hanging at GM Highland Games 2010

[MacEntyre]

"There is no public parking on the mountain." Even folks that arrived early had to take the shuttle from the foot of the mountain... five more dollars per head! The only way to park on Grandfather Mountain was to reserve a camp site months in advance, and camp with thousands of lads and lasses at the world's largest Highland Games. Since we wanted to sleep at night, we looked for a nearby hang.

Edgemont Road is a wide, gravel road that starts on Hwy 221 only one mile from the games. We scouted a great place to hang one mile further down Edgemont road, just past the source of Andrew Creek. Edgemont Road roughly follows Wilson Creek, from near it's source on Grandfather Mountain, all the way down through the Wilson Creek Wild & Scenic River area and through the 2.2 mile long Wilson Creek Gorge.

When we left the games on Sunday, we found our way through the Pisgah National Forest below Grandfather Mountain, past some ancient Indian rock paintings, to Gragg, NC, where we discovered directions posted at the intersection with the road to Globe, NC. A motorcyclist stopped and admitted that he was hopelessly lost, so the directions were a Godsend.

We went on down the Wild & Scenic River to the town of Mortimer, population 2, and met the proprietor of the cabins at Betsey's Ole Country Store & Trout Pond. We drove through the most popular swimming hole in NC, the Wilson River Gorge, and ended up at Smyrna Baptist Church on 181, near the road to Table Rock Mountain in Linville Gorge.

Here are a handful of pictures, and a video. The pipe and drum band with the dark blue shirts are the Jamestown Pipe and Drum Band, from our hometown. They will soon be teaching Thing1 to play the pipes! At the end of the video is a taste of the "bare knuckles pipe and drum band" Albannach.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games 2010



- MacEntyre

[eflat7]

Looks fun. I always wanted to go to the Highland games, but never know when they are coming.

[Shug]

FREEDOM ..... !!!!!! I am getting a William Wallace feeling.
Fun to see MacEntyre..... Scots and hammocks.
Haggisy.
Shug the Mick

[Poppabear]

The Highland Games looks like it would be a really fun event to spend some time at. Thanks for sharing.

[MacEntyre]

MacEntyre, it sounds like you were camped in one of my favorite fishing holes.

You fish that high up? That's real close to the source of the creek, where the mountain sides are wicked steep! Makes sense, though... the only places not so steep are the creeks.

I was there for the day Friday. You will have to come down for the Loch Norman games here in Charlotte in the spring.

Been meaning to do that... let's keep in touch!

Do they still finish the Grandfather Mountain marathon ("One of America's toughest Marathons") at the games?

Yes, they do! The opening scene in the video shows a finisher on the track.

Are they still doing the torchlight hike up the mountain?

Haven't heard about that... great idea, though!

I've got a couple stands of pipes...let me know when thing1 will be at a hang and I'll bring one along

I'll do it! She's excited... we had lunch with my friend Dave, who is a piper. He's thinking of joining the Jamestown Pipe and Drum Band with her!

My wife went to nearby Lees-McRae College ...

We use to hike to the top of Grandfather Mt as in the early 70's to watch hang gliders...

Great memories! I wonder how attraction will change under state ownership?

I go back to the MacDuff clan on my moms side. My wife is Irish (Carden)

Lots of Irelanders and MacDuffs at the games!

Always nice to hear the pipes ,,,at a distance.

It's best when performed live.

The Central Kentucky Celtic Festival & Highland Games is taking place in Eminence Kentucky in September. After seeing your pics, I'm definitely going to make it a point to be there!!!

My work is done.

Thanks Mac ... I miss going to the games ... over 20 years now ... and who couldn't get into Albannach!!!!

Albannach is amazing... live. I don't know if I could listen to a recording.

What an absolutely awesome trip report! Now I have another reason to go hang - go find festivals like this one!

...and do a stealth hang, or at least hang close without paying a fee!

The Highland Games looks like it would be a really fun event to spend some time at. Thanks for sharing.

You are all entyrely welcome!

FREEDOM ..... !!!!!!

One of the Albannach drummers did a musical poem about Wallace. I wish I had taped it! (and I hope YouTube doesn't slap my hand for posting as much as I did!)

- MacEntyre

[Salty]

You fish that high up? That's real close to the source of the creek, where the mountain sides are wicked steep! Makes sense, though... the only places not so steep are the creeks.

There are some surprisingly deep pocket holes in those tiny headwater creeks, and with the ultra-clear water, it is very deceptive. I stepped into what I thought was a puddle and had to grab onto a boulder to keep from overflowing my chest waders. It's mostly tiny brook trout, but it's a lot of fun. There is another creek that joins Andrews to eventually form Wilson, but I can't remember the name. I like to start below that junction and work my way downstream if I'm fishing wet.

Salty

[MacEntyre]

There is another creek that joins Andrews to eventually form Wilson, but I can't remember the name.

Wilson Creek starts all by itself, way up on Grandfather Mountain. Andrews Creek and Stack Rock Creek descend on opposite sides of Gabes Mountain, then join at Old House Gap. Just below that, they join Wilson Creek.

I like to start below that junction and work my way downstream if I'm fishing wet.

I had no idea you could fish in that kind of terrain. The Wilson Creek Spur Trailhead is at the lower end of Gabes Mountain, at Old House Gap. It's marked a "Most Difficult" trail, so it's pretty Wild & Scenic there!

[MacEntyre]

Grandfather Mountains Highland Games web site.

Next year it's July 7-10, 2011.

[SkyPainter]

What an absolutely awesome trip report! Now I have another reason to go hang - go find festivals like this one!

THANKS for the great report, and vid, Mac!!

[Hawk-eye]

Thanks Mac ... I miss going to the games ... over 20 years now ... and who couldn't get into Albannach!!!! Dang ... going to have to plan a trip next year.

If you never have been ... you should go at least once in your life. Great fun.