A Cold Carolina Blue Sky

Still no snow here in Otter Creek Valley, but with a 20 degree low on January 8th, winter has certainly moved in. That means the bright Carolina Blue skies are deep and saturated. Very low humidity makes for unlimited visibility and clarity of the horizon. At noon, it was 35 degrees when I drove around my neighborhood. Ironically, the ski areas just 50 miles north of me have received 17″ of snow just this week.

Two years ago, these ridges suffered a total clear-cutting. They are coming back. Can you spot the house on the peak?

3,100 foot Hickory Nut Mountain in southern McDowell County

Loblolly Pine forests under Northwest Rutherford County peaks…

Bill’s Creek Road is the main connection from I-40 to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock

Pinnacle Peak and Long Mountain behind this Short Leaf Pine

Who needs a four-wheeler when my 2005 Deville climbs just as well?

Cedar Creek Falls in the northwest corner of Rutherford County

Tags: Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, Rutherford County, winter

• January 9, 2022
• Northwest Rutherford Mountains
• 1 Comment