Back from Mt. Mitchell

So much has happened that I will have to space it out among several posts. I have been back from Mt. Mitchell since the middle of the night between Thursday and Friday. We drove down last Wednesday night. Kimberly had done research to find the perfect time for the weather, and in order to arrive at that time and get the best view, we had to leave late Wednesday night.

The trip was very taxing on us and on Angel, and it was a huge project to get to the summit. I thought it was a chore to get to Mt. Davis, PA, but it was child's play compared to Mt. Mitchell. Mt. Davis itself is a whole different ballgame from Mt. Mitchell. The two mountains we visited, Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Craig, are over twice the height of Mt. Davis. We arrived in North Carolina in mid-morning and got a view of where we were going from the North Carolina Welcome Center. It was a real chore, however, to get around the various roads to take us up to Mt. Mitchell. Once we arrived in Burnsville, we had to find Route 80 and then get to the Blueridge Parkway. It is only open up to the entrance to Mt. Mitchell. It is a beautiful climb. Once you get to the road up to Mt. Mitchell after climbing, climbing, and climbing, there's a steep ride up there. We drove all the way to the top and parked up near the summit. Right now you can't get all the way up to the summit at 6,684 feet, because they are renovating the observation deck. But the view was breathtaking from the parking lot! We were on a section of Mt. Mitchell which is 6,578 feet, and the view was spectacular from that point.

We took a two-mile hike to the summit of Mt. Craig, at 6,663 feet. It was a very difficult hike up and down and over rocks. We actually had to climb some rocks! We are physically fit, but we had to pant for oxygen. It seems very normal to pant up there. You feel that you can do it, but you have to pant for oxygen. It is unlike panting because you are out of shape. You do not get respiratory alkalosis from hyperventilating as you do at the altitude you're used to.

It was totally worth doing this hike, because it was beautiful, the views were beautiful, and the summit of Mt. Craig is just totally awesome. Kimberly definitely picked the right time to arrive, because it became hazier as the day wore on. Angel proved herself to be a wonderful mountain dog. The people up there are extremely nice. I think the reason is that they have traveled so far to get to the highest point east of the Mississippi and this is a dream they have realized. I also learned a lesson in motivation. I saw people doing the trail to Mt. Craig who would never attempt such a thing even up at Ligonier, where I usually go to hike. I saw very elderly people, disabled people, small children, and parents with infants riding on their back doing this extremely difficult hike at 6,600 feet and succeeding. It showed that if people are motivated, they can do things you'd never imagine they were able to do. Many people made a fuss over Angel and petted her. There were only two other dogs up there while we were there.

I hated to leave, it was so beautiful. We drove all day and then decided in Tennessee to take a detour to see the Bristol Motor Speedway. It is huge, and it was very interesting to see a NASCAR track where the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series are held.

The sun was setting as we made it to the Virginia Welcome Center. We hung out there for awhile and let Angel get out and walk. We weren't in Virginia long, and most of the night was spent with us sharing the driving through West Virginia. We were really tired when we got home.

It was very much worth it to go through a lot to see this beautiful place. I am very grateful to God for making it possible for us to see this manifestation of his/her creation and for protecting us along the way. I am forever changed from seeing this beautiful place.

A lot has happened since I returned, so I'll have to make several other posts in the next few days.