Rich Mountain Trail in the Fall

Rich Mountain Trail - in the Fall
October 10, 2007

Frieda on the Trail
Frieda heading down the trail. Fall is arriving in the mountains and is starting to show its colors on the trees.
Frieda wanted to run the Rich Mountain Trail once more before we depart Boone.
There was a moment of indecision when it looked like it might rain, but we went ahead and were rewarded with a beautiful morning.

From the parking area, the trail is all uphill with a couple of open meadows before you reach the summit of Rich Mountain. The area is used for cattle grazing, but we didn't see any on this day.

By starting out early, you can have the trail to yourself.
That is, with the exception of the creatures who have spent the night there.

When we reached the first meadow, the early morning clouds had cleared to the south and we could see the Appalachian Mountains stretching off in the distance.

You can almost see forever.

Norm reaches new heights.

By taking a few shortcuts instead of staying on the official trail, Norm is able to get to the summit of Rich Mountain before Frieda.
He was happy to have reached the his destination after failing to do so on the Profile Trail on Grandfather Mountain.
After Frieda arrived, she took this photo of Norm so he could show everyone that he really isn't a wimp.

Frieda's takes a longer route from the Rich Mountain summit back to the parking area. It goes down to Trout Lake which is the more secluded of two lakes in the Moses Cone Park.
Norm went down to look for her and saw one tree along the bank of the lake displaying bright red leaves.
After waiting for Frieda for a while he guessed that she had taken the longer route around the lake instead of returning directly to the parking area.
His assumption proved correct when he discovered Frieda back at the vehicle changing into dry clothes.

We plan to return to the mountains this winter. Perhaps there will be snow on the ground the next time we visit the Cone Park.

Lake Trout Colors.