Today's run featured good running company, tunnels, a climb up Mt Pisgah, Looking Glass Rock, Graveyard Fields, and the start of the climb up Black Balsam.
Day 21 Run
Ranger Conrad Shirk, an interpretive ranger for the Blue Ridge Parkway, ran about 13 miles of today's run. His company made the day go by much more quickly.
The run was a big climb to Mt Pisgah for the first 8 miles, followed by ups and downs for the next 8, and then a big crescendo climb toward Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam.
We had great long-range views for the entire day from this high elevation route. Views were great both east and west. The most scenic of features was Looking Glass Rock that dominates the east side of the Parkway for 6-8 miles.
The other dominate features in today's run was tunnels--eight of them, all in the first half of the run. There are 26 tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway. 25 of these are in North Carolina, and most are in the section of the Parkway south of Asheville in the High Terrain. some of these tunnels are pitch black in the middle--our trailer car must follow us through the tunnel with lights and flashers to protect us from traffic and to give us light to run in.
Cloud cover and slightly cooler temperatures assisted the run; however, it remained extremely humid. Here are details of the run... https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1201415195
We met some new and old friends along the way with a surprising number of visitors along the road.
Photos and Video
The App Ortho Photo of the Day
We placed tons of photos on http://www.BRPWeather.com/. From BRPWeather.com, zoom into the Google map for the region just south of Asheville--you'll find much to see. By the way, you can upload your photos to BRPWeather.com also; just click on the Photo link and follow the process--it's quick and easy!
Here are the videos from today. The end video is "NASCAR Style" :-),
Location Information
Parkway Attractions and History
AWESOME – CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congratulations on completing today’s run; it has to be TOUGH!
These morning temperatures are working in your favor, Ray, especially these final three days – how refreshing. I have fond memories of playing the old Dogwood course at the Waynesville Inn golf resort back in 1975 with members of my Sevier Co. High School golf team – we were en route down to Augusta to watch the Masters and stopped in Waynesville to play a round. I’ll reverse my perspective on the mountain goats from yesterday’s blog: the goats should be sympathetic toward you and your High Terrain climbs!
Love reading these blogs and seeing the beautiful pictures. What wonderful memories you are making with help from God for making such a glorious world to enjoy. I am also in awe of you and your ability to run up and down these mountains!
Love you’re running in my “adopted home town”. Great town and great people. As kids with a teacher mom, we spent every summer there at our little cabin and loved it all. Summers bled into winter vacations, and then spring vacations and finally as a retirement for my mom. Those times bred my love for NC and I am now retired to the moutains, but a bit north at Calloway Gap MM 265. Great posts and pics!
Would love to see the views you are seeing. Our prairies are quite different but our GOD is still evident every day. He is amazing………….
Ray, they should PAY YOU to be the poster child for the area! You’ve made all of us want to see the sights you’re seeing, go through the tunnels you’re running through, stay in the neat towns, etc. The only thing I don’t want to do is RUN! I’ll let you do that part! Congratulations! Nothing like the pressure of the eyes of the world on you to make you get out and do it another day, and another and another. Proud of your perseverance! (Cousin Janet!)