Our Favorite Facebook Photos: 1/27/17

#mabrymill #blueridge #snow #cold #architecture #winter @wxbrad @Topazlabs @SarahFortnerWxI DID WHAT TODAY???Ok, this will be a little long, but it’s well worth it.I LOVE Mabry Mill, I have managed to get up there 4-5 times, but never in the winter. I now know why.I was driving back from Baltimore and decided to see if I could get to the mill, knowing that there was a good bit of snow in the area. I looked on-line and all it had written for that section of the Blue Ridge was “Advisory”, no details at all. As I drove up to where I would pull onto the BlueRidge the road was still covered in 6-8” of snow, and there was a flashing sign “ROAD CLOSED”. I looked at my GPS and realized I was 2.2 miles from the mill.I sat there, for at least 5-10 mins, thinking, do I give up, do I try and hike it, or what? There were tracks in the snow, and there was nothing blocking traffic. I knew my van would not make it to the mill without issues, and the last thing I wanted to do was get it stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cell service.After a few mins I decided to go for it. 2.2 miles to the mill, then 2.2 back, plus the fact I would be walking through 6-8” of snow, some packed with ice, some just snow. You need to understand something, I am NOT a hiker, I have issues with both knees (arthritis), and I was not 100% sure this was the best idea.Lets go over some things.1. I’m in the middle of nowhere2. I have no cell service3. No one knows where I am4. In 10-15 mins I have not seen a single car5. Its 20 deg6. It’s a long walk in good weather for me– longer than I’m used to.7. It’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses – oh wait that’s from Blues Brothers – lolSo.. I get my camera, my boots, my tripod, gloves, hat, hand warmer, some water, take the one leg of my tripod to use as a walking stick (yep its made that way!), and start out.The road to the mill is 2.2 miles from where I started, and its full of hills up an down, the ups where hard on the legs, the downs were kind of scary as there was a lot of packed ice patches, and I slide a few times.After walking forEVER, ok 20 mins, I checked my Fitbit App, and I had walked.. wait for it.. 1.1 miles!Yeah, I’m old and walk slow, I'm also fat, and that doesn’t help. I stopped for a min, and started to check out some of the prints in the snow, little ones (birds I assumed) then some dear tracks, and even some small paw prints – I guess wolf? Or coyote? Thank you Lord, no Bear prints – but don’t they hibernate?I started thinking, maybe I should just turn around, pack it in, cut my losses, and head back. There was nothing, no sounds – some wind in the trees, and that’s about it. I started to think, “what if I fell”, “what if there is a bear?” – yeah, I think lots of positive things, when im alone in the middle of nowhere on a road where no one is traveling.BUT, I pushed on, and I made it to the mill, at around 40-45 mins after I left the van. The mill looked awesome, but man there obviously had been a LOT of people walking around. I was in “the zone”, shooting shots I KNOW I wanted to get, To match some of the ones I have at different times of the year.After 30-45 mins of walking (ok TRUDGING) thru the snow getting shots, I still had not seen a single car or person. At this point its been almost 2 hrs and I have been 100% alone (well to the best of my knowledge).Now, I’m tired, been walking in 6-8” of snow for almost 2 hours, non-stop. I really was not looking forward to this trek back. Knowing that the first part was going to be up-hill for at least ¾’s of a mile.I had said a few prayers on the way there, and doubled up on the walk back.After 20 mins of walking up hill and sliding, my legs were killing me, and I was ready to take a nap. I stopped near the top of another hill and thought I heard something. I took my hood off, and listened, and I did hear a noise. It got louder, and then this big old pickup truck came over the hill, and slammed on his breaks to stop right next to me. I was totally shocked. He goes “Do you need a lift?”. I told him “More than you could possibly know”. He tells me he has to make a u-turn, and he would be right back. I continue walking up the hill as he goes down and disappears. After a few mins I was thinking he was just gone, and I had imagined him, and here he comes back up the road. I get in and ask him where he was going. He tells me he saw my van and thought someone might need some help so he wanted to check it out. Isn’t that just amazing? Here I am praying “God send me a ride” and here he is.I know this is a very long story, But, I am so glad you read it all. Isn’t this awesome! God is with us all the time, sometimes he is just waiting to give us something awesome.I am so blessed to be able to capture God’s world. He paints some of the most amazing scenes.DavidPS: If you are interested in this photo, please message me, I cant wait to see this on a canvas!FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge ParkwayNC CultureBlue Ridge ParkwayBlue Ridge Parkway Travel BlogInsights Images & PoetryBlueridge OutdoorsMabry Mill

"Country Winter Living"Taken in Hightown, Virginia on Jan. 25Photo by M&C Photo's

This was my view back in Dec. looking off the side balcony of the Biltmore House.

A wintry version of my favorite barn located in Maggie Valley, NC. This was taken two Saturdays ago after the snows came through and sunlight began to peek through the clouds. Feel free to share, and you can see more at Solitary Traveler Photography

The Beautiful Snow Covered Sparks Lane.It snowed all night and I woke up to 6'' of fresh snow. It was still snowing when I started walking in from the gate. By the time I arrived at Sparks Lane the snow had slacked off, the clouds had opened up a bit showing some blue sky and the sun colored clouds allowing the capture of this beautiful winter scene. It was a beautiful view looking down the lane with only a few tracks of some deer in the fresh snow.Photographed on 1-7-17 in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.For more of our work check out and like our photo page https://www.facebook.com/JandGPhotos.Likes, comments and shares are welcomed, but please do not alter the photos (crop the border and our copyright) and use it as your own.

It was a gorgeous spring like day in Cades Cove today... But clearly winter on top of old Smoky!

Early morning drive to work taken from Monterey Mountain, Highland Co., VA 1/24/17Taken by Terri Puffenbarger

Clouds moving across the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Groundhog Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Where the water comes from the mountain.....Camp Alta Mons, Montgomery Co, VA