Ah Juin, le premier mois des vacances d'été pour les petits americains. Un magnifique temps estival qui pour nous a ete l'occasion de faire plein d'excursions dans la region.
Ah June, the first month of the summer vacations for the little americans. A beautiful summer weather that for us was an opportunity to do many excursions in the region.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Une sortie sur la route scenique. Nuageux, certes mais agreable. J'ai surtout le souvenir d'etre au bord des larmes car la végétation me rappellait celle des Pyrénées, provoquant un petit coup de blues.
An excursion on the scenic road. Cloudy yes, but pleasant. I mainly have the memory of being on the edge of tears as the vegetation reminded me of the Pyrenees, creating a bit of home sickness.
Craggy Gardens, un super endroit pour voir les rhododendrons en fleurs.
Craggy Gardens, a great place to see the rhododendrons in bloom.Mont Mitchell State Park
L'escapade suivante se fit au parc d'Etat de Mt Mitchell. Mont Mitchell c'est le somment le plus haut a l'est du Mississippi. Il se trouve dans le secteur des Black Mountains et est accessible via la Blue Ridge Parkway.
The next excursion was to Mont Mitchell State Park. Mont Mitchell is the highest summit east of the Mississippi. It's located in the Black Mountain range and is accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Le parking se trouve a cinq minutes a peine du sommet. Il y a un centre d'information/boutique, et un panneau montrant les differentes structures qui ont tour a tour pris place au sommet afin que les visiteurs puissent profiter de la vue.
The parking lot is about five minutes away from the summit. There is an information center/shop and a sign showing the different structures that took turn on the summit so visitors could enjoy the view. En 2005 c'etait encore un tour qu'on y trouvait, construite en 1959. Depuis elle a ete remplacée par une plateforme.
In 2005 it was still a tower you found there, built in 1959. Since then it has been replace by a platform.
If the 5 minute walk to the summit is not enough for you, there is a simple solution: take the interpretation trail, allowing a hike in the pine tree forest. Beautiful light and pleasant pine smells are on the program. It's quite pleasant during summer when it's so hot in the valley.
Sam's KnobEncore une randonnée a laquelle on accede via la Blue Ridge Parkway, mais cette fois ci au sud d'Asheville. Nous y avions fait une grande boucle qui nous avait amenée au sommet de Sam's Knob, puis ensuite dans la vallee en bordure de riviere avant de remonter vers le parking.
An other hike accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but this time south of Asheville. We did a big loop there taking us to the summit of Sam's Knob, then down the valley by the river before going back up to the parking lot.
It's a hike I love. The trail isn't hard, it crosses a large field before going up partly in the forest, then in an open area with a gorgeous view. Peu avant le sommet il y a un magnifique bloc de quartz. Un lieu de meditation (nous y avons trouve un peu de sauge a moitie brulée), la vue est incroyable, un parfait endroit pour faire une pause.
Just before the summit there is a gorgeous boulder of quartz. A site of meditation (we found half burnt sage there), the view is incredible, the perfect spot for a break.
Nous avons ensuite descendu le chemin pour aller jusqu'en bord de riviere. Il y a pas mal de bon endroits pour se rafraichir dans l'eau.We then went down on the trail to the side of the creek. There are several good water holes down there.
Hot SpringsEn fin de mois c'est a Hot Springs (Nord-Nord-Ouest d'Asheville). J'en garde le souvenir de cette vue incroyable sur la French Broad River. Le fleuve passe par Asheville, mais pour les eaux vives c'est a Hot Springs qu'il faut se rendre.
At the end of the month we went to Hot Springs (North-North-West of Asheville). I keep the memory of this incredible view over teh French Broad River. The river goes through Ashville, but for wild waters it's to Hot Springs one should go.
During our hike we saw this odd moth, so soft and cute.
An other image I still have in my mind were those giant rhododendrons covered with flowers. I remember thinking it would be fun to get married under a blooming rhododendron.
A little surprise at the end of the hike, a shelter announcing "explosives dangerous" not very reassuring isn't it?
It was a month full of beautiful hikes, I don't believe we've had a month with as many since. Ah it seems so far away the time of the internship when we always had two full days off together, during the week, away from the crows to enjoy teh trails of the area.