“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – John Muir
If you live in, or around, the Charlotte NC area and enjoy the outdoors, you’ve no doubt been to Crowders Mountain State Park for a hike.
You’ve also, no doubt, taken the ubiquitous selfie photo at the top. I think I’ve seen it on at least 100 social media profiles… there is no need to be ashamed…we all have one. Top of the mountain, the Charlotte skyline far in the distance, nothing but forest between you and the city, save a few patches of clear cut wasteland making room for a little slice of suburban ticky tacky here and there.
Having been in NYC last weekend, and home bound this week with a bit of a cold, my inner doctor was prescribing some outdoor time. There is nothing like nature to cure what ails.
Today, however, was a unique experience at old “crowded mountain”. Aptly nicknamed as, typically, you can barely snag a parking space on nice days. It’s the closest hill to the Charlotte metro area and thusly, draws a ton of traffic.
It’s cold today. Just above freezing. And while I expected the cold, and prepared for it, what I didn’t expect was the ice. Driving in, you could see the obvious altitude line struck across the mountain where it was just too cold for the days warming temperatures to cause any major melting.
During the climb, my frozen surroundings became more and more encapsulated, until I was hiking in a beautiful winter wonderland. Ice falling here and there into the leaves, like the sound of rain only decidedly more crisp. I’ve never quite seen it like this here. No people and a uniquely quiet landscape. Exactly what I needed today to cure the Sunday Night Blues. Here are a few pics I took along the way. Enjoy.
