December photo project - Day 12

Little waterfall on Little Slaty Branch, late afternoon, Montreat

Late afternoon Montreat trail hike

After a day of running holiday related errands I took Asta for a short hike around 4 PM, giving us a few hours of daylight. We started at the end of Appalachian Way in Montreat, taking the spur trail up to intersect with the Old Mitchell Toll Road and the East Ridge Trail. Here's a description of the Old Mitchell Toll Road, taken from a Montreat Trail Guide:

After logging operations on Mount Mitchell were shut down, a venture wanted to build a tourist road for automobiles along the route of the old railroad bed. Montreat wanted the road to be moved to the other side of the ridge to minimize noise and traffic in the valley. Montreat won a court decision, and the road was re-routed in several places.

The trail went up the western side of the ridge, and by the time we reached to Toll Road and East Ridge Trail, the sun was low in the west and the light was fantastic. Here's some photos from the hike. 

Asta on the Old Mitchell Toll Road. We're on the eastern side of the ridge in the shade.

Looking east from the Toll Road with Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock in the distance.

A closer took at Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock.

The sunset bathed everything on the western side of the ridge in a rich orange light.

Autumnal photos from the NC mountains

We moved from Blacksburg to Black Mountain this summer, and slowly discovered that relocation takes an amazing amount of time. Between packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in, it seems like the summer and fall flew by. While I took a lot of photos I haven't posted that many. Yet. Here's a bunch of photos from various places in our extended NC mountain neighborhood.

View east from the Craggy Gardens parking lot on the BRP.

Barrie and Cindy hiking.

Barrie on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Buddha on the potting bench

Ray of sunshine backlighting a leaf on the trail near our house.

Flat Creek in Montreat. Our "quick n' easy" nearby hiking trail.

Pond across the highway from our little neighborhood

Asta hanging out on the floor in my study.

On the roof of our rental house. The meditation room is on the right.

Our living room. The house was constructed using the windows and flooring from an old church. 

View of the UNCA quad from the library's front steps. Mt. Pisgah is in the background.

Window in my study.

Catawba Falls.

Illuminated Edwin on the Catawba Falls trail

Double rainbow