Springtime in Appalachia

Mt. Mitchell
Highest Point East of the Mississippi
Highest Peak in the Appalachian Mountains
6,578 to 6,684 ft elevation
1/4 mi trail to Summit (~11% grade)

Recently we had the opportunity to enjoy Springtime in Appalachia. The redbuds were out everywhere, and the dogwoods were coming out at the lower elevations. Our visit wouldn't have been complete without conquering a peak while we were there.

Fortunately, that proved rather easy to do. The highest peak in North Carolina, the Appalachians, and east of the Mississippi is Mount Mitchell in the Black Mountains subchain. The Blue Ridge Parkway takes one to Mount Mitchell State Park; a 300-m-long trail takes one to the summit at 6, 684 ft. An observation deck was recently (re)built, opening in Jan of this year.

Heck, this one was so easy, my nearly 74-year-old father was able to accompany me and do a little "hiking for hope."

And of course, I was slower than him!

Click on any picture to enlarge.

Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook
(looking toward Table Rock, NC).

Same view, higher up the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Licklog Ridge. No kidding.

Looking toward Table Rock from Licklog Ridge Overlook.

Think this tree sees some wind?

Looking toward Tri-Cities from the parking lot.

Parking lot panorama.

We were blessed with a beautiful day; a jacket was enough.


Still icy up here. Should've videotaped those ice polliwogs!


A very easy summit (but good for my lungs nonetheless).

Looking toward Tri-Cities (TN-VA border).

Looking toward the ENE: Spruce Pine to Table Rock et al.

Looking toward the ESE: Lake James to Marion, NC.

Looking WSW toward the Smoky Mtns of East Tennessee;
Clingman's Dome in the distance.

Looking down at the trail. Very easy and nice.

Saturday, March 14: Devil's Punchbowl
4,740' elevation
1 mi loop trail [300' (down and back up) elevation change]

Lately I've been ordered to take it easy while we figure out what's behind some irregularities with my echocardiogram results. And I'm still experiencing trouble with oxygen...it seems like I'm just not getting enough; my leg muscles especially complain. Just bathing, dressing, brushing my teeth, and doing my hair wear me out; by the time you throw in laundry or yardwork; I'm really beat and my body gives out!!!

So recently a friend of mine from Connecticut was helping me gather rocks at Big Rock Creek when she told me she hadn't been in our local mountains before. She asked about Devil's Punchbowl, but it was nearing sunset --- too late in the day to head up there. Only later did we find out that was the night of another moonlight hike! Sigh.

I promised I would take her the following Saturday, figuring the one-mile loop trail (and that 300' elevation change) would be the perfect slow, easy workout for me right now. Since sleep is also an issue for me right now, we decided to meet at noon and set out to explore a bit of the local mountains, starting with Devil's Punchbowl.

DD decided to tag along, so we waited a bit on her before we actually got out the door. There was quite a crowd already there when we arrived; the beautiful weather had brought people from all over SoCal to enjoy the Punchbowl. We had fun on the mile loop trail; we went downstream to the former rope waterfall and had a nice little picnic. Of course we took pictures the entire way...here's a few.

Arch rocks as we approach park.

Can you see the witch?

Manzanita's beautiful two-toned bark.

Little slide.

Little wading pool.

Punchbowl Canyon.

After we arrived back at the top, I decided to drive my friend west along the foothills and show her Littlerock Reservoir, known affectionately as "the Dam." It's a wonderful place to cool off on those hot summer days when the desert sun is really blazin'. And yet another surprise for her that our desert "backyard" holds! When we first arrived there, we followed a trickle of a stream back a little canyon to find a waterfall wall of moss.



Backtracking to the road, we decided to climb a ridge by the part of the reservoir that I call "the cove." I had to go slow, thanks to those screaming leg muscles. But you know me --- I just keep going, albeit slo-o-o-owly. We sat on top of the ridge awhile, enjoying the view, until the wind drove us off.

The cove (starting up the ridge).

She waits for me at the top (halfway up the ridge).

The view from halfway up the ridge.

Nope, not a mirage.

Now thoroughly worn out physically, we jumped back in BB and continued west along the foothills for a driving tour. I showed her Mt. Emma, then we turned southwest to head to almost-the-summit of Mt. Pacifico. We walked a bit of the forest road, which is closed to vehicles this time of year; but we weren't really prepared to go far. By then, a chill was really beginning to assert itself, and it's just too painful for my bones anymore.

We promised ourselves we would come back again another day to explore both Mt. Gleason and Mt. Pacifico, then headed back for our desert home.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

2643' to 8516'
12,780' of cable (5873' elevation change)
15 min Tram ride

I've been having troubles with breathing/oxygen lately, so I decided to take my lungs up to some altitude and give them a workout. A perfect opportunity presented itself when Christmas found us in Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway deposits riders at an elevation of ~8500 ft at its Mountain Station! We decided we'd take a ride up it and walk around in the higher altitude.

Here's how NOT to go up the Tram: show up after 3:00 pm on Christmas Day wanting to do the ride and dine. Two terms came to DH's mind: "sheeple" and "Tower of Babel."

Here's how to go up on the Tram: Get online. Purchase and print out your ticket no later than the morning you want to go. Bypass all the crowd and present your printed ticket to take the next tram!

We had fun traipsing around in the snow up there. I use the term "fun" loosely, as it was quite a grueling struggle to get around. We never knew whether our next footstep would hold, sink an inch, sink 6 inches, or sink past the knees! The ice was so crusty, it was scraping my legs as I sank in past my knees.

The day was so sunny that all the pines were raining icicle pieces down around us. It was amazing that we never got smacked by any.

And "be careful what you wish for" is right! My lungs got such a workout that they were burning! The cold, clean, pine-scented air was just what they needed, though. They felt better for the workout afterwards.

Click on any photograph to see larger version.

One of the old tramway cars graces the exterior of the Valley station.

View of the remnant fall colors from the Valley station.

Two of the towers visible from the Valley station.

One of the new round cars nears arrival at the Valley station.

A granite column rises up.

A look back at the valley from the Mountain station.

Palm Springs stretches below.

Afternoon temperature at the Mountain complex.

We decided to hike the Desert View Trail.

I love the smell of the pine trees.

Icicle rain.

Just a little hike in the snow to work my lungs.

Footprints.

How deep will we sink?

Desert view.

Cross-country skiers.

Ice scrapes...a badge of honor.

Someday soon...the peak of San Jacinto.

The tramway uses a counterweight system to operate. It's cool to watch it rise and fall.

Getting ready to head back to the Valley station.

Someday...San Gorgonio, the highest peak in SoCal.