Early April

There are very few campgrounds coming back across the Appalachians, and even fewer open this time of year. The National Forest Service land in the east has organized campgrounds sporadically through the forests, but not like the dispersed camping out west. Plus, they got 16″ of snow 10 days ago and that downed a lot of trees and branches, so we found ourselves at a small private campground that was very sweet.
Rt. 52 used to be “the road” from Chicago to Florida back before the interstates existed. Up the road from the campground was Big Walker Mountain Country Store and Lookout- the lookout is a 100 ft steel lookout tower that you pay to walk up for the awesome view(that is Clare at the top…and me at the bottom taking thepic:-). It was built by the current owner’s grandfather in the 1940s as a “tourist trap”. The road is twisty and turny and goes up and down- can you imagine making your way to Florida on that road?
A three day stop at Occoneechee State Park and we finally had a 70 degree sunny day- hike and hung out in the sunshine- the next day was cold and rainy with snow expected overnight. Say what? It is April in the south- snow??