Autumn Forests Beckon

 By Amber Deen

More Visitors than ever
You can bet on it. This year's leaf "peeping" visitor season is going to be more popular than ever, according to the Asheville newspaper.  "North Carolina's forests are hot - and it has nothing to do with fire," began the front page story in Last Wednesday's Asheville Citizen-Times.

A residual visitor onslaught from the movie "The Hunger Games," which was filmed in these mountains, and national coverage in one of the biggest cycling magazines, "Bike," has helped make our forests a hot commodity."People are coming from all over the country," said one of the owners of Hunger Games Fan Tours, which began in April and takes people on walking tours to the filming sites.  The tours are sold out for the rest of the year.

Of course, people with no interest in the film are drawn to the hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, easy access to lush waterfalls, legendary backpacking destinations, and historic sites such as the Cradle of Forestry in America, the state's Mineral Museum, Grandfather Mountain, Lindville Falls, The Historic Orchard at Altapass that I wrote about in last week's blog, and Mount Mitchell State Park where the leaves put on their colorful fall mantel first.

Whatever your outdoor sport - hiking, bicycling, biking, backpacking, camping, fishing, kayaking, rafting, running, you name it - on land or water, there are groups doing just that within an hour of Burnsville in every direction almost daily.

Mount Mitchell State Park
Our own Mount Mitchell State Park is the grandfather of North Carolina state parks, the oldest in the state park system, and hosts the greatest number of visitors.

It's website, www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main,php, says, "There are a few places in the world that still stand apart from the ordinary.  Rising more than a mile high, surrounded by the gentle mist of low-hanging clouds, Mt. Mitchell State Park is one of those extraordinary places.

"In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains (a cluster of mountains within the Blue Ridge Mountains) lies the summit of Mount Mitchell at an elevation of 6,684 feet, the highest point east of the Mississippi.  For those who ascend this mighty peak, what looms in the horizon is a feast for the eyes - breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys.  Forested and forever misty, 1,947-acre Mount Mitchell State Park will provide you with some of the most tranquil moments you'll ever experience."

How I can attest to that!

I'll never forget the thrill I felt when I arrived from Florida May 21st ten summers ago to work in the ranger station/visitor center and the gift shop.  I had driven through miles of shady forests ever upward.  As I drove out of the trees past the rock entry pillars into the park and the sun, suddenly I was on a ridge at the top of the world!  The earth had dropped out of sight on either side of me, the sky seemed to enfold me, and I could see forever.  It felt as though it was a whole new world and I was the only one there.

 

Now as a child, my family had toured the mountains of the Alps in Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria, and I had lived in Hawaii with its craggy green velvet mountains, yet nothing was quite as breathtaking - literally - as that first vision of the world from Mount Mitchell.

In six months, I never lost that sense of wonder, that feeling of peace and belonging. and that everything was right with the world. 

Every morning, very early, I'd walk the mile from the employee barracks down to the same open section of ridge in total silence, except for the birds - Black-Headed Juncos mostly - and marvel at the sunrise on clear mornings and the mist that filled the valleys making the peaks look like islands in a sea of white on misty mornings.

When it was really clear, I could count 13 distinct layers of mountains in ever lighter shades of blue, and feel rather than say, "Aah," over the eastern sky brushed with peach, lavender, violet, and pale yellow.

Misty mornings held a different attraction.  Looking west, the mist would actually spill over the Blue Ridge Parkway where it curved around the crest of Pensacola Valley 6,684 feet below.  The falling mist was so wide and dense, and moving so fast, it looked for all the world like Niagara Falls.  It was one of the must unusual and riveting sights I ever saw.

The evening sunsets on the west side of the ridge were just as spectacular as the morning sunrises to the east, and after a long, busy day, after all the vehicles and visitors had gone, as calming as cuddling a purring cat.

Of course there are other wondrous things to see and do on Mount Mitchell.  The restaurant, originally built as a ski lodge between the ranger station/visitor center and the summit, has a bank of windows with an eastern vista to enjoy with your meal.

At the summit is a picnic area, a fascinating hands-on museum, a gift shop with made-in-the-Carolinas souvenirs, and a snack shop with hot chocolate and hot apple cider, very popular on cold, windy days.

The viewing tower at the tip top has pictures in each north, south, east and west direction of the peaks and their elevations, so that even on days when you can't see a thing in the distance, you know what's there!

Park rangers have free programs throughout each day and in the campground at night that tell you all about the bears and other wildlife.

NC High Peaks Trail Association

Trails go in every which direction from the summit down.  Our own NC High Peaks Trail Association (www.nchighpeaks.org) recently published a booklet of maps of all of them.  Incidentally, the group is hosting a hike October 6th that begins at Mount Mitchell's summit and follows the Black Mountain Crest Trail - which includes the crest of Celo Mountain just a peak or two from Mount Mitchell, I believe - with some of the best views in the East.

The Cove at Celo Mountain
Of course, there are some beautiful trails that we'd like to take you on, and picnic spots here and there beside the mountain creek that runs down through The Cove.

Take advantage of these magical mountains during this most magical time of the year.  Inspire your sense of wonder.  Call The Cove at 866 378-4769 to learn more about our Mountain Renewal Getaway offer.

Terrell House Bed & Breakfast

 

When you come for your Mountain Renewal Getaway visit, you may stay at the historic Terrell House, on a quiet residential street a short (10 minute) walk to our historic downtown Burnsville.  It's the perfect "base camp" location for your autumn mountain adventure because Burnsville is centrally located between Boone and Blowing Rock to the east, Asheville and beyond to the southwest, Johnson City and historic Jonesboro, TN to the north, and the many indoor and outdoor attractions and events in between.

Laura and Mike Hoskins will be your hosts at Terrell House, which once was a dorm for the Presbyterian school in the early 1900's.  There are six beautifully appointed rooms, five with queen size beds and one with twin beds, and all with a private bath and a sitting area.  See your room choices at www.terrellhousebandb.com.  And with the surge of visitors to the are, it would be wise to make reservations now.

Fall Foliage & Fun

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 1^st, 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. 

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.

“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.

Quality Medical Care & Super Flea

By Amber Deen

A recent letter to the editor (quoted below) in our wonderful weekly county newspaper, The Yancey Times-Journal, written by a senior friend, reminded me how important is access to emergency health care for many people, especially retirees, considering buying a home in our mountain area, far (they feel) from a big city hospital.

“On the Saturday of Craft Fair 2012, my granddaughter spent too much time in the sun.  When we got home, she became incoherent, unresponsive and had shaking chills.  We called 911.

“Yancey EMS and Yancey Rescue Squad responded immediately.  Ems took her to Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine where she recovered rapidly with IV fluids.  The quality of care she received from everyone was second to none, EMS personnel were very friendly and very competent, and the hospital’s emergency department was likewise.

“We all try to avoid such problems, but it is really heartening to know that such people are in our community when we need them.  They are a big part of what makes Burnsville and Yancey County a very special place to live.  Thank you, EMS and Rescue Squad for your help when we needed you.”  It was signed by Peter Stephens and family.

Last week’s blog was about a couple of Burnsville Bests. 

I want anyone who might be entertaining the thought of having a home in the mountains to know that our Mission Hospital in Asheville is another important best.  It has the awards and the legion of lives saved to prove it.  Mission, by the way, owns Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine to which Peter Stephens’ granddaughter was taken. 

 “Mission Health’s” website (www.mission-health.org) lists, under Centers of Excellence:  Children’s Hospital, Women’s Health, Cancer Services, Heart Services, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, and Trauma Center.

 It’s important to know that Mission’s stroke program just recently received the Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) for the third consecutive year.  The hospital is consistently ranked by consumers as one of the best hospitals in the country. 

So the world class health care is here.  Let’s talk about distances to access it.

When I first started driving the 8.5 miles from Burnsville to my little country cottage nine years ago, I thought, “What have I done buying a place so far out in the country!”   The 15 minute drive seemed interminable.  But at some point during the next couple of months, I stopped noticing.  I think I’ve figured out why.

For the same reason driving someplace new to us seems so much longer than driving back, we notice each element in the landscape that we’ve not seen before - each antique farmhouse and barn and scenic wonder.  Once they become familiar to us, however, they no longer register on a conscious level.  With our thoughts on other things then, we’re not aware of time.  So before we know it, we’re there! 

Visitors experience that when they first drive around the countryside.  At home, they may drive 50 minutes to work each day, but are never aware of the time it takes.  Yet when they visit here without the familiar environment of people, buildings, and traffic (and noise and dirty air) that are all tuned out of their awareness back home, a distance that’s a fraction of what they drive daily seems so far.

So when you come to visit, compare distances and travel times here with your daily routine at home.  You might be delightfully surprised to find how close we really are to Asheville, Boone, Blowing Rock, and medical care!  And you can rest as easy as all the other people who made the decision to move to the mountains, knowing that some of the best medical care in the country is close at hand.

Super Flea – Another Best

The Yancey Humane Society Big Fall Flea, the main fundraiser for our wonderful animal shelter, is 20-something years old, and Laurie Bohn has been the major domo behind it for the last 10.

She has tried to retire from doing the flea, but nobody has stepped in to fill her shoes.  After all, it takes an enormous amount of time planning, soliciting donations, collecting, sorting, transporting, setting up tables and shelving for 12 departments, pricing, displaying the goods, scheduling, organizing, and troubleshooting through the entire operation.  It could easily be compared to starting a business  – a small department store with 50-100 volunteers in this  case - running it for four months, then closing it down and cleaning up the space.  

While most retirees who come from Florida to summer in the mountains come to relax and play, Laurie and many of her army of volunteers spend their mountain “vacations” working tirelessly producing the flea. 

 

So once again their work is about to culminate in the biggest and best indoor flea market in at least Western NC when super flea opens both sets of doors September 21^st at 8am to the thousands of people who will come from near and far.  Thanks to them and the generosity of Yancey County residents, there will be the usual bargains of furniture, clothing, household goods, holiday decorations and gifts, books, music, electronics, appliances, outdoor equipment, sports equipment, toys, and everything imaginable.

And in the waning days of September, after the storefronts are turned back into empty spaces, and the animal shelter has been funded for another year, Laurie Bohn & Company can finally begin what’s left of their well-deserved summer vacations.

Weekend events

“Between the Tackles,” an original play – a comedy - by Burnsville’s Britt Kaufmann and Stephanie Poling, has its world premiere at our historic community theater, Parkway Playhouse, Sep. 22 and runs Thursday-Saturdays through Oct. 5.  There is a matinee Sunday Sep. 23 at 5pm.  Reserve at 818 682-4285 or at www.parkwayplayhouse.com.

“Glass in the Mountains,” a weekend long 50^th anniversary celebration of the Studio Glass Movement, will include studio tours and gallery exhibits of 50 of the world’s finest glass artists all residents of Yancey and Mitchell Counties.  See www.glassinthemountains.com for details.

“8^th Annual Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival” Sep. 22, www.creekwalkfestival.com

Watch for…

“Music in the Mountains Folk Festival” Sep. 29 at the Town Center, details at Toe River Arts Council (TRAC), 828 682-7215

“Old Timey Days and parade” Sep. 29 on Town Square

Come and enjoy the fun!