Hear Ye Hear Ye, Fall Has Arrived

I look forward to this time of year more than any other, even spring plantings if you can believe that. Cooler mornings, not so hot days, and cooler evenings are to be enjoyed. Leaves change, showing their spectacular colors everywhere. Ah yes, this is what I've been waiting for. Now I will have to say that for our part of North Carolina this years' weather has been on the mild side. Between June and August of this year there were only 24 days above 90 degrees, compared to 67 in 2010. I remember 2010. It was HOT. Drought conditions HOT. "I'm not going outside today" HOT. And I also believe we nipped that drought thing in the butt this year too. Thank goodness but there is such a thing of having too much of a good thing. So milder summer, rain (monsoon at times), and milder winter last year means only one thing; we are going to get it this winter. Global warming my a$$. You just wait and see.
Since these cooler days have come in it has got me into 'mountain mode' again as I am now looking for any excuse to get over to the NC mountains and poke around. I even brought up the idea of renting a travel trailer and spending Thanksgiving outside of Asheville in a campground, taking day trips to Biltmore, parks, forests, etc. We have talked on and off about getting a travel trailer for some time but never really got past that point as you have to use them to get your worth out of them. I found a company that rents them fairly cheaply so the idea is to get one and see if we can manage having fun with it without killing each other for a long weekend.

If not then I'll grab my backpack and head out. It's been a long time since I've been hiking and it's about time for it. I never seem to have time to use my golf membership, seems like I always have something to do at the house, I am trying to fix up my oldest son's old car for my daughter-in-law, my 'to do' list keeps growing, I travel every week for work, etc., etc., etc. 

I guess what fall means to me is getting away, spending time outdoors while not being scorched alive. And who doesn't like to get outside and away from traffic, phones, loud music and noises, and rude people. I surely do and I suspect you do too. 

Back to work but I leave you with a few images and links to some great outdoor escapes. Be a happy camper kids. 

Purchase Knob in the Great Smoky Mountains from today.

Canyon Rim, New River Gorge, WV from today. 

Biltmore http://www.biltmore.com/

Great Smoky Mountains http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

Pisgah National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48114

Nantahala National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recreation/horseriding-camping/recarea/?recid=48634&actid=30

Monongahela National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf

Blue Ridge Heritage http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests http://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj

Bighorn National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn

Deschutes National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon

Olympic National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic

Blue Ridge Parkway http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

Appalachian Trail http://www.appalachiantrail.org/

Pacific Crest Trail http://www.pcta.org/

Continental Divide Trail http://www.continentaldividetrail.org/

Mountains to Sea Trail http://www.ncmst.org/

WV Scenic Trails Association http://www.wvscenictrails.org/Home.aspx