Mount Rogers, Virginia

Return to the Tops of the States

I really did mean to stay with this blog. Truly I did.  But here it is, fifteen months since the last entry! It is a good thing this was a running travelogue. After having revisited Mount Mitchell, Debbie and I headed northeast to a section of Virginia dear to her, but unknown to me. It was near North Carolina's northern border and the one-time home of my mentor, the late Earl Russel. He and his wife Mary had a Christmas Tree farm near Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's second highest peak. After revisiting the former favorite youth missions site of the youth of our church, we attempted to drive to the top of Whitetop. However, the road was too bad even in good weather. We settled for a great view south that included much of North Carolina toward the southern horizon.

And then it was off to visit the park dedicated to Mount Rogers, our fourth high point. After we were inside the park, though, we found that the peak was visible from only one road within the park. The picture above was taken by my wife with me in the foreground. I have cropped it so as to not offend anyone by that! Anyway, as one can see, the top is green and not very steep. We tried to hike to the top from a nice trail head near the Visitors' center only to stop a mere quarter mile up the gentle slope.

The trail crossed the Appalachian Trail, which goes from Maine to Georgia, and I had my picture taken ascending that trail towards the as yet unseen summit of Mt. Rogers. We found that the Mountain was home to some partial wild horses which we photographed. We joined other hikers and heard reports from the top by those on the way down. We also found out that there were equine tours to the top!

Perhaps someday we will return to ride a couple of horses to the top. I am sure the views on the way will be spectacular. If I remember correctly, the picture above was taken on the way out of the park. Our task was to get to Kentucky, a half a state away. The journey would prove an adventure in backwoods Appalachia.

Mount Mitchell, North Carolina

 So, one day back in 2013, I got the High Point Fever!!  I mean, I started to read the websites, mapping out the possible trips, and all that... well, except for getting in shape to actually hike to an ice-capped peak somewhere.

I made it a goal to at least visit the high points of as many of the states as I could while I am still able.  Of course, this included my wife Deborah. So, with Google Earth and Google maps at hand, I mapped out our first journey: a circle taking in the states north of us: NC, VA, KY and TN. 


It was late spring, before any known or unknown graduations that we might be obligated to attend, when we headed north on a familiar route to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the the Mississippi. That would mean it was the "top of America" for about 75 years.

We could not have picked a better time.  The weather was fantastic and the Blue Ridge Parkway was open! With my digital camera, I had no worries. We took our time and a lot of pictures along the Parkway. We'd been there before, at peak autumn colors and frozen pipes in the park, but the viewing had never been better. We could see south to South Carolina and North to Virginia, though I don't think we could see the other high points from there.

It is a nice place to go for a day, especially when the weather co-operates. I won't mention the times I've been on the Parkway when that wasn't the case! Well, I ramble. But it is good to be back on the Blog. The next stop, Mount Rogers, Virginia.

Brasstown Bald, Georgia

Georgia

Among mountaineers there is one type of mountain that makes the climb worth it. It is the bald mountain. Just above the treeline, the view becomes breathtaking. It is that sort of mountain that graces the top of my longtime home state of Georgia. Far away from the pecans and peanuts of my old stomping grounds in the southwest, the state's highest point sits on the state line with Tennesee. Unlike state treasures like Mount Mitchell of North Carolina, those who use the parking lot here must pay during visiting hours. But that includes a shuttle bus to the top, and believe me, that is worth the cost of admission.

There is a large parking lot with picnic areas a few hundred feet from the top. A visitors center with a store is where you take the shuttle about once every 15 minutes or so. A healthy person can hike the trail in about that time.

At the top, there is a platform that at has a science center at ground level. There is even an elevator for us older folks to the viewing area and observation tower.

The road from town is a long and winding one that is closed due to weather sometimes. The view is best in the fall, but expect a crowd during peak season.

Last August I had debated going there to view the eclipse, but the rare opportunity to get in-laws together had my mother, brother, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, etc. In our own yards. Perhaps someone can tell me what seeing the shadow rush across the mountain was like.

Anyway, my most memorable visit was probably when we drove up one afternoon from Greenville, getting there after hours. I hiked to the top in time to get some pictures of sunset, while Debbie waited in the parking lot.

I'll let the reader judge if it was worth it.

Looking Up, America's High Points.

South Carolina

I have had problems in my latest blogs, so instead of stretching "Part 2" of my life story to a breaking point, I am going to write about places I've been.

The first series will be my recollections of my visits in recent years to the high points in Amerca. This will be what I know from the "drivers seat", so to speak.

Historically, the first high point I visited was either Tennessee's Clingmans Dome, or my home state's Brasstown Bald. However, I will fast forward to my present quest, and start with South Carolina.

I live at about 1000 feet above see level, About a half mile lower and About 38 miles southwest of Sassafras Mountain. I have never seen any sassafras growing there, but I have long forgotten what that looks like. It takes a little over an hour to get there.

Anyway, my wife and I have been there many times. The peak shares a bench, monument and radio tower, and soon, a panoramic view of North and South Carolina. 

I had hoped the planned viewing platform would have been finished before last falls eclipse but that didn't happen. The preparations turned what was once a peaceful park in the woods to a wasteland. But one day soon...

On the waste slope, right off the gravel parking lot, is a modern overlook that looks over the local lakes toward Georgia. The horizon does not allow a view of Georgia's Brasstown Bald.

The monument, or placard, at the top gives the height at 3560 feet above see level. Since South Carolina has beaches, the math would give a mean elevation for the state to be 1780 feet. Keep that in mind when I cover other high points.

I miss the scenic wooded peak. Here is Debbie at the top back then. Below that is the scene now. I hope that soon there will be a modern platform or tower with at least grass and shrubbery at ground level.

About Me: Part 2.3

Our trip South from the northwoods yielded plenty of chances to see Lake Superior's northern shore. We had used up much of our day getting to the highpoint and our host for the night awaited somewhere in northern Wisconsin. But I had decided to see all the Great Lakes, so I took a lot of pictures.

 So you can see, we were pushing daylight to get past Duluth before nightfall. Through a comedy of errors and Google maps misdirection, we made it to Paul Peterson's house to feast on stuffed pheasant!

About Me: Part 2.2

As I continue to update my my recent life, I owe a note of explanation to my readers. The 2.x episodes are part of a quest to visit the highest places in the 50 US states and DC. Our change of plans took us to the Mississippi River once again.

After visiting Omaha on the River, it was time to head north towards Canada. After we stopped at Harkeye Point, IA, we took a break and visited Aunt Esther and the Minnesota clan. We also visited the headwaters of the Mississippi, which forced a weekend stay in lovely Iron Mountain, MN.

But finally we headed to the pointy end of the state to get as close as we could to the top of the state... Eagle Mountain. 

The trip went well, But when we found out the hike was over three miles on a wet trail, we decided to take some pictures and head south to Wisconson. 

Not claiming sour grapes, but the view from the top was probably obscured by lovely fall leaves. 🍁🍁🍁

Really, check out the view from the lake. 😀

About Me: Part 2.1

Plans change. And, like when driving a manual shift, you occasionally skip a gear. Such is the story of my life I 2017.

Not much change at the homefront, but the changes worked so as to relieve tention here. After much delay, we found it possible to get a friend back home to Nebraska. Not exactly Kansas, but close.

This meant that our planned trip to New England would become a trip west, all the way to the Grand Canyon!  The plans were on the drawing board, but nothing in stone past Omaha.

But packing a guy's life in a Uhaul trailer cut into the budget. I decided that the desert could wait. Less than two hours from Omaha, near the Minnesota line, waited the most unique highpoint of them all--in a soybean field!!

And so, instead of a six hour trip to a muddy cow pasture in southwestern Nebraska, a pleasant ride, with a side trip to Iowa's best overlook, we beat a thunderstorm to Hawkeye Point. The reason this was special was because there on the poles were arrows pointing to all the rest of the high points.

We got plenty of photos before the storm hit. Fortunately, this was very close to the main road. Later in the week, after visiting with most of the Peterson Clan, Minnesota's Eagle Mountain would not be as easy.