Haywood County, our home, is blessed with many spectacular hiking areas.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The Blue Ridge Parkway.  And the Pisgah National Forest.  Yesterday, we went to the Black Balsam Area of Pisgah National Forest for a day of hiking.

The most famous mountain in the Black Balsam Area is Cold Mountain, made famous by Charles Frazier’s novel and the subsequent movie (which was actually filmed in Romania).  When the movie was released, we remembering explaining to many a disappointed tourist that there is no town of Cold Mountain and, importantly, there is no easy way to get to Cold Mountain except via a couple of days of rugged hiking.

Our destination for the day, however, was along a different trail in the area – a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail.  The mile high hiking trail runs along the ridge tops of the Great Balsam Mountains, giving us cool weather and spectacular views.

Qannik enjoying the cool breezes during a hiking break.

Kiska absorbing the views.

Typhoon and Frankie catching their breath.

Queen Natasha taking a break.

Cheoah and Typhoon resting on the trail.