by: Amber Deen
It’s hard to believe that October, my favorite month, is
here. The 6am temperatures on my front
porch have been in the 50s for a week, good sleeping weather! And, except for a few rainy days in the last
two weeks, daytimes have been in the 70s, sunny with a slight breeze so that
even in the sun, it’s not hot. Beautiful! And very shortly, when the mountains are
covered in fall jewel tones, it will be spectacular.
Ten years ago, I worked and lived in Mt. Mitchell State Park
from late May to November. As I was
driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway on November 1st, heading back to
Florida, enveloped in the breathtaking beauty of the fall foliage, the clean
crisp air, and the utter peace and quiet of the natural world where I felt so
at home, the thought of having to give that up for the exact opposite environment
made me cry.
Thankfully I returned to these magnificent mountains a year
later. And I’m looking forward to being
enveloped in Nature’s Fall Wonder once again - hiking to our many spectacular
waterfalls with our local hiking group, taking the dogs (4) for a romp in the
crinkly leaves on a high country trail, or just relaxing on my front porch in
the rocker with a hot mug of spicy tea, breathing the scent of freshly mowed
hay, admiring the crystal clear cobalt blue of the sky, listening to the birds,
and watching the leaves fall from my weeping willow. That, my friends, is Heaven on earth.
And thanks to our high mountain peaks, our lush Blue Ridge
Mountain range puts on one of the longest-running autumn leaf color displays in
the country.
The number one question for people wanting to plan to come
share our unique bounty for a little while is:
“When is the peak color?” Well, elevation
and weather are the biggest factors in the color show. Leaves begin their color change on the
highest peaks, around October 4-10, and gradually work down to the lowest
elevations.
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| Sow Rock - The Cove at Celo Mountain |
Our own Yancey County is called “the home of Mt. Mitchell,”
which has the highest elevation east of the Mississippi. The color show starts there at Mt. Mitchell
State Park, my home for half a year, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a short drive
from Burnsville on our official Scenic Highway.
During this world-class fall color spectacular, there are so
many events and places to see and go, that now through early November is the
best time of year to visit. Since people
come from all over the world to witness the fall majesty on the Blue Ridge
Parkway with its glorious waterfalls and many trails, and to stay and shop in
the nearby towns and have fun at the fall events, now is also the time to make lodging reservations.
As a matter of fact, fall colors will be stunning at The
Cove at Celo Mountain because the peak above it is not far from Mt. Mitchell where
the leaves start the show. The Cove
offers "Discovery Packages – two nights at a nearby bed and breakfast or a mountain resort. We’d love to take you on a tour of the Cove in all its glory. Phone 866 378-4769 to reserve your package,
or go to Celo Living
The Orchard
One of the most popular destinations this time of year is
The Historic Orchard at Altapass on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Orchard at Altapass). Altapass means high pass. The 104 year old apple orchard is also an
Appalachian Cultural Center that celebrates the people, music, art, and natural
beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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| “Apple Trail,” by Yancey resident David McRary, |
Built by the Clinchfield Railroad in 1908, the Orchard has
some of the most amazing scenery on the Blue Ridge Parkway as well as “family
fun by the bushels!” Families come to pick their own apples, listen and dance
to authentic mountain music, watch the entire lifecycle of Monarch butterflies
at the Butterfly Conservation Center, take a look at the local mountain crafts
for sale – including homemade ice cream and fudge – and take a hayride history tour
where they gaze out at the picture-perfect views while listening to the stories
that have shaped our area for centuries.
Owners Bill and Judy Carson are always developing new
interpretive programs for the public to highlight the Orchard’s birds,
wildflowers, butterflies, and more. And
educational programs focused on apples and pollinators are in the works for
K-12 school children.
In addition to the bluegrass music, apple picking, and
hayrides, folks can take a healthy hike, stroll, or jog throughout the property
and uncover its cultural, historical, and natural riches.
The Orchard is open May through August, six days a week,
10:30-5:30, closed on Tuesdays. It is
open daily September and October.
There’s a lunch wagon open Fridays-Sundays, 11:30-4:30, May-October and
available for tour groups and special events upon request. While The Orchard is closed November – April,
Orchard products are available throughout the year at the website, Orchard at Altapass.
The website calendar lists all the musical groups and
special events (there was a chili cook-off a week or two ago) through the
season’s final weekend October 28/29.
This coming weekend has two special events in addition to
the live music and dancing:
A barbecue dinner Friday, September 28 at 6pm will honor the
Overmountain Reeanactors – those who annually reenact the September 29, 1780
trek of settler militia, known as “Overmountain Men,” through the location that
is now the Orchard, to defeat the British at King’s Mountain and change the
course of the war. The public is invited
to the dinner in honor of the reenactors.
Tickets are $10, available at the door.
Those in 1780 period dress are
free. A program will be presented by
the reenactors…always a fun evening.
Annual program on the life cycle and migration of Monarch butterflies by
Elizabeth Hunter. Children will be
invited to help tag and release Monarchs for their historic trip to the
mountains of Mexico.
There is so much to see and do in these mountains, so many
ways to take advantage of the fall leaf color show. Don’t let the brief season of perfection get
away without taking part in it. Make
lodging reservations now for a getaway in our fall leaf color show.
Visit the Yancey Chamber of Commerce website for a complete listing
of events.
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