Gribblenation

Throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are countless stories of past inhabitants of the mountains.  And at Mile 190 in Southern Virginia, the Parkway tells the tale of one truly remarkable woman.  Puckett's Cabin is the former home of Orlena Hawks Puckett, whose story of strength and goodwill has survived generations.   "Aunt Orlene" was born in 1837 and her story to many is a perfect strength of Appalachian women in the 1800 and the early 1900's.  For over seven decades, Mrs. Puckett served as a midwife, and assisted in the birth of over 1000 babies.  She was well known throughout the mountains of Southern Virginia and continued to serve as a midwife until her death in 1939 at the age of 102.   What makes the seventy plus years as a midwife in the rural mountains remarkable is the tragedy of the loss of 24 of her own children between 1862 and 1881.  Many of her children were stillborn and none of her children survived infancy.  Puck...

One of the mo re popular and photographed stops along the Parkway's journey through Virginia is the Mabry Mill.  Edwin B. Mabry built the gristmill in 1905 and operated it until the mid-1930s.  In addition to the mill, the brief Mountain Industry Trail through the park's grounds includes a whiskey still, sawmill, and blacksmith's shop.  Other traveler amenities at Mabry Mill include - a restaurant and snack bar, gift shop and public restrooms.           Navigation: North - Mile 168.0 - Rock Castle Gorge Overlook South - Mile 190.0 - Puckett Cabin 

This overlook is a personal favorite of mine because of the butterfly patch that I stumbled upon when visiting the overlook in July of 2007.  The Rock Castle Gorge Overlook provides access to the strenuous 10.8 mile Rock Castle GorgeLoop Trail . Navigation: North - In Development South - Mile 176.2 - Mabry Mill

Heading North on the Parkway from Asheville, you begin to climb to well over 5,000 feet.  Craggy Gardens serves as the gateway to the magnificent views and scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway along the higher mountain ridges. Craggy Gardens Visitor Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway At these heights, a different climate awaits. Atop the pinnacle in May, one will still have the chill of early spring.  In fall, frost and snow will mix with the magnificent colors of autumn.  Known for their rhododendron the Craggies come alive in mid-June as the rhododendron reach their flowery peak. View from the top of Craggy Pinnacle The popular Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a short hike (about 0.7 miles one-way / 1.4 round trip) and offers breathtaking views in every direction. Southern view of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Craggy Pinnacle North Fork Reservoir Navigation: North - Mile 352.4 - Bald Knob Parking Area Detour -  Mile 355.3 - Mount Mitchell State P...

Lane Pinnacle sits on the east end of Bull Mountain.  It is named after Charles Lane, who was the first land owner of the pinnacle.  He established an iron forge along the north slope and nearby Reems Creek.   Navigation: North - Mile 364.6 - Craggy Gardens South - In Development

Green Knob Overlook is located just beyond Mt. Mitchell at Milepost 350.4.  Unbeknownst to my wife and I when we visited here in 2010, about 100 yards north of the overlook is a trail that leads to a lookout fire tower .  The trail is a little over one half mile length and is easily overlooked.  The tower was built in 1931, staffed into the 1970s, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. View from the Green Knob Overlook Another hike is accessible via the Green Knob Overlook.  The 4.1 mile (one-way) Snooks Nose Trail begins here.  This rather difficult hike connects the overlook to the Curtis Creek Campground.  Snooks Nose is about halfway point of the trail. The start of the Snooks Nose Trail at the Green Knob Overlook. Navigation: North - Mile 345.3 - Singecat Ridge Overlook South - Mile 352.4 - Bald Knob Parking Area

  Waterfalls and hiking are two popular pastimes along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the roughly two and a quarter mile trek to the 70' Crabtree Falls within the Crabtree Meadows Recreation Area is one of the more popular ones.  The hike is slightly strenuous - it's downhill to get there which means it's all uphill to get back - but the view, like my photo above, is worth it. Navigation: North - Mile 316.4 - Linville Falls Spur South - Mile 345.3 - Singecat Ridge Overlook Return to Gribblenation's Blue Ridge Parkway Index