Sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway look like a war zone.

[Normandog]

I rode up there a couple weeks ago just to take these pics and share them with y'all. Some of the WNC mountain areas were hit by a severe ice storm this past winter. These pics were taken at mile marker 310 in Jonas Ridge, NC.





The tops of these trees are nothing compared to some areas. Some places it looks like every tree lost some of it's branches.

[..]

About 1,200 trees fell over in the Little Switzerland section.

[Normandog]

About 1,200 trees fell over in the Little Switzerland section.

Yep, ridin' up 226A as you near the top is where I was talkin' about there aint a tree that don't have limbs broke out of the top.
One of my favorite rides is to get on hwy 80 at the bottom and make a couple runs up to the pkwy and part way back down. Then turn around and go back up, get on the pkwy and go to 226A and do that down and back up to pkwy. Then on to 181 and home. I'll take that over a day on the dragon anytime.

[hubcapsc]

One of my favorite rides is to get on hwy 80 at the bottom and make a couple runs up to the pkwy and part way back down. Then turn around and go back up, get on the pkwy and go to 226A and do that down and back up to pkwy. Then on to 181 and home. I'll take that over a day on the dragon anytime.

I was on the Dragon for the first time yesterday. That part where the DIP sign is is pretty cool and
unusual, but other roads (like the ones you mention) are just as good, and not crowd-magnets. I was
on 215, 290 and some other awesome roads the other bright-warm-sunny day and basically I owned
them. Even in the rain the Dragon had cars and trucks and long lines of bikes coming at you and
police lurking and ambulances perched at the bottom. I can't imagine what busy days are like there...
if I remember correctly, one of the directions from Shady Valley has a DIP section that is much longer
than the one on the Dragon...

-Mike

[Normandog]

One of my favorite rides is to get on hwy 80 at the bottom and make a couple runs up to the pkwy and part way back down. Then turn around and go back up, get on the pkwy and go to 226A and do that down and back up to pkwy. Then on to 181 and home. I'll take that over a day on the dragon anytime.

I was on the Dragon for the first time yesterday. That part where the DIP sign is is pretty cool and
unusual, but other roads (like the ones you mention) are just as good, and not crowd-magnets. I was
on 215, 290 and some other awesome roads the other bright-warm-sunny day and basically I owned
them. Even in the rain the Dragon had cars and trucks and long lines of bikes coming at you and
police lurking and ambulances perched at the bottom. I can't imagine what busy days are like there...
if I remember correctly, one of the directions from Shady Valley has a DIP section that is much longer
than the one on the Dragon...

-Mike

"Crowd Magnets" is a good term Mike. 

[Big IV]

I suppose it is about time it needs a little upkeep.