Still Gravity

The culprits are named Jerks & Company . And no, they are not a legally incorporated business, they are those camping folks that love leaving behind trashy campsites.  Every person with a decent amount of experience camping in the United States has seen their deeds. Those jerks are the reason - or the excuse - behind the closing of many areas of dispersed camping. We've found these scumbags' trails in many places. Recently, we found a menacing sign from the Forest Service in a favorite dispersed campsite.  Warning about the potential closing of a dispersed campsite - License our images  here . We're losing hope because only a few dirty jerks can ruin dispersed camping for everybody. And even if many conscious campers pick their smelly leftovers, it's impossible to get rid of this flu.  The solution may be more patrolling by rangers plus hefty fines for the jerks. This is the only language t

Hiking to the Mt. Pisgah Summit in North Carolina - License our images  here . This is the highest peak in Pisgah National Forest - 5,721 feet (1,744 meters).  We departed early in the morning from the  Mount Pisgah Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Crossed the hotel across the road and spent some time by the cliffs mesmerized with the morning tints of the Smokies - amazing that the US government paid $5 per acre for this beautiful forest. Later, the walk followed the cliffs through the Mountain to Sea trail. It was muddy and slippery after the rain of these days. The hiking poles helped a lot.    Breve stop by the ruins of the hunting lodge of Mr. Vanderbilt - the man behind the biggest home in the United States, the Biltmore Estate. Not much left from Buck Spring .  Finally, we reached the Mt. Pisgah trailhead. From this point, 1.6 miles to go to reach the summit of this American mountain with Biblical nam

Our campsite surrounded by the beauty of Pisgah National Forest - License our images  here .           Awful weather these days at the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. A lot of rain and fog. We got two nights in Mt. Pisgah campground before its winter closing - the last two nights! Umbrellas out, we walked for lunch to the Mt. Pisgah Inn restaurant across the Parkway. Zero view. Just grey clouds.  Late in the afternoon, a weather opening allowed us to survey all the loops of the campground. In the tent area, brave campers fighting to keep their campfires alive. Humid smoke with hints of tasty grilling all around us. Again, we were hungry.   The icy rain came back and with it the London-like fog. Back to our shack on wheels, tea and remains of a chocolate cake under the care of Mr. Buddy . Tomorrow we'll hike to  Mt. Pisgah . Rain or shine.

Going up in the mountains of Pisgah National Forest, we found an open-air museum called The Cradle of Forestry in America. A "cradle of forestry"? The title somehow recalled something from a fantasy book. What is this place about? Immediately, we got in to find out.   One of the old cabins of The Cradle of Forestry Museum - License our images  here .            We didn't find any "cradle", but we found the surviving buildings of the Biltmore Forest School. The historic place preserves a classroom, a dormitory, and a dining hall among other structures.  Being in a forest, we also found some trails to hike and, along the way, climbed on a 1914 Climax logging train engine. Up in the cabin, the child in us was awaken and we couldn't resist to sound the old bell.  A German named Carl A. Schenck was the hero in charge of this peculiar school. He was brought to America by George W. Vanderbilt, the

Next day in Adventure Village RV Park, North Carolina - License our images  here . This fall there was plenty of rain in this American Transylvania - the name of the county we are travelling through. Dark skies brought our solar panels to a stop in Pisgah National Forest. With the power station at 25%, we went back to civilization. Adventure Village became our electric refuge for a day.  Some hours of charge and the battery roared full. At night, planning, hot chocolate, and the comfort of the heater running on and off while the rain played metallic notes on the roof of the camper.  Grey skies next morning, but the rain was gone. 

The Looking Glass Falls seen from the road - License our images  here . This is the easiest waterfall to visit in Pisgah National Forest. It's just some stairs away from the paved road.  The waters of Looking Glass Creek fall with the thundering fury of a sixty-feet downpour. The place is noisy and at the same time relaxing.  Camera clicks nonstop. Mist of water droplets in my nose. Lasting memories of a short walk stepping on river stones. Gorgeous day of autumn.  We were camped a short drive away at  Davidson River Recreation Area .

The beautiful Moore Cove Falls, North Carolina - License our images  here . This area, with this waterfall included, sold for $155 in 1891. The owner, Adam Q. Moore, gave it to the powerful Mr. Vanderbilt .  Moore Cove Falls is less than a mile from the road. Easy hike. The worst part probably is at the stairs by the trailhead. After that, the trail is pretty flat. The waters of Moore creek jumping from the tall bluff broke in a zillion drops that shined beautifully under the afternoon sun. C crossed behind the fall. She looked a tiny speckle besides the misty column of water.  Refreshing shower in the magnificent paradise of Mr. Moore. Recalling a line from Paulo Coelho's  By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept : God is here, right now, at our side. We can see him in this mist, in the ground we're walking on, even in my shoes. The shoes got a little muddy, but all felt very well.  Talking about waterfalls, Pis

P. J. O'Rourke came out with a good one in his article " Why I Hate Politics"  published in  American Consequences  in November 2021. Politics is the idea that all of society’s ills can be cured politically. This is like a cookbook where the recipe for everything is to fry it. The fruit cocktail is fried. The soup is fried. The salad is fried. So is the ice cream and cake. And your Pinot Chardonnay is rolled in breadcrumbs and dunked in the deep fat fryer. That’s no way to cook up public policy. Humorous Gonzo journalism. Truths that make you laugh. 

The trailhead - License our images  here . The Looking Glass Rock is a huge monolith with shiny iced cliffs that work as mirrors for the sun in winter. The trail to the top is the most popular hike in Pisgah National Forest, so... we ended parking on the roadside - not much parking space at the trailhead.  Many switchbacks in the first section of the climb. This is why many say that this trail is hard, but is not that bad. Moderate would be a better definition.  At the end of the trail is the sloped flat with the reward for making the effort of walking up here. Great views of the Smokies from the end of the Looking Glass Rock trail.   We rested up there and ate a snack. Ten minutes later, arrived a bunch of young hikers that began to compete for the closest selfie to the edge of the cliff. Instagramic nonsense. A fall from this high is not joke. We l