Sunday 2nd May- Linville Cavern and Falls

Rain overnight and cloudy and muggy this morning with it seemed rain threatening so decided to go to Linville Cavern first. Lovely stalactites and rock flow formations. Tour was a bit rushed, we would have liked to spend more time admiring natures amazing wow factor.

Next stop Linville Falls visitor centre and on with hiking boots again for the Erwin View Trail. A moderate one and half mile round trip plus detours for several view points/overlooks.

One half of the twin falls of Linville. The falls begin at Grandfather Mountain (we are going there Tuesday) and drop 2000 feet in to the gorge here at Linville

View down river from the falls

Twin falls are above this 45 foot drop down in to the gorge. This and next pic taken with telephoto lens from higher up the trail

Azaleas clinging to the rocks

Twin falls

Elevation approx 3500 feet.

Rhododendrons in bloom

Good exercise and well worth the hike, very pretty with all of the spring flowers coming into bloom and the lovely mix of greens of the trees. Quite muggy but stayed dry for us. Back to campsite and late lunch and a rest and relax afternoon.

Many of the trees at the high elevations on the Blue Ridge and Smokies are dying due to the balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae). It's a tiny sucking insect which is destroying the Fraser fir and although research continues on this phenomenon no one has found a way to stop the destruction. It is really noticable while walking in the mountains and is very sad to see.

Also the Hemlock trees are being attacked by woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). At Linville the NPS has released a species of beetle that feeds on the adelgid to try combat this problem.