Mountains 2012 day 7

Note:  Due to lack of Internet at most of our campsites, this blog is being posted after the fact.   In the future we will need to work on a different way of posting.

This day found us at Grandfather Mountain.   If you have never been her, you owe it to yourself to go someday.   It is a bit pricey ($17 /person) but it is an amazing place.    The views are drop dead gorgeous.

Mile High Swinging Bridge.  You can see Mc Craes peak, that we climbed, in the background.

Beautiful vistas

We have visited here before but never had time to do the clime to McCraes Peak.    It is a one mile hike to the peak but it is misleading as you need to climb nearly 1000 feet in the last half mile.    This involves climbing 9 ladders and using safety lines.   Those with fear of heights, need not apply.   Jan will freely admit that she was way outside her comfort zone on the climb but she hung in there and made it to the summit.   I have already been told that she will never do it again.      

A series of three vertical  ladders,  about 90 feet climb combined.   ....and yes that is nearly straight down.

Jan spending a moment in her comfort zone

This is at the top of the ladders.   We are still about 200 feet from the summit

Reaching the summit

We left the summit and decided on a more protected route down as it looked like bad weather was headed in.   We started down the Underwood trail which only involves one ladder ( 60 feet high) but the trail resemble a large bolder field.   You had to slide on your butt most of the way down.   Just when we thought it couldn't get any more challenging, the heavens opened and the rains flowed.   I am so glad we took the "easier" route as coming down those 9 ladders in the rain would have been extremely  dangerous.    We tried to make it to a cave we knew of to get out of the rain but by the time we got there the rain had all but stopped.

The entire two mile hike and climb took us over five and a half hours.   It was hard work but well worth the effort.   Like most things in life, when you challenge yourself you will be rewarded.

Needless to say,   we were tired that night.   We cooked a simple meal and turned in to "The Love Shack" for some much needed rest.