Our January Friend

This guy has frequented our area for the past two years.  Within the past couple weeks he has sought out our yard, and I even saw him catch a fish in my pond.  I always thought he was a red-tailed hawk, but after getting a good long glimpse of him the other day I now see he is a red-shouldered hawk.

Roan Highlands, TN

We wanted a good winter trip, and by the looks of things when we arrived at the trailhead, the Appalachian Trail was not going to let us down.

It started off mild enough in the pines.  A balmy 12 degrees with 10-inch snow drifts.  We didn't mind post-holing our way along; we liked virgin trail.

Once we left the trees, however, things got a little dicey.

Visibility was around 20 yards tops at times.

The forecast for the area called for gusts up to 70 mph.  I don't know that we quite reached that magnitude, but they were certainly in excess of 50.  I was narrating this lovely video by literally yelling into the camera, but you can't hear a word I said.

Everything in our white world was simply just trying to survive.

Just as quickly as the clouds moved in, they also moved out and provided a wonderful respite from the all encompassing dullness of winter.  The wind, however, never let up all day.

Our first climb was also characterized by deep snow - a heart-pounding combination.

In case you can't read the sign, it indicates we had reached Grassy Bald.

We were afforded great 3-second snapshot views like this one whenever the clouds parted.  You had to look quick though, because the clouds returned just as fast.

While filming this video I slipped into a snow drift up to my knees.

Mount Mitchell (highest point in NC) off in the distance rising above the clouds.

There was a good bit of belly crawling to get past the thick vegetation that was weighted with snow and ice as we climbed away from the AT and onto Grassy Ridge.

We were glad to take the side trip up Grassy Ridge, which afforded a vast windswept landscape.

The wind was relentless...

...but the views were worth it.

Like a freight train, here they come to envelope us once more.

Back to the AT and off the ridge, we descended to a more tranquil setting.

Rime ice covered the trees.

Our home for the night - Overmountain Shelter.  I've always enjoyed the history of this place.

The view outside the shelter indicated where we would head in the morning.  This is not a black and white photo by the way; it was fairly grey to put it mildly.

After a windy day and a cold night, the next morning was relatively mild - high 20s and only 10 mph winds.

There were views in every direction and as far as the eye could see, including Grandfather Mountain shown at center.

The saddle just below Little Hump.

Climbing the Humps.

The snow and ice up Big Hump made the going harder, but also enjoyable.

The fence to nowhere.

The last pull up Big Hump with the sun beating down.  What a difference a day makes.

After lunch the temperature rose into the high 30s.

Looking back, we could see Big Hump was aptly named.

Back into to forest, Rhodadendron lined creekbeds beckoned.  The lure of the AT had once again answered man's need for wildness.  Until next time....