Chimney Rock # 4: The Outcroppings Trail

I hope you enjoyed the previous posts,

especially the one about Chimney Rock

and Exclamation Point.  As we descended

back to Chimney Rock, we continued down

the mountainside on the Outcroppings Trail,

which we found to be an eye-catching adventure.

This is the stairway that begins our 

downward climb.  We would see many

huffing, puffing climbers working their

way up.  Our plan had three advantages:

going down didn't leave us breathless, the

great views were always before us, and 

our hike ended near our car.  YES!!

This was really relaxing after our

previous strenuous climb.

Part of the way down, I got this

classic view of the iconic Chimney 

Rock, with flag unfurled in the breeze.

Our winding path was full of 

interesting rock formations.

Along the way, spectacular views

of the gorge below opened up.

Pulpit Rock

I loved the humor of the park signs.

Some were not humorous but cautionary.

Pay attention, Liz!

At this point we were still far above

our car.  March on!

Occasionally, we saw glimpses of early fall

color.  But we had intentionally planned our

trip for before leaf season to avoid the crowds.

This sign explains the bridge 

photo that follows.

Just a little while longer.

And it's all downhill.

Renovation work continues on

an area called The Grotto and The

 Subway.  We still got a good look.

Work on The Grotto from below.

Work crews even removed a section of the

boardwalk to keep the curious from danger.

The whole mountainside is alive with 

birds calling and in flight.  This educational

stop was near the end of our hike.

We were interested to read about the

Peregrine Falcon, because we had seen one

high up on Exclamation Point.  First we

had seen him solitary on a perch, then in

flight, in pursuit of prey.  We didn't see

the result of his efforts.

Moonshiner's Cave, also called Gneiss Cave,

is currently closed due to the dreadful bat

disease, White Nose Syndrome.

Here we are at Vista Point,

nearing our destination.  

This precariously balanced boulder seems

to dare us to pass beneath it.

But nothing will keep us from our car now.

We have conquered Chimney Rock and

its mountainous terrain.  The journey has

been its own reward.

Two final posts will cover all the "lowland"

sights we enjoyed on our trip and several

educational features at the park.  They're

not as exciting as these first four posts but

if you have time, please enjoy them, as well.

They'll be posted right away.

Chimney Rock # 3: The One You've Been Waiting For . . .

Truly, this is the post I'VE been waiting for.

Even seeing these views again gets my heart

beating fast.  Let's hit the trail!

This is as far as you can go by car-- the

parking lot at the lower concourse. There,

most visitors take the elevator up.

That's right, the elevator.  Carved inside

sheer rock, it was completed in 1949 and

has just undergone a complete renovation

and modernization, including "escape" stairs.

It's 26 stories up.  I'm sure the operators get

tired of folks quipping "First floor, please."

This is the tunnel you walk to get to the elevator.

On this map you can see where the elevator

rises to the Sky Lounge.  From there you're

just a few steps away from the park's center

piece: Chimney Rock.  From there we'll ascend

to the park's highest spot: Exclamation Point

on the Skyline Trail.

Here's Judy on our first ascent up

Chimney Rock.  Note, I was still at

the bottom of the stairs and letting her

go first.  My legs always get a little

rubbery in high, open spaces.  My brain

knows I'm not going to fall but my

acrophobia says an unknown force will

somehow hurl me over the railing or I'll

lose my equilibrium while looking down.

Here's a nice view of Hickory Nut Gorge

from between the mountainside and 

Chimney Rock.  I'm still delaying my 

climb, you see.

Okay, here we go, into the gale force winds.

We both made it and the wind turned

out to be just a gentle breeze.  Perfect day!

At the top, this plaque commemorates the

three Morse brothers who envisioned and

brought into being this wonderful exhibition

of God's natural creation.  The Morse family

operated the park until they sold it to the

state of North Carolina just a few years ago.

Standing near the flagpole, I turn toward

the mountain to see the challenge that lies

ahead.  A 200 foot climb up mountainside

stairways to reach Exclamation Point, the

highest spot in the park.

Just under the projecting overhang is

the Opera Box, and amazing formation.

I wasn't quite sure I would get there.

Now to descend the 44 steps of Chimney 

Rock.  At the bottom we begin the much

more intimidating climb to the crest of the

mountain.  (At the bottom and to the right,

you can glimpse the starting point for the

Outcroppings Trail, which will be the next

blog adventure.)

As I look at this imposing structure

I'm thankful for good engineers and

construction crews.  Going up!

See?  Very sturdy.  YIKES!

Here's Judy at the Opera Box, which we had

 viewed from Chimney Rock, far beneath us.

To me, this is the classic view of Chimney

Rock, seen on post cards for decades.  But

now I know where they took the photo from!

Nice aerial view of the town of Chimney

Rock, too.  We frequently heard small  planes

fly over during our visit, and wondered if

people were paying for plane flights over

Hickory Nut Gorge.  Our view was plenty

good enough for me!

Here are the mountains on the opposite

side of the gorge.

Judy snapped this one just so I could

prove I was really up there.

A little too open for me.  But we're still going 

higher.  Straight up the mountainside.

To Devil's Head.

See if you can find the boulder known as

Devil's Head.  Hint:  I think the rusty iron

gate is a clue that in times past many thrill

seekers have tried to get to that rock.  No

statistics on the number of deaths in the park.

Liz, this sign's especially for you!

(Private joke.)

And I know you speak Spanish, so no excuses!

We finally reach Exclamation Point, and 

what a view we beheld.  First, the valley,

a gorge carved out by the Broad River

over many ages.

Our altitude, only 2480 feet, is deceptive.

All along the Blue Ridge are peaks well

over 6,000 feet.  But views are relative to their

surroundings.  Most hikers can attest that

places like Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock,

and Chimney Rock seem higher than many 

peaks in the Appalachians because everything

around them is so much lower.  That's definitely

the effect here.

GORGE-ous!!!

STUNNING!!!

APPROPRIATELY NAMED!!!

And for Liz and the rest of you, 

another subtle warning.

The air was as crisp and clean as on 

Mount Mitchell.  We were in no hurry to

start our trek down.

This is as high as you can go without

defying the signs, which I wasn't about to do!

Yes, we were there, and very happy about it.

Time to head back down the steep trail.

This sloping rock runway seems perfectly

designed for a hang glider takeoff.

But we'll go back the way we came, thanks!

The thrills are far from over.

After our descent, we'll go even deeper

into to the gorge on the Outcroppings Trail.

Coming very soon!