Grandfather Mountain

Few natural features possess as much personality as the peaks of Grandfather Mountain, which dominate the skyline between Boone and Linville. The mountain takes its name from its resemblance to the profile of a sleeping old man; it was known to Cherokee hunters as Tanawha, or "fabulous eagle." Later visitors came to see the magnificent views, brave the famous Mile-High Swinging Bridge, and observe the native flora. The mountain is billed as North Carolina's top scenic attraction. The advent of photography made Grandfather Mountain the High Country's most photographed celebrity, with images crafted by the mountain's longtime owner and champion, legendary photographer Hugh Morton, as well as mementos of family gatherings and individual visits. Grandfather Mountain showcases the rich natural and recreational history of this North Carolina landmark.

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.

Structural and metamorphic history of rocks exposed in the largest window in the crystalline belt of the southern Appalachians, and a discussion of the significance of the window in interpretation of the tectonics of the region.

Compilation, made between late 1978 and early 1980 of data on tillites and tillite-like rocks of all ages and from all areas of the world.