With its prominent profile recognizable for miles around and
featuring vistas among the most beloved in the Appalachians, North
Carolina's Grandfather Mountain is many things to many people: an
easily recognized landmark along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a popular
tourist destination, a site of annual Highland Games, and an
internationally recognized nature preserve. In this definitive book
on Grandfather, Randy Johnson guides readers on a journey through
the mountain's history, from its geological beginnings millennia
ago and the early days of exploration to its role in regional
development and eventual establishment as a North Carolina state
park. Along the way, he shows how Grandfather has changed, and has
been changed by, the people of western North Carolina and
beyond.
To tell the full natural and human story, Johnson draws not only on
historical sources but on his rich personal experience working
closely on the mountain alongside Hugh Morton and others. The
result is a unique and personal telling of Grandfather's lasting
significance. The book includes more than 200 historical and
contemporary photographs, maps, and a practical guide to hiking the
extensive trails, appreciating key plant and animal species and
photographing the natural wonder that is Grandfather.