Six hours into a hike that had experienced five hours and fifty-five minutes of rain, I noticed something peculiar: my fellow hikers were all smiling. They were wet, they were tired, they were a little concerned about the discrepancy between remaining daylight and distance to the car. But they were all smiling.
Such is the magic of the Tanawha Trail. The Tanawha runs for 13.5 miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Beacon Heights on the south to Price Lake on the north. The southern stretch is along the east flank of Grandfather Mountain; it reflects the rugged, rocky terrain for which the iconic mountain is known. At the mid-point, the trail eases up a bit, passing through an old growth forest and mountain meadows before emerging at Boone Fork and Price Lake. It’s a best of of North Carolina hiking, a trail that’s about as good in fog, drizzle and rain as it is under blue skies and bright sun.
Here’s a glimpse into our trip this past Sunday, a day when the forecast called for overcast and some drizzle but the reality unleashed a day-long rain, fog and overall gray conditions. Gray, but as you’ll see, far from glum.
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For info on hiking the Tanawha, start here.
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