Category: Banner Elk

Autumn Flowers

Dmitrii5 Comments

Patterns are good. I think that to make a pattern you have to do it at least three times. Two does not do it, but if you do something twice that can start a pattern, doing it a third time is almost like an obligation. See where I’m going? The last two posts were about flowers during different seasons, Spring and Summer. So today I had to post flower photo, but from the next season. It just had to be done this way. I don’t know if next photo will be with flowers from the Winter season, I actually have no idea if I have any photos with such flowers, so maybe this series will be very short lived, but, heck it did make me feel good about it. And that is all that is counts.

Click me!!!

Panorama over Grandfather Mountain area

DmitriiLeave a comment

A few weeks ago we went to hike around Grandfather Mountain. There are a few ways to get up here with spectacular views. There are couple free choices which require a lot of strenuous hiking, with about 3 hours to get here. One is from Profile hike parking area on HW105 and the other one is from I believe “Daniel Boone” hike parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We done both of those in the past, it takes you about 2 to 2.5 hours just to get to the ridge. you can then hike on the ridge for another couple hours and enjoy some spectacular views, some with 360 access. This time we actually drove into the Grandfather park, paid $15 each, it is pricey, but it saved us at least 4 hours of hiking from the Blue Ridge or from the 105 parking.
Below photo is 180 Panorama View over Grandfather Mountain “Valley”. My first try at making panoramas. It is not bad as long as you can see it on a huge screen with details shown. On the left is the main Grandfather mountain with all attractions and their bridge. Down in the middle is the Grandfather Country Club, then Linville Ridge with its multimillion dollar estates, then Sugar mountain with that ugly white apartment building on top of it, then is Banner Elk and the Beach Mountain. To the right is the next peak we hiked after taking this photo(s). Click on the photo to see it large.

Click to open in my photo gallery

Let it Snow

Dmitrii1 Comment

One our way back from the OZ land we stopped by local mercantile store to get some brewskie and hot chocolate. It looked cool so photo was in order. It is only during post processing that I saw the pole in the middle of the picture with the sign “..let it snow”. After zooming into the photo I saw that it has markers for different snow levels, you can’t see the dates, they are on the other side of the pole, but you can see the height of the snow we get there. It is pretty awesome. Anyway, this is another photo to put you in the mood for upcoming holiday season. Enjoy!

Click to open it in my Photo gallery

Banner Elk River One More Time

DmitriiLeave a comment

You can see the following photos from previous posts – Banner Elk Falls and Banner Elk River, I am very happy how they came out. This one show the view not too far from the parking, you are looking at the top of the Banner Elk Falls, there about 100 meters away. Of course you have no idea that the falls are there, but I’d not recommend to swim that way. Unless you are trying to kill your self.

click to open in my photo gallery

Yellow Brick Road at OZ Land

Dmitrii2 Comments

Yep, this is the one, the one and only Yellow Brick Road at OZ Land. Located at the top of Beach Mountain in Emerald mountain development. Pretty cool place. We were walking around there and came to this magic land by total mistake. I was hoping to get some good sunset shots from the top of Beach Mountain, none happen due to lack of good views and totally clear skies – not good for sunset photography, but we stumbled on this magic land of absolute yellowness and here is some memory for years to come.

Click to open it in my photo gallery