Monday, October 10 - One more hike before the rain comes and cancels outdoor activities. We hiked up the steps to Chimney Rock this morning. This is a little too touristy for our liking, but it is something we wanted to see.
When we arrived it was drizzling, so we hit the small town.
Can you believe that in the spring/summer, there are huge rapids that flow through this area? Looked scary to us!
Chimney Rock, the 535-million-year-old monolith for which the Park is named, is considered one of the most iconic sites in North Carolina. From its top, you’ll soak in the 75-mile panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure.
Where we are headed…waaaay up there.
We climbed the 1000's of steps up to the this towering 315-foot monolith located on the very edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains high above beautiful Hickory Nut Gorge.This is a fairly strenuous adventure.
Original steps
New reinforced steps.
At a soaring elevation of 2,280 feet with its 75-mile views, this mountaintop experience will take your breath away. Once you reach the top at 2280 feet you can see for miles and miles. It's an unobstructed view of Hickory Nut Gorge.
We then ventured down Hickory Nut Falls Trail. The reward for hiking this trail is standing below the 404 foot waterfalls at trails end. You also enjoy the sweeping view as you wind your way back the two miles to the Falls. The trail is rough. Hiking boots are HIGHLY recommended but…
Marsha and I were amazed to see how some people dress for the hike. One lady had on flip flops, another Crocks, and a third younger girl was dressed like she was heading out to the club for an evening of dancing. Come on people, this is the woods not the mall. (Side note: we watched all three of these ladies lose their balance and just about land on the rough rock.)
We picked the wrong time of the year to see the Falls. There wasn't much water falling, but it was a great hike!
More like a trickle than a Falls.
On the way back to the motorhome, we stopped at a little place for our favorite lunch.
We noticed something very strange in the car painting shop across the street. Is it really…Big Boy?
It was an enjoyable morning of hiking so the predicted rains can come now. That pretty much ends our time in the Black Mountains. It's on to Augusta, GA.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see ya'll back real soon. Have a great day!
Definitely not a climb I will be making. But I like your lunch. Been a long time since I've seen a Big Boy.
ReplyDeleteI could almost hear the huffing and puffing.
ReplyDeletethat is a nice morning of exercise with a nice reward at the top...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great way to view the beautiful foliage and get exercise. Another stop to add to our list. This country is SO vast. It will take us forever to see all of the amazing sites.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to GA!
What a great hike! I'm not so sure about all those stairs though, I was worn out just looking at them. Great views from the top!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. Another hike to mark in my books. We also can't believe what people wear when they are hiking. Once when we were coming up out of the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail we saw someone wearing cowboy boots. This was in January and there was snow and ice on the first mile or so of trail coming down. You gotta just shake your head.
ReplyDeleteKevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com
I'm not so sure that I would want to do the rapids there now that you've shown us what's underneath. I would like to visit the Hot Dog King and see if they really are king.
ReplyDeleteJust because my new knees let me climb stairs without pain doesn't mean I want to climb "that" many! Thanks for doing it for me. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are near our hometown. This is beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I have seen Chimney Rock so loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing!!
Congratulations on making it up the 1000 steps! After all that exercise, you should have been able to enjoy TWO hot dogs each! What a beautiful area! We, too, are always amazed at what people wear when hiking...and of course most ladies just HAVE to carry their purses. LOL Once the chiro advised me that carrying a heavy purse was bad for my neck, I learned for the most part to travel purseless. It is as liberating as selling all that stuff in the stix house! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat views from the top of Chimney Rock eh?
ReplyDeleteNow that is a climb!! The views are terrific and now that you have done it with pictures, I do not have too:)
ReplyDeleteWe climbed all those steps in the summer. . .I thought I was going to die. . .no strength left to hike over to the falls. . it is an awesome view though.
ReplyDeleteWe drove over from Asheville, which was my favorite stop of the entire trip.
Janice
ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing.com