To start things off, Friday afternoon I decided to take Saturday off of work and planned to get back to one of those "drive from sun up till sun down" days. I already knew where I wanted to go and I could branch off from there and hit some spots I haven't been to yet.

Well 4:30am I head out w/ a full tank of gas and hit the road. I started out @ Grandfather Mountain. Gates opened @ 8am and I was the only one up on the mountain! At the summit the Anemometer was reading 67mph gusts! Yeah, no rails in some spots and cliffs! The wind was blowing against the bridge and making this eerie sound and it was awesome! Well... I walked across the swinging bridge and got some good shots.

I then headed back down the mountain and decided to check out their zoo that had some cougars, bears, and such. I got some food to hold me off. It was only 9:45am. lol. I love it!

I left the park after hiking a bit and drove Hwy 221. Me and an '05 STI got at it a little and were in full battle mode for a good 6 miles. I was tearing him to pieces! haha. Nice guy but I think his car was stock w/ shitty tires.

Hiked Blowing Rock and drove across the Lynn Cove Viaduct. I hiked about 7 miles above the viaduct and it was awesome! I then came back down and started heading home. I hit up Hwy 226 through Little Switzerland and into Hwy 226a which is unbelievable. I've wanted to drive both of those for a while and they were great!

Drove the Parkway towards home. I was 70 miles from Asheville @ this time and stopped by the Lynn Cove falls. Hiked there for a bit and got back on the road.

Mt. Mitchell was my last park that I visited for the day. It is the highest point on this side of the Mississippi @ 6,684ft. I drove up to the top and was in awe @ how beautiful it looked w/ nothing but pine trees on the mountain. I got to the parking lot and got out and started up the mountain. Imagine smelling a Christmas Tree farm in Winter... multiply that times a million and yeah... I don't know why but it felt so clean there and was awesome! Air was clean and it smelled great. Along w/ the great views. Yeah I'm a tourist for sure.

Snapped some pictures and headed out. The last part of the Parkway went smooth and fast. Stopped by Hwy 151 to shred it a little bit and had some fun doing that.

Dupont Forest to Hwy 276 Caesar's Head and finally I got home around 8pm. What a day. I haven't had anything like that in a while and it was just pure bliss going where ever I wanted w/ no time restraints. Just driving w/ my ipod slam full of chill music and having a blast snapping pictures.

I have SOOOO many more but couldn't resist sharing at least some of them. Hope you guys enjoy. These don't do what I experienced today justice but hopefully you get the point. lol.

-Allen G.

1. Entrance to the park... it was like this all the way up:


2. I am super pleased w/ this shot. It reminds me of the old school shots of Japan's mountain peaks w/ cars parked in front of them:


3. Sphinx Rock. Estimated @ 640 million years old and over 4000 tons:


4. Last hairpin to the summit:


5. The Mile High Swinging Bridge @ the Summit of Grandfather Mtn.


6. I think this has to be one of my favorite all time shots I have taken. It came out exactly how I wanted after touching it up and tagging it!


7. Shot from Hwy 221, The Lynn Cove Viaduct snaking across the mountain in the background:


8. Breakfast of Champions, or idiots. lol. Chocolate Fudge and Vitamin Water. Yeah I got a little sick.


9. The first mile of hiking on Blowing Rock:


10. Stopped on the parkway and could see Mt. Mitchell and remembered I had to stop there. Can't see it in this picture.


11. Parking Lot on Mt. Mitchell. I have always loved those "miniature" shots. This reminds me a lot of those. My FC parked:


12. Summit of Mt. Mitchell:


...way more to come. I'm just a little exhausted right now.

 

B e utiful. looks and sounds like an awesome day. i am jealous.

 

Awesome pics as usual!!! I hate nebraska lol. Cant wait to go to my cabin in colorado next weekend for the fourth!! Wont be taking my 7 though, going with the gf and kids!!! Beautiful pictures man. Make it a living!!!

 

I want to SOOO bad man! It's just knowing the right people who know the right people and getting your foot caught in the right door. Shooting cars, and scenary/landscapes is my dream job. Traveling and shooting. Thanks for the compliments! Colorado should be a lot of fun!

 

That would be a kool touge spot. Nices pics bro

 

Awesome. Definitely need high resolution on that second one!

 

duude, that looks sooo awesome. i must go there one day!!

 

win... nice man

 

Super pimp pictures dude. Las vegas has no mountains like that. We got one mountain that the speed limit is like 35 on

 

That's a awesome piece of asfalt! I would love to have something like that near me...

 

Nice pics...I love those days where you dont have to rush anywhere and can just relax and drive

 

sounds like a blast! the pictures are great too..

 

Its always a treat when you post. You've definetely know what your doing with a camera. Thanks again for sharing your fantastic photos.

 

is it possible for me to get a high res copy of #1 for a wallpaper?

 

awesome pics and day you had

 

that second shot reminds of japan alot. i remeber driving through the mountains several times and seeing views just like that when i was there.

 

gorgeous! amazing shots of the car as well. MOAR PICS

 

nice pics like always man i think i might justdrive up there once i get my engine

 

Thanks again for the compliments guys! I will get the high res shots up for the ones who asked here shortly. I am working on a whole new batch as well right now.

 

Could you PM or email (hendrixfan07@hotmail.com) me the high-res?? PLEASE!

 

Ummm... Not every one of them. There's like 600. haha. I'll post a good number of the full size shots on my flickr tho. www.flickr.com/1287productions

 

I know what you mean, lol. And I'll check out the flickr. Mind if I add you as a contact?

 

what camera were you shooting with and more importantly, what glass were you using?

 

Nikon D80 and 18-200VR for most of those. I also use a 50mm f/1.8D. The D80 body is for sale!

go ahead and send it... I'll add you the next time I log on to upload these pictures.

 

Amazing photography as usual. I'll be the first to admit that I'd ***** foot the **** out of the hairpin on pic #4, holy **** thats scary.