Seasons in High Country – A Year in Pictures
High Country follows the familiar conventions of crime drama while remaining engaging thanks to Leah Purcell’s performance.
Marcia Gardner and John Ridley, veteran Australian crime show writers who have previously created Wentworth Prison and Stingers., created this series.
Spring
Springtime brings mountain landscapes alive with colorful rhododendron blooms and lush pine forests, gorgeous sunsets, and wildlife returning from its winter journeys to high country habitats. Now is an excellent time for relaxing hikes to appreciate their splendor!
As temperatures warm up and temperatures begin to increase, ice begins to melt in creeks and rivers flowing downhill, providing abundant snowwater that nourishes lush greenery enjoyed by both locals and visitors. Furthermore, water activities increase with each passing summer: from whitewater rafting and kayaking on our pristine river systems to fishing our crystal-clear waters or simply sipping drinks at one of the many local breweries or wineries boasting beautiful mountain views.
The Spring Equinox marks the official beginning of springtime as days grow longer and flowers begin to blossom. Many wildflowers in the High Country come into full bloom during this season – particularly crocus and daffodils! Additionally, this time of year also sees its annual Spring Procession: an artistic parade which allows participants to express their relationships to rural Appalachia homesteads through landscapes, histories and legends that come alive all around us.
This spring’s festival focused on rebuilding Appalachia following 2016 election and subsequent division of our communities. The festival challenged national perceptions that portray rural Appalachia as an area plagued with moral decline, racism and social phobia.
As seasons change, hiking trails and scenic drives open back up along the Blue Ridge Parkway for locals and tourists to experience its stunning mountain landscapes and brilliant foliage. Now is an excellent time to experience our many breweries and wineries featuring breathtaking mountain scenery as your backdrop or meet some new alpaca friends at one of the area’s alpaca farms! You may also want to join one of many events happening this fall like Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain or enjoying a day on Tweetsie Railroad; possibilities for an enjoyable fall visit in High Country are limitless!
Summer
Come escape the heat, and relax into North Carolina’s High Country for a unique mountain experience! From sky diving thrills to serene rivers of relaxation, North Carolina’s High Country provides everything you need for an ideal summer vacation experience in the mountains.
The High Country offers an abundance of beautiful waterfalls to discover on leisurely hikes or dog-friendly strolls, from short paths that allow for close viewing to more challenging, round-trip trails; there’s sure to be one suitable for every ability level!
Hikers, biking enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers of all sorts will find that summer is an excellent time to visit the High Country. Temperatures are lower, landscape is greener, and there’s less crowd on trails.
If hiking isn’t your cup of tea, a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway with your top down is an ideal way to experience breathtaking mountain scenery and spectacular vistas found throughout the High Country. There are countless breathtaking overlooks along this iconic highway – some notable ones being Ravens Rock, Sim’s Creek and Linn Cove Viaduct.
When it’s time for some food and refreshment in the High Country, there is no shortage of places where you can indulge. Charming restaurants, boutique cafes, wineries, and wine tasting rooms dot the landscape; additionally many mountain resorts host annual summer concert series featuring artists such as Need to Breathe, Dispatch and Sylvan Esso.
The High Country is also home to an active Scottish culture. Each year, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans takes place to commemorate this rich heritage with traditional athletics competitions, music performances and parades, plus Celtic-inspired foods and beverages available throughout the weekend-long festival.
Fall
Fall in the High Country is an extraordinary season when nature brings out her most vibrant hues and creates breathtaking scenes across its mountain landscapes. No experience beats that of meandering along mountain trails surrounded by autumn hues and crisp mountain air; fall is truly an experience you won’t soon forget! Fall isn’t simply another season – it will live long in our memories.
With warm days and cool nights, fall color development is on track this year; although peak timing will likely be later than normal. This is particularly evident at higher elevations. There have been pockets of excellent color among red trees such as maples, sourwood, oak, red pine and red oak; while understory species such as sugar maples and birches turning yellow as well as orange/red (American hickory and sycamore) are showing well as well.
Good news if we experience good weather this week: the quality of the color display should be extraordinary at all elevations. When temperatures remain between 40-50 F during the day and cool night temperatures at night, this should lead to an exceptional show of hues.
Grandfather Mountain’s Mile-High Swinging Bridge is an early spot to spot fall colors in the High Country. Heath balds at its summit begin changing early each season and transform when exposed to sunlight, providing breathtaking displays. Furthermore, check out Wilson Center for Nature Discovery to take part in their daily fall color rambles!
Winter
As soon as the snow melts and wildflowers emerge, mountains explode with color. Rhododendrons, azaleas and dogwoods bring splashes of vibrant hue throughout mountainous terrain. Spring also ushers in outdoor adventures in scenic parks or along rivers or waterfalls in the region; event calendars fill up quickly with entertaining festivals of every variety!
Summer in the High Country can be exhilarating with its abundance of water activities, hiking, biking and picnicking opportunities aplenty – perfect weather to sit outside on decks for relaxing picnics in parks or just taking advantage of all that the High Country offers from music to culinary festivals and more!
Peaks and ranges of the High Country serve as powerful storm generators throughout the year, but become particularly active during midwinter. Cool mountain air and limited moisture create temperature inversions which trap hotter air nearer the ground resulting in temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than those found in valleys below; it is therefore important for mountain hikers and travel planners alike to be cognizant of elevation changes when planning mountain trips and hiking excursions during summer vacation.
Autumn in the High Country is truly breathtaking, offering stunning foliage colors that transform mountains into photographer’s delights. Hiking trails brim with vibrant hues while sightseeing drives on Blue Ridge Parkway, Linn Cove Viaduct and New River should not be missed for visitors to this region. Local farms also attract many during this season with apple picking events, pumpkin patch visits and meeting alpaca friends at family-owned ranches a must do experience in autumn!
As winter settles in, the High Country becomes a winter wonderland. Ski resorts and snow tubing parks supplement natural snowfall to maintain great skiing conditions for thrill-seekers. Additionally, it makes an excellent learning ground for skiing or snowboarding as well as an excellent family destination with activities like sledding, ice skating and exploring ice caves. Furthermore, visitors can visit Tweetsie Railroad as well as one of many Christmas tree farms located within its boundaries.