The Ridge
This is the 'go-to' destination for many photographers in the Roan Highlands, Grassy Ridge. It's a stout 3-mile hike with a lot of 'up' involved. I started the trail at just a little before 4:00 am. I had to "push it up", as former fighter pilot friend Rob Waldo Waldman is fond of expressing, so I could be here before sunrise. A 3-mile hike in the flatlands is one thing; here, about a mile up, and carrying about 40 pounds of gear on steeply rising terrain, this hike takes about two hours. I had to hurry to catch that sunrise, so I hoofed it nonstop from Carver's Gap all the way to this spot in under two hours... if only the sun would cooperate.
Prior to this image, the area was socked with clouds... shortly after this shot, they returned for the duration of my time there, along with a howling wind... and cold. I had an excellent raincoat/windbreaker on to retain some heat, as usually this time of year, it can start off cold here, then warm up exponentially as the sun rises... not on this day, however. After about an hour of it, having worked my way over to the peak of the ridge, that wind had hauled off with a good bit of my body heat... my teeth were chattering uncontrollably! Having worked the area as best I could with the camera, I reluctantly had to seek some warmer climes back down the trail. Certainly, sunset back on Jane Bald would make up for what I missed here.
Did I say "certainly"? Later that evening, all clouds gave way to clear blue skies, not exactly what I expected, but just as I've experienced here so many times in these mountains. Don't feel sorry for me though, as that provides so many reasons to come back. I'm back there in the area from tomorrow until Tuesday evening. Who's with me?
Of particular note on the hike back down, by the way, I ran across two kids, apparently brother and sister jabbering away with each other, near the high point of Grassy Knob, who were wearing short-sleeved shirts, no shoes, and were wet as I had been having been in contact with the wet foliage along the trail... and absolutely oblivious to the cold! Their parents, appearing every bit as old hippies, followed about two minutes behind them, dressed nearly the same, though wearing sandals... that's better than barefoot, though totally inappropriate for the steep rocky tails here. I found out later (as they had aroused the curiosity of many from these parts) that they were from Michigan. Apparently, they drink antifreeze up there.
The Ridge
This is the 'go-to' destination for many photographers in the Roan Highlands, Grassy Ridge. It's a stout 3-mile hike with a lot of 'up' involved. I started the trail at just a little before 4:00 am. I had to "push it up", as former fighter pilot friend Rob Waldo Waldman is fond of expressing, so I could be here before sunrise. A 3-mile hike in the flatlands is one thing; here, about a mile up, and carrying about 40 pounds of gear on steeply rising terrain, this hike takes about two hours. I had to hurry to catch that sunrise, so I hoofed it nonstop from Carver's Gap all the way to this spot in under two hours... if only the sun would cooperate.
Prior to this image, the area was socked with clouds... shortly after this shot, they returned for the duration of my time there, along with a howling wind... and cold. I had an excellent raincoat/windbreaker on to retain some heat, as usually this time of year, it can start off cold here, then warm up exponentially as the sun rises... not on this day, however. After about an hour of it, having worked my way over to the peak of the ridge, that wind had hauled off with a good bit of my body heat... my teeth were chattering uncontrollably! Having worked the area as best I could with the camera, I reluctantly had to seek some warmer climes back down the trail. Certainly, sunset back on Jane Bald would make up for what I missed here.
Did I say "certainly"? Later that evening, all clouds gave way to clear blue skies, not exactly what I expected, but just as I've experienced here so many times in these mountains. Don't feel sorry for me though, as that provides so many reasons to come back. I'm back there in the area from tomorrow until Tuesday evening. Who's with me?
Of particular note on the hike back down, by the way, I ran across two kids, apparently brother and sister jabbering away with each other, near the high point of Grassy Knob, who were wearing short-sleeved shirts, no shoes, and were wet as I had been having been in contact with the wet foliage along the trail... and absolutely oblivious to the cold! Their parents, appearing every bit as old hippies, followed about two minutes behind them, dressed nearly the same, though wearing sandals... that's better than barefoot, though totally inappropriate for the steep rocky tails here. I found out later (as they had aroused the curiosity of many from these parts) that they were from Michigan. Apparently, they drink antifreeze up there.