Hiking the Blue Ridge: Grandfather Mountain

It was with great surprise that the first living creatures we encountered after stepping out of the car were a pair of deer casually grazing near the trailhead. The deer welcomed me into a forest fit for faeries and elves, all moss and boulders leftover from a time when magic still coursed through the world. It was quiet and serene—I came across two or three other people, otherwise left to take in the winding trail in comforting silence.

Hiking the Blue Ridge: Lookout Mountain

Distance is never a clear indicator of challenge on a hike. A six-mile trail over flat terrain with a nice canopy and stable ground is a stroll, and you won’t break a sweat. Lookout Trail in Montreat offers the exact opposite: it is a hair over a half mile to the Little Lookout vantage point, and you earn every step.

Photo EssaysJohn WoodruffSeptember 4, 2018Blue Ridge Mountains, Hiking, Photography, Nature Photography

Hiking the Blue Ridge: Black Balsam Knob

Photo EssaysJohn WoodruffAugust 27, 2018Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, Asheville, Photography, Nature Photography, Hiking