wonder

Wonder is the basis of worship.  

--Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish Historian and Essayist.   

smile

Smile though your heart is aching 
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you.
--Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) actor, filmmaker, and composer.

More shots taken on my misty day at Crabtree Falls. 

Crabtree Falls

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.   

--John Muir (1838-1914) Naturalist and Conservationist.  

Above: Crabtree Falls on a rainy autumn day. One of the most beautiful waterfalls in our region, Crabtree Falls is found at mile 339 of the Blue Ridge Parkway (roughly midway between Linville Falls and Mount Mitchell). Click to enlarge and you'll see my friend, Peter, at the base of the falls - which puts this spectacular 70' waterfall in perspective. For more discussion and directions, click here.

alive

Peter taking in the beauty, the roar, and the mist
of Crabtree Falls in Yancey Co, NC

Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and spring. If there is no response in you to the awakening of nature—if the prospect of an early morning walk does not banish sleep, if the warble of the first bluebird does not thrill you—know that the morning and spring of your life are past. Thus may you feel your pulse.
--Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher

misty meadow

Landscapes have a language of their own, expressing the soul of the things, lofty or humble, which constitute them, from the mighty peaks to the smallest of the tiny flowers hidden in the meadow's grass. 
--Alexandra David-Néel (1868-1969) Belgian-French explorer, spiritualist and writer. 

Above: A quiet meadow found within the Crabtree Falls Campground, mile 340 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Due to budget cuts and sequestration, the campground is closed this summer. Also, the parkway itself is closed for twenty miles south of the road/entrance to Mount Mitchell (Mount Mitchell State Park remains open) due to road instability caused by this summer's heavy rains.  This means that Craggy Gardens, a popular destination along the Parkway, is closed and inaccessible.  Click here for complete information about the Parkway road closures.

illumination

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength. 
--August Wilson (1945-2005) American Writer. 

Above: The spectacular Crabtree Falls in the Mount Mitchell region of NC.  More of my photos of this waterfall here.

success

Success is not a doorway, it's a staircase.
--Dottie Walters (1924-2007). 

Stairs on the trail to Crabtree Falls.

hold on loosely

I have learned to hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands. --Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) Holocaust survivor and author.

Summer Trail

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. 
--C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) British Scholar and Novelist. 

The trail to Crabtree Falls (lined with rhododendron blooms) in Yancey Co., NC.

majesty

There is a serene and settled majesty to woodland scenery that enters into the soul and delights and elevates it, and fills it with noble inclinations.
--Washington Irving (1783-1859) American Writer. 

Click here for directions to this magnificent waterfall located north of Mount Mitchell along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.  Of all the waterfalls I've visited in our region, this is my favorite - it's absolutely stunning.  It's a bit of a trek to get there from the Tri-Cities area of TN, but well worth it.  While in the area, visit Mount Mitchell and Roaring Fork Falls and make a day of it.  :)

to be stronger

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. 
--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) 35th US President

Crabtree Falls, Yancey County, NC

worship lessons

The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American philosopher and writer.  


This image of Crabtree Falls was taken with a wide angle lens (at 11mm) -- which tends to distort the image. In this case, it made the waterfall look wider than it is. But I like this particular perspective - the way the falls fill the frame. Although the lighting wasn't ideal, I did like how the sun lit up the water splashing at the top of the falls.  Put this one on your 'to do' list if you've never visited before!  :)

crabbiness cure

The more we are separated from nature, the unhappier we get.
--Unknown

Another shot from Crabtree Falls in Yancey County, NC. I was looking for a new angle for the falls and thought this perspective shooting through the trees looked good. There was a practical reason as well for my climb, I needed to avoid the glaring sunlight that was coming from directly above the falls. Not necessarily the ideal conditions for shooting a waterfall, but I was happy to see some of the warm light on the trees. Here's a short and simple how-to guide to photographing waterfalls.

Persistence

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
--Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) 30th President of the United States

Above is beautiful Crabtree Falls found off of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mile 339.5. Click here for more information and complete directions. Located in the vicinity of Mount Mitchell, this is my favorite of all the waterfalls in our region. If you venture out that way, you might want to make a day of it. The drive from Asheville to Crabtree Falls is beautiful and loaded with things to see and do. Here are some places I recommend...

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor's Center - Located on the BRP in Asheville, this museum is a must see for those who love the parkway.
Folk Art Center - Also located in Asheville along the BRP, the Folk Art Center is part gallery, part store.
Craggy Gardens, BRP Mile #364.4 (This portion of the BRP is closed until May, 2009 - but it's definitely a destination to keep in mind!)
Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, BRP Mile #355 (Can only be accessed from the north because of a closure of the BRP south of the entrance to Mount Mitchell)
Roaring Fork Falls - Picturesque cascading waterfall.
Setrock Falls - After a period of rain, this waterfall is gorgeous.
Crabtree Falls - One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Southeast US.

standing on the shoulders of giants

Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.
--Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th US President

Above: Crabtree Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway, Mile 339.5. Click here for more information and directions.

Crabtree Falls

Well, here it is. This gets my vote for the most beautiful waterfall in the region. In my opinion, Crabtree Falls beats out the dozens of worthy contenders here in east Tennessee and western North Carolina. This 70 foot giant presents an awesome spectacle. The water fans out evenly across a broad span and as it rushes down it hits hundreds of tiny ledges, filling the air with a gentle rumble (as well as a lot of mist). With its many different viewing angles, it's a great waterfall to photograph. Be sure to visit when there's been enough rainfall to make the falls "full" (but preferably not too full or else you lose the tiny ledge effect). Fall and spring are the best times to visit -- and obviously an cloudy/overcast day is essential to avoid getting washed-out hot spots in your pictures.

Directions: I usually go to Crabtree after visiting nearby Roaring Fork Falls and Setrock Creek Falls.  So from these nearby waterfalls, I turn right onto Route 80 and go 2.2 miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway (at mile 344.1 of the Parkway). Head north for just under 5 miles to the Crabtree Meadows campground at mile 339.5 on your left (not to be confused with the Crabtree picnic area which you'll pass on your right). The campground is closed in the winter months, so you will have to park at the gate and walk the amphitheater trail or follow the road road (1/2 mi.) to the trailhead. The trail, which is well-marked, is actually a loop. Soon after you start on the actual Crabtree Falls trail, you'll come to a fork. Turn right for the shortest distance to the falls (0.9 miles). It's moderately steep downhill and rocky. Although labeled 'strenuous,' I'd put it in the 'moderate' category on the way down and strenuous on the way back up :) -- of course, it all depends on your level of fitness, surefootedness, and experience.