the strongest force

Love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the humblest imaginable.  
--Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian Philosopher.

Above: Linville Falls

great ambition

I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.
--Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish author 

You may have noticed that the posts on Appy Treks have been a little less frequent lately. Thought I'd catch you up on what's been going on in my life... Well, for the last month or so I've been going through some major home remodeling as my kitchen and laundry room were completely gutted, a wall removed, and then everything put back together removing any and all references to the 1980s. (I'll post photos eventually). This, on top of new classes I'm teaching and an energetic new puppy.  So things have been pretty hectic (exhausting?) around here. And just as the remodeling project was getting completed, I've come down with the cold/flu bug that's been going around. So needless to say, I haven't been out and about much recently. Hopefully this just means that everything in my life will fall into place perfectly for spring!

Here's a photo of the spectacular Linville Falls taken a couple years ago from the Plunge Basin Overlook. Located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Mile #316.5), this 45' waterfall is a popular destination and with it's many trails and overlooks, a very fun place to explore.

The American Dream

We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.
--Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) 32nd US President

The view of Linville Falls from the Erwin's View Overlook.

simple and elemental needs

Our minds, as well as our bodies, have need of the out-of-doors. Our spirits, too, need simple things, elemental things, the sun and the wind and the rain, moonlight and starlight, sunrise and mist and mossy forest trails, the perfumes of dawn and the smell of fresh-turned earth and the ancient music of wind among the trees.
--Edwin Way Teale (1899-1980) American naturalist, photographer, and author

The winds were howling through the high country of western NC yesterday. Fallen limbs and trees littered the Blue Ridge Parkway, making driving perilous. In hindsight, probably not the best day to be hiking in the forest. But we survived, somehow avoiding being ka-bobbed by falling pines. Linville Falls was all but deserted - an unusual thing for this popular destination along the parkway (Mile #316.5). The above photo was taken from "Chimney View" - click on the thumbnail map to the right to get an overview of the various trails and lookouts at Linville Falls. Click here to see a photo from last July and to read more about this spectacular waterfall.

Click here for more info from NCwaterfalls.com -- which indicates that typically the main parking area is gated during the off season. Today, the lot was open. But if you plan to visit this winter, you might want to print off that page which describes an alternate parking area off of highway 183 in case you need it. I'll have more photos to share this week.

Linville Falls

Kevin Adams, in his excellent guide "North Carolina Waterfalls," gives Linville Falls a Beauty Rating of 10 out of 10. It's one of the most visited and photographed falls on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at mile #316.5 on the parkway, views of the 45 foot tall waterfall can be had from two available trails, an upper trail (Erwin's View Trail) and a lower "plunge basin" trail. The upper trail is the easier of the two -- but is still listed as "moderate" in difficulty. A bridge just past the gift shop/restroom area leads across the Linville River and to your first stop above the falls. From there the path gets more steep but you are rewarded with great views of the falls from Chimney View Overlook and Erwin's View Overlook.

The lower trail or "plunge basin" trail begins to the left of the visitor's center. Eventually the trail will split, the right fork taking you to the 'plunge basin overlook,' and the left fork taking you down to the bottom of the falls, called the 'plunge basin.' This trail is listed as difficult because of its steepness and its difficult footing over roots and rocks. The view is great from any of the overlooks mentioned, but my favorite is the view from the plunge basin (pictured above).

A much smaller waterfall, Dugger's Creek, is located at the end of the parking area and is best viewed in the spring or after a heavy rain.

Click here to see another photo from a different vantage point, and to see a map of the falls.

Click here and here to see more pictures and to read other descriptions of the area.