this area.

About 2 miles in, we came upon the Roan High Bluff Shelter which is the highest shelter on the AT. It also looks like it may be one of the original shelters which have that dark dank look. In the vicinity were the foundations for a firetower. What a view it must have had.

Shortly after stopping at the shelter, we encountered the Roan Mountain State Park developed area. Over 100 years ago, a hotel, the Cloudland, stood in one of the fields. It straddled the NC and TN border. Inside you could purchase alcohol in TN but you could not stray into NC where it was prohibited. 

We made the detour to Roan High Bald, at 6287 feet is two feet higher than Roan High Knob. Or maybe I have that backward. Anyway, I have two more peaks on my SB 6000 list now.

The rest of the hike to Hughes Gap, sported the most lush vegetation I have ever seen for that distance. The trail was being crowded by nettles almost the entire way. We met a number of northbound hikers on this section. It was a very pleasant 2000 foot descent from Roan to Hughes Gap.

June 4 Laurel Fork AT Hike

After being thwarted on our Snake Mtn attempt, we made our way back into Tennessee and hikes a short 3+ mile section of the AT which I had not hiked on before. It was very different from our morning hike up Elk Knob. One of the main attractions to this section is a normally boring waterfall, which, due to recent rains, was roaring away today.

Occasionally, you are reminded how far you have hiked or how far you have to hike.

On the drive back we stopped at a hostel, The Station, for a beer. The Bearded Iris Homestyle they had on draft was outstanding. The hostel, having just opened this year, about 1/2 mile from the AT crossing on 19E is bound to be a popular place.

June 4 Elk Knob

Plan A was to hike up Snake Mountain but when we arrived at the trailhead near Elk Knob State Park, it was gated off, both the parking area and the farm gate which had been left slightly open in the past. We drove back to Elk Knob State Park and asked the gal in the office about the recent change. She was about as helpful as a fence post. "Its private property and I work at a state park" was her response. 

Unable to obtain any further information on who we might contact for access permission, we hiked up the 1.9 mile trail to the top of Elk Knob. The views were very nice, maybe rivaling the top of Snake. 

At the topmost viewpoint, I tried my best to spot the Sauratown Mountains. I'm certain I saw Pilot in the distant mist. 

June 2 Uwharrie Mushrooms and Cooper Cemetery Refresh

Recent rains had me out foraging for mushrooms at the Robins Branch and Hannahs Creek area of the Birkheads this morning. I located a healthy number of chanterelles but the big coup of the day was this young and fresh chicken of the woods.

Back in the parking area, much activity was afoot. A number of scouts were gearing up for a backpack outing. And the Cooper family reunion and cemetery clean up was getting started. The Coopers get together about this time of year to head out to the Cooper Mountain Cemetery where their family took root in this area a couple hundred years ago. I met Charlie Cooper who acted as the spokesperson for the family. They had prepared another cemetery sign out of cedar. This time, on the back of the sign, they posted the dates of Sterling Cooper's birth and death and also made note that Riley and Matthew also occupied a couple of the 34 graves in the cemetery. 

They have only been aware of the cemetery for 27 years. A local landowner, Clark Thornburg told them they had a cemetery out there in the woods. He took them part way and gave them some idea where to look. They located the cemetery and spruced it up. I recall seeing the first sign they erected out there. I believe the one they hauled out there today is the third one. 

Charlie told me there was a stage which traveled through this area once a day back then. He mentioned the Cooper homesite was about 3/4ths the way up Cooper Mtn on the right of the road. I had always assumed it was the homesite before crossing Hannah's Creek. Charlie corrected me, saying that was the Brite home.

Charlie also mentioned he was related to the Tadlocks. Our Uwharrie Trailblazers had a January outing to the Tadlock graves. He said the Tadlocks were mostly Keyawee Indians from the Carraway area.

Charlie sent the fellows out with tools and the huge sign. He stayed behind to prepare a meal for them and others who were on there way. The center of the parking circle had a long line of sawhorses with plywood tables ready to be laden with food stored in several plastic tubs.