Mount Jefferson
On a lovely day last weekend, we took out-of-town guests on a drive to a nearby state park, the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area.
A winding road carried us to a parking area not far from the summit. En route there were opportunities to pull off and get out of the car for a closer view of the surrounding region. An overlook map provided an orientation to the distant mountains: we caught a glimpse of Grandfather Mountain off to the left.
For hardier souls, there were rugged trails to enjoy the journey.
We chose the gentler approach by vehicle, however, at the final parking lot ventured on a short hike to the apex.
We walked a well-maintained path lined with lichen studded trees and budding mountain laurel.
At the peak, there were two interesting technological items. The first was a communications tower.
This tower is part of the national VIPER network which originated after 9/11 when it became apparent that different public service agencies were unable to communicate with each other. The VIPER system strives for interoperability.
A second smaller tower is part of the ECONet System that serves as an adjunct to the National Weather Service. The nearest NWS office is further away in Blacksburg, VA.
The weather data at the time of this blog writing is noted above. The latest data is available at ECONet Viewer and/or the North Carolina State Climate Office Station Scout which operates this weather station.
How was your weekend? Was the weather pleasant or intemperate? After our visitors departed, I capped off the day by potting some colorful annuals.
