November 20 – A Happy Aniversary (29th) Hike
We travelled to the main entrance of the park and stopped at the hiker’s parking lot. We followed the Grandfather Extension Trail to Grandfather Trail. We followed the Grandfather Trail to the top of MacRae Peak, 5845 ft. We came back down the Underwood Trail which rejoins Grandfather Trail and ends at the Swinging Bridge parking lot. We returned to the car via the Bridge Trail. The total distance walked was about 2.5 miles. It is more of a climb than a hike! The trek along the Grandfather trail requires the use of cables and ladders. The hike is great fun with amazing views. But as Karl says, that is probably at the limit of our comfort level. The last couple of ladders are way up there, and if you were to fall, well it’s a very long drop! It is well worth the trip. It was a lovely clear day and the views, especially to the south, are fantastic.
If you look at the photo above, you can just make out the ladders about the middle of the ridge line.
Time for nostalgia…
My first week at WFU, new grad student in the biology department, I was invited to join a group that I thought included faculty and students for a Saturday hike. I show up, there I find Drs Herman Eure, Phillip Falkenberg, and Bob Sullivan – but no other students. I try to gracefully bow out, but am taken under the wing of Dr. Sullivan with a “you most certainly ARE coming along, young lady!” So off we go to climb Grandfather Mountain. I cannot remember exactly where we began the hike – I am guessing it must have been at the parking lot at route 105 ( I know it was not off of the BR Parkway). And I remember that it was a 10 mile round trip. If you add up the mileage for the Profile and Grandfather trails, that seems to match. I was a bit of a flatlander – having just arrived in Winston from the Wilson area where there really are no hills. But I was in pretty good shape, so I do not remember having any trouble with the hike / climb. I do remember feeling very comfortable with the 3 “Phds”. At the proper time and location, Dr. Falkenberg pulled out his stove and made tea for us all. It was a lovely hike and a great introduction to some of the nicest folks at Wake. Over the next 2 years I would venture out many times with Falkenberg and Sullivan – always stopping for tea.
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