Living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina- A Blog
Enjoy the Colorful Photographic Impressions created by Vann Helms
Sugar Hill Farm in Snow
A surprise snowfall today blanketed my area, and although only an inch fell, it was enough to bring Winter’s beauty to pastures from Lake Lure to Marion. Here are some images of Sugar Hill Farm, a Black Angus treasure just six miles north of Otter Creek Valley where I live.
This short video captured the large feathery clumps that fell for almost two hours around my house.,,,
Queen’s Gap Revisited 2020
Over the past eight years, I have photographed the exquisite example of American Craftsman architecture that was built in 2008 as the Wellness Center for a new gated community in the Northern Rutherford County Mountains known as Queen’s Gap. Originally, the development was slated to have over 300 Craftsman homes overlooking a Jack Nicklaus Championship golf course. “The best laid plans…” as they say, went bust with the Great Recession, but the remarkable Gate House and shingled Community Building survived intake, and have been meticulously maintained by the property receivers, in hopes that one day, the right buyer will appreciate the idyllic mountain setting and the historic design of the structures. Personally, I think these two buildings are the most beautiful creations between Charlotte and Asheville, and located just 90 minutes from the Charlotte Airport.
A vintage promotion piece…
Grand Canyon of the East
When I saw the cover of Our State Magazine in October, I was reminded that my very favorite, and most breathtaking spot in all of North Carolina’s Mountains is Wiseman’s View on the western rim of Linville Gorge. Nothing else comes close. As a comparison, I rummaged through my archives to find similar images that show that view at different times of the year. Here are a few I like best.
Winter Sunset…
In Summer…
My favorite teacher in high school, Mr. Frome…
While I’m at it, here are a few images from the East Rim summit of Hawk’s Bill Mountain, across from Wiseman’s View.
This is a Bucket List destination that is not to be missed. Wiseman’s View is accessible by car, with a short walk from the parking area. Get details from Google.
Merry Christmas from Otter Creek
May your holiday be filled with the love and joy that you deserve. Thank you for letting me share my world with you.
Diverting to Florida for Thanksgiving
My annual Thanksgiving trip to Florida found sunny skies and balmy temperatures, a nice change from the late dreary days of Autumn here in Otter Creek. Here are a few of my favorite impressions from that week.
PALM BEACH
ON THE NEW RIVER IN FORT LAUDERDALE…
DANIA BEACH PIER
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK “GUITAR” HOTEL AND CASINO, HOLLYWOOD
SOUTH MIAMI BEACH
CORAL GABLES GARDENS…
FLORIDA KEYS OVERSEAS HIGHWAY
This video follows the ride down into the Keys in a Polaris “Slingshot” three wheel open air sports vehicle…
Last Weekend of Autumn 2019
This year, Autumn’s final weekend was a tad later than usual. Spending Saturday afternoon at Lake Lure brought surprisingly bright color. With a lake elevation of barely 900 feet, combined with the effect of warmer water, Lake Lure is always a late bloomer…
4,000 foot Mt Shumont behind 2,800 foot Rumbling Bald Mountain never disappoint when it comes to sheer drama…
Yacht Club Island, originally known as Snake Island, guards the entrance to the cove that leads to the “Million Dollar Dam”. Unusual Boat Houses have always separated Lake Lure from other man-made lakes in the mountains.
3,200 foot Stone Mountain catches the last rays of sun.
A twenty minute drive north to Elliott Mountain finds the last of the Sugar Maples still hanging on…
On Sunday, just 75 miles northeast of Lake Lure, Grandfather Mountain has a dusting from the season’s first snow…
Facing Grandfather is the Residence for Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Church…
Another twenty minutes northwest is 5,100 foot Sugar Mountain, who opened for skiers early this year after a record breaking 14 degrees during the past week, sending snow-making machines into full production. A 3″ snowfall helped jumpstart what hopes to be a record season…
An easy drive back to the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Linville Falls revealed the last patches of color from a popular Overlook…
Dobson’s Knob north of Marion dominates the Catawba River Valley…
A 2,000 foot plunge down from the Parkway finds the Catawba at low water at sunset…
The main flow of the river could still accommodate a kayak or two…
After almost six weeks of Autumn splendor, the Blue Ridge Mountains are poised to welcome Winter.
Returning to Elliott Mountain
Seven years ago this week, I was exploring backroads a few miles north of my house, when I happened upon Laurel Valley Road, and decided to follow it. A steep winding road took me up Elliott Mountain, and I discovered the most colorful area I’ve ever found anywhere in these Blue Ridge Mountains. For whatever reason, Sugar Maples were growing in profusion on this small, otherwise non-descript hill, and I just happened to be there when they were at their peak display. Since then, every year during the second week of November, I return to Elliott Mountain, hoping to experience that same awe. Either because of drought, too much rain, to warm temperatures, or some other weather related reason, I’ve never seen it the same way since.
On Tuesday, I went back, and even though clouds had moved in as a cold front was approaching, the Maples were even better than I remembered.
I made this video seven years ago during my first visit. The quality isn’t the best, but you’ll get the idea.
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