Fall Outing to Pisgah Forest



View from my room at the Pisgah Inn

 The past four days I have covered just under 30 miles of hiking in the Pisgah National Forest with our hiking group. Most of our group arrived early on Tuesday for lunch at the Pisgah Inn and a short 4 miles hike afterwards to Frying Pan Fire Tower. The weather was just beautiful. Nancy arranged for the excellent rates at the Inn and Bill researched the hiking trails that would be most convenient for us. The Inn is rather old, but newly updated and the view from each balcony is breath taking.

Our late afternoon consisted of a gathering at a private meeting room in the Pisgah Inn Restaurant. The wine and beer was most welcomed after a day of hiking. We would all discuss the days activities on the trail and gather up in groups for dinner. Each morning after breakfast Bill would inform us again of the different options we would have for another day of hiking. It was always difficult to choose which one I wanted to go on. Day TWO - was a fabulous hike to Graveyard Fields Loop and Ridge Hike. This consisted of visiting the lower falls and then continuing up to Tennant Ridge and beyond. A total of 9 miles this time. My feet coulnd't wait for the tub.

DAY THREE: Mandy drove over to meet me for an afternoon of hiking. She picked for us the "Shut In" trail which runs from Hwy 191 at Grassy Bottom to the Pisgah Mountain Parking Area. This trail is 19 miles long, but we only did the last 8 miles of the trail. Actually added another mile so we ended up at the Pisgah Inn. This was a tough hike....I don't know how she runs it for the entire length and breaks records. This part of the trail is also "Mountains to Sea" trail that runs to the coast. But the call part of it "Shut In" because of all the foliage that covers over the trail. At the last mile you can see the remencies of the old hunting lodge that George Vanderbuilt built for his hunting buddies.


The wild flowers were abundent!



Remaining of the Hunting Lodge

Beginning of where Mandy and I started on the Shut In Trail

Last day visiting the area, Arline, Tom and I decide to hike up to Pisgah Mountain. This was all up hill but had the most beautiful 360 degree view from the platform/tower at the top.