The late afternoon sun played hide and seek behind an obliging team of thick clouds. It could even rain again, or maybe not. It was just that kind of day. It's been several months since I've ridden to the top of Jump Off. I always love that ride because it has a defined beginning and and very well defined end. You can almost hear the ratchet of the straining chains as you inch up winding hills like the aged coaster at Palisades Park as it escorts it's pensive patrons to the pinnacle overlooking the Hudson. In this case the pinnacle is the highest peak for miles with views that challenge the minds eye to seeing beyond the village centers below to perhaps the very dawn of civilization. Within that eternity, one visitor shared with us her story behind the legend of Jump Off Rock. The American Native
Ingénue having lost her love to the insanity of war chose to end her life in a fatal leap of faith from a ledge from which she felt she could envision heaven.
For those of us who yearn to
capture these images of splendor so that somehow we can keep them, it's our awareness of the transient nature of our fragile lives, the novelty of our digital canvas to isolate and preserve each moment with a click and our leap of faith to be there in the moment.
After Lauren and Sam camped out in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area I decided I needed to learn about it myself. So I ventured out to Black Balsam Knob Road, Canton, NC (you can insert that into Google Maps to Find and Navigate there) and 45 minutes later I was venturing onto the Art Loeb Trail.
The initial climb is a little steep and very rocky but not really too strenuous and it quickly brings you to some beautiful 360 degree panoramic views. Although in the heart of Pisgah Forest and minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the scenery made me feel like I was somewhere in rolling hills of Loch Lomond. You are never really in a forest but rather traversing a series of grassy hills and rock faced knobs and outcroppings high stepping in a rutted trail that is often 12 to 16 inches deep.
The wind was strong and steady and a nippy chill in the air that had not been the case when I left home less than an hour ago.
I met this hearty couple who were here to celebrate their anniversary. Although I don't know how many years they have shared, I know that this anniversary, in the majestic beauty of these hills, is golden.
I stopped by Looking Glass Falls on the way home. All in All a very Glorious Day and all less than an hour away!
We are fast becoming regulars at this eating establishment we've created mid way out on the Pinnacle Pass Trail. This time we arrived via a whole new route. I dropped my car at the foot of Oil Creek Camp Road and we drove back to Jones Gap. The result was a 7.5 mile one way trek with Brats and a Craft Brew from Marble Brewery in Santa Fe New Mexico.
The flora and fauna were abundant during this very early spring weekend of April 1st and if we waited a week we might have missed the best part of this years display.
As it turns out I got home in time to run down to Hannah's for an order of Fish & Chips where this spry young lassie reminded me that I was an April Fool in deed.
The late afternoon sun played hide and seek behind an obliging team of thick clouds. It could even rain again, or maybe not. It was just that kind of day. It's been several months since I've ridden to the top of Jump Off. I always love that ride because it has a defined beginning and and very well defined end. You can almost hear the ratchet of the straining chains as you inch up winding hills like the aged coaster at Palisades Park as it escorts it's pensive patrons to the pinnacle overlooking the Hudson. In this case the pinnacle is the highest peak for miles with views that challenge the minds eye to seeing beyond the village centers below to perhaps the very dawn of civilization. Within that eternity, one visitor shared with us her story behind the legend of Jump Off Rock. The American Native
Ingénue having lost her love to the insanity of war chose to end her life in a fatal leap of faith from a ledge from which she felt she could envision heaven. 
