State

Popular ond thcolricol entry lo Yonccy i» »io Buck Creek Gap, shown here wilh Block Mountains ond Mt. Mitchell in background. Blue Ridge Porkwoy soars orer N. C. 80— (Photo by Hugh Morton. I Yancey— Rooftop of the South It contains the Black Mountain Range — lint a lot more of beauty anil interest besides* K«/ BILL SHARPE There arc easier ways to enter the Black Mountain country, but none as thrilling as this one: West of Marion take looping, climb¬ ing N.C. 80. It tops the Blue Ridge suddenly at Buck Creek Gap, where it is crossed by the Parkway. At this point, the Parkway's overpass frames a magnificent picture — the hulking Black Range of Yancey County. N.C. 80 then starts a long glide down the other side of the Blue Ridge toward the valley of the South Toe. But the visitor to Yancey will en¬ counter the Black Mountains again and again, both in his trips through this section, and in the lives and his¬ tory of the people. Spur of Blue Ridge The range is a spur breaking off from the Blue Ridge and thrusting deep into Yancey County. It climaxes in Mount Mitchell, 6,684 feet in altitude (highest peak in eastern America). Fourteen other Black Mountain eminences arc over 6,000 feet high, the height and mass giving Yancey the highest average elevation of any county in North Carolina. Even before the superlative stature of Mitchell was discovered, the Black Mountains had attracted attention to travelers, just as they do today. In 1848, Charles Lanman, a professional travel writer, found them covered from base to summit with a dense forest, with “not a rod of its surface yet cul¬ tivated." Perhaps its only human deni¬ zen at that time, he said, was Frederick Burnet, a hunter reputed to have slain between 500 and 600 bears on the mountains. Balsams on Top The traveler looking down on the scene might repeat Lanman’s comment today, and he would almost be right. The more accessible slopes of the mountains have been lumbered thor¬ oughly, but are now recovered by substantial second growth. Along the top of the high ridge is draped a virgin and sombre balsam forest, the most extensive in the country. A few farms, summer homes and even some settlements have crawled up the slopes, too. but not far. And a modern road now leads from the Park¬ way almost to the tiptop of Mount Mitchell itself. Another road ascends nearby Clingman's Peak to serve a radio transmitting station. Aside from that, the summits of the range are in¬ accessible except to the most energetic hiker, and very few venture into them. As for the bears, they arc here in greater number than ever, and also deer and other game, thanks to the establishment of refuge areas. While at this intersection of N.C. 80 and Parkway, it might be a good idea to turn left on the Parkway, go to the Mt. Mitchell intersection, and visit the State Park encompassing the famous peak. There is a parking lot, and a short walk leads to the observation tower and the grave of Dr. Elisha Mitchell. Camping facilities are at hand and in summer a restaurant is open. A slight word of warning: At this altitude the weather is changeable. i □ THE STATE. October 1. 1960