Approaching old Grandfather up the access road

the morning mists suddenly break for a moment revealing the peaks.

When we reached the mountain top parking lot it didn't take long before the boys were out dancing around the cliff tops.

Here near the parking lot is the old Swinging Bridge built in 1952.
This is what most people know of Grandfather Mountain.

Our goal lies in loftier precincts, McCrae's Peak and Attic Window

Soon we were off on the Blue Blazed Trail to the summit

and it's not long until the four teenagers have sprinted on ahead of us old fogeys...

and from afar make fun of our slow approach,
left to right, Simon, Steve, Robert and Alex

Steve's a ham from way back, but Robert ducks the camera.

Robin and I might be slow, but we're determined...
Here we navigate the first section of trail with cable assists...

and it's not long before we catch up to the boys at another cable climb.

We come across a notch in the rock through which the mist is rushing and cool down in the natural air conditioning

Above us looms one of the hundreds of profiles to be found in the rock

Now begins the ladder climbs

taking us ever higher up the peak

This series is where many have turned back in the past...

a series of six ladders leading to a high and narrow ledge

a ledge who's limits are defined by the mists
which hide the drop of several hundred feet below

although a few tree tops add some scale to the trail...

we decide the mists may be a blessing to my vertigo plagued self...

Drenched by sweat and the cool mists I'm glad to get off that ledge

as we finally reach a flat spot near the top of McCrae

but once again, up ahead, the boys have arrived at the peak before us

While on top we are blessed with a parting of the mists

The sun shone down on a view of the Condo at Sugar Mountain ...

And a view back toward the Swinging Bridge

but nothing is as awe inspiring as the view on up the trail to Attic Window, our next mile high peak

as we make our way down into McCrae Gap the landscape becomes even more surreal

and looking back to where we had just come from was impressive as we began to scale Attic Window

up across the peak we climbed, and then after a picnic we began the long trip back

here at the chute the boys rushed past some fellow hikers that moved at a speed more in tune with ours

and soon they're once again out of sight

but they are kind enough to wait on us at every junction, and we arrive finally back at the car in about four hours. Soon we're off down the mountain to Pizza Hut.

Now that you're in the mood, click below to go with us on our 1991 adventure...