XL hybrid at GrandFather Mountain NC

[MDmaverick]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

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[billygoat]

Beautiful! Enjoy your trip!

 

[homerdog]

Beautiful area of the country. I need to get back there.

 

[FamousAmos]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

Man, your post takes me back. Back in my college days (Greensboro, NC), I took my girlfriend for a ride on the Parkway, with its 35 MPH speed limit, in my Datsun 1600, a nice little sports car. Coming down a downhill grade, I downshifted from 4th to 3rd, which of course increased my RPMs. At the bottom of the hill stood a Forest Ranger, who waved me over, and said, "You better slow that crate down!" All I could say was, "CRATE ?????!!!!!" Thanks for the memory.

 

[turinswift]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

God, I do love my Appalachians.

 

[ltelmo]

I love it, was there not to long ago in my wifes Bronco sport! Tight drive up but the views are WOW!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

Looks like a beautiful area. It's so cool seeing all the places you guys go with your Mavericks!

 

[710-oil-614]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

Great stuff! I love Grandfather Mtn! Such an amazing place to enjoy and kick around.

Of note - the "backcountry" side is now state park, the attraction side that you pay to enter is operated as a non-profit and is not technically a state park.

I highly recommend that everyone (who is capable) hike up the backside (free side) of Grandfather.

Here is a much younger me near the summit visiting a plane wreck from 1979 that they left up there because it was too difficult to remove:

 

[JBryant]

Beautiful truck and beautiful pics. As long as you guys keep posting such beautiful pics from places across the country, I will not need to take a vacation and long trip - just enjoy yours LOL.

 

[MDmaverick]

Great stuff! I love Grandfather Mtn! Such an amazing place to enjoy and kick around.

Of note - the "backcountry" side is now state park, the attraction side that you pay to enter is operated as a non-profit and is not technically a state park.

I highly recommend that everyone (who is capable) hike up the backside (free side) of Grandfather.

Here is a much younger me near the summit visiting a plane wreck from 1979 that they left up there because it was too difficult to remove:

Thanks for the correction. I loved what I saw and love to hike. I will definitely look at hiking that area in the future. Unfortunately, we were short on our time there.

 

[TheShark]

Love the Blue Ridge Mountains, we spend much time in Asheville and love the parkway. I remember one July it was hot and muggy but when we got to the top of Grandfather Mountain it was cool and refreshing. It's amazing how a few thousand feet can affect the temperature that much.

 

[Scott Asheville]

I was up there today in my XLT, and it was COLD and WINDY. But beautiful. An hour's drive from my house. Alas, the Thai restaurant in Linville did not impress us.

 

[Dmthomp32]

I live in Charlotte but work in Boone, NC and many of the schools I work with are throughout Western NC along the Blue Ridge. As much as driving for work sucks, I have the best views on all my travels! Blowing Rock this week, Cullowhee next and Asheville the week after. The Blue Ridge Parkway has lots of amazing spots for hiking and gazing. Mount Mitchell and Grand Father Mountain are great but definitely check out Stone Mountain for an amazing monolith hike and head down to Hendersonville for waterfalls and DuPont State Park!

 

[MDmaverick]

I live in Charlotte but work in Boone, NC and many of the schools I work with are throughout Western NC along the Blue Ridge. As much as driving for work sucks, I have the best views on all my travels! Blowing Rock this week, Cullowhee next and Asheville the week after. The Blue Ridge Parkway has lots of amazing spots for hiking and gazing. Mount Mitchell and Grand Father Mountain are great but definitely check out Stone Mountain for an amazing monolith hike and head down to Hendersonville for waterfalls and DuPont State Park!

Thank you for the recommendations . I truly love this area and cannot wait to come back

 

[jwcolby54]

The wife and I took my truck to Grandfather Mountain NC. We are in the area for a long weekend. The truck averaged 41mpg throughout the 7 hr drive from our house in Central Maryland.

Of note, Grandfather Mountain is the tallest mountain in the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains (5946 ft) . The tallest in the western escarpment is Mt. Mitchell (6684ft) near Asheville NC. The Blue Ridge Parkway is on the southern side of Grandfather Mountain. It also holds the distinction of being privately owned until 2008. It is now a NC state park . I’m glossing over a ton of interesting things and history. However, if you get the change go see it.

The Blue Ridge parkway is a magnificent road . Speeds are limited but there seems to be unlimited vistas at every switchback. The Maverick handles it well enough but I yearned to be in a hot hatch of my youth to fully appreciate the switchbacks.

I live inn the Lenoir area. I haven't been on the parkway in years. I guess I need to take a ride.

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