late autumn in the blue ridge

The mid-December heat wave that hit us on Monday got me itching for some time in the great outdoors! I was hoping to head back to the Smokies for a night or two to enjoy the woods and weather, but apparently, I can’t plan my way out of a paper bag and completely miscalculated, of all things, the driving time it would take me to get there. So I settled instead on a trek into the slightly closer-to-home, somewhat less isolated, though equally panoramic Blue Ridge Mountains where I headed to the top of Mt. Pisgah, elevation 5,721 feet. It was a beautiful hike and a much-needed retreat from all the hub-bub here in Spartanburg (puns are taking over my life!)

Mountain view at sunset
(why they call it the Blue Ridge):

Crazy light on the trees:

Looking Glass Falls at dusk:

From the top of Mt. Pisgah:

In full panorama: