After a night out on the Toe River we hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and climbed higher towards cloud base, literally. Mt. Mitchell looms ahead and is encased in fast moving clouds. It's going to be cold up there.
Fact: Established June 30, 1936, the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles.
Driving towards Mount Mitchell
When we arrive at the parking lot we are pleasantly greeted by a concession stand serving hot cocoa and coffee, which makes us all happy.
We aren't even at the top, but we have happy campers.
We make the short climb to the top delighted that the sun's rays have broken through to warm us a little. A great way to "top" off this little adventure.
At the newish observation (2006) deck that replaced an observation tower.
Pyper's first "State High Point Summit" She can tick North Carolina off the list, only 49 to go!
Fact: The mountain was named after Elisha Mitchell, a professor at the University of North Carolina, who determined its height in 1835, and fell to his death at nearby Mitchell Falls in 1857, having returned to verify his earlier measurements. His tomb lies on the summit next to the observation deck.
We would travel to the mountains when I lived in Raleigh in 1964, until we moved to Asheville in about 2 years later. My grandmother came with us on one of these jaunts and we ended up at Mt. Mitchell as my father loved to ride the Parkway. Gramma Grace bought me a cedar wood box with Mt. Mitchell stamped on the inside. I made sure we took our children to Mt. Mitchell when we returned in 1984 to live in Asheville once more. Now you guys have been there as well. It's a family tradition; ongoing.
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