Pictured: As observed at the National Weather Service recording station near the Mile High Swinging Bridge, Grandfather Mountain recorded average weather for the month of April 2021. Photo by Monty Combs | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average April weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The lowest temperature observed in April 2021 was 10° Fahrenheit on April 2. The lowest recorded temperature ever observed on Grandfather Mountain in the month of April was 5° on April 7, 1982. The warmest day recorded in April 2021 was 69° on April 8, 28 and 30 — 11 degrees shy of the mountain’s record April high of 80°, recorded April 7, 2010. The average high temperature for the month was 53.9°, with an average low of 36.4°, for an April 2021 mean of 45.2°. On April 30, the station recorded a wind gust of 86.2 mph, while the highest sustained wind speed clocked in at 72.1 that same day. As observed at the park’s nature museum, the mountain saw 4.13 inches of precipitation in April. Precipitation is measured at this lower elevation, as high winds make it difficult to record accurate observations at the top. The mountain’s rainiest April was recorded in 1987, when 10.83 inches of rain were observed. The driest April on record was recorded in 1975, when only .72 inches were measured. No significant snowfall was recorded in April 2021. The snowiest April on record was in 1987, when 28.5 total inches of snow were recorded. Weather Reporting The Grandfather Mountain...
Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average March weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The lowest temperature observed was 17° Fahrenheit on both March 6 and 7, with the lowest wind chill at -1.7 on March 2. On March 28, the station recorded a wind gust of 83.7 mph, while the highest sustained wind speed clocked in at 69 mph on March 1. The lowest recorded temperature ever observed in the month of March on Grandfather Mountain was -9° on March 9, 1996. The warmest day recorded in March 2021 was 64° on March 27, eight degrees shy of the mountain’s record March high of 72°, recorded March 30, 1985. On March 20, the first day of spring, the high was 40° with a low of 20°. The average high temperature for the month was 49.9°, with an average low of 32.3°, for a March 2021 mean of 41.1°. As observed at the park’s nature museum, the mountain saw 6.47 inches of precipitation last month. Precipitation is measured at this lower elevation, as high winds make it difficult to record accurate snow and precipitation observations at the top. No significant snowfall was recorded in March 2021. The snowiest March on record was in 1981, when 33.6 total inches of snow were recorded. Weather Reporting The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation records and reports data in two different ways: The park maintains an automated weather station at the top of the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The N.C. State Climate Office assists the foundation in calibrating the machines and...
David Thompson moved to the United States from Ontario, Canada, at age 18. He’s lived here ever since and loves it. But when he and wife Cathy first visited Grandfather Mountain in 2008, something significant happened.He turned to his wife and said, “Cathy, I found my home.”David said he was emotional in that moment. It is similar to where he grew up—the trees, the terrain, the kind of flowers, the rocks, the moss, the mushrooms, the temperature. And there was something more.“I think Grandfather is a special place,” he said. “And I think anyone who thinks this is simply an attraction with a toll gate hasn’t spent time here. It’s a nature conservation and education place; that’s what it is.”Over the past three summers, David has participated in almost every Adult Field Course offered by the team of naturalists at Grandfather. When he and Cathy learned about the vision for the new Conservation Campus, they wanted to be a part of it. The pandemic has only strengthened their belief in how important it will be for visitors and future generations.“A lot of families and people and schools and states and governments are waking up to the need to go outside and ride a bike or go for a walk through the woods,” David said. “I think the timing of that facility is perfect for where we are today and for what we really need. And it really inspired us. We first made a commitment and then we got so excited, we added to it.”They value their connection to the Mountain, the dedicated staff members and the many people who...
Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average February weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park.
Pictured: Grandfather Mountain experienced some snowy and blustery weather this January, recording 15.1 inches of snow and a wind gust of 92.9 mph. Photo by Victoria Darlington | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation 2021 is off to a chilly start on Grandfather Mountain. Weather data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge showed high winds and low wind chills in January. Grandfather Mountain’s resident elk — Doc, Merle and Watson — admire the snow in their environmental wildlife habitat on Grandfather Mountain. Photo by Chloe Brady | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation The lowest temperature observed was 5.9° Fahrenheit on Jan. 29, while a wind chill of -16.3° was recorded on Jan. 28. January’s highest wind gust was observed on Jan. 20, clocking in at 92.9 mph, while the highest sustained wind speed was 59.8 mph on Jan. 28. The lowest temperature ever observed in the month of January was -32° on Jan. 21, 1985, which also holds the distinction of being the lowest recorded temperature in Grandfather Mountain’s recorded history. The warmest day in January 2021 was Jan. 2, which saw a high of 53.4° at the top, about five degrees shy of the mountain’s record January high of 58.51°, recorded Jan. 25, 2017. As observed at the park’s nature museum, the mountain saw 15.1 inches of snow and 4.29 inches of precipitation in January. Precipitation is measured at this lower elevation, as high winds make it difficult to record accurate snow and precipitation observations at the top. The snowiest January on record was in 1977, when 55.06 total inches were...
Grandfather Mountain concluded 2020 with a chill. According to data from the National Weather Service recording station located at the Mile High Swinging Bridge, the temperature dipped as low as -1° F on Dec. 26. In contrast, the top had warmed to 53° on Dec. 12 and 14, bringing that month’s average high and low to 38.9° and 22.5°, respectively. December’s highest wind gust registered at 92.4 mph, while the highest sustained wind speed clocked in at 81.2 mph. The park’s highest recorded wind gust remains 124 mph, recorded Feb. 25, 2019. The recording station also noted 4.76” of precipitation (rain, melted snow, etc.) in December. The data indicates a slightly colder December than in 2019, when the average high and low were 44.8° and 29.6°, respectively. To learn more about weather on Grandfather Mountain, including the current forecast and historical data, click...
On a beautiful day in autumn, you might find Ginny Burton foraging for wild apples. It’s one of her favorite things to do because she gathers them for the bears and elk who live on Grandfather Mountain. Of course, she could buy apples for them, and she has in the past when no local ones were available to pick, but she thinks that takes the fun out of it. Sometimes, she even takes some of the apples back to her horses in Florida. If you saw her in the grocery store, you might not realize that she’s foraging for the animals there as well. She likes to pick up cans of sardines, herring, tuna, kippers, and mackerel that can be used to enrich the diets of the otters, cougars, and bears.“One of my favorite things about Grandfather Mountain is the behind-the-scenes tours where you can get up close and personal with the animals, especially the bears,” she says. “There’s nothing like being that close to them and having the opportunity to observe them and learn more about their habits and personalities.” Ginny has also expressed her love of the animals and her gratitude for the people who care for them by providing a major gift to support the construction of the new Animal and Habitat Office. “I was very inspired by the opportunity to be a part of the new Conservation Campus, and to leave a legacy, to be a part of the legacy. I think it’s wonderful that school kids will be able to go on these field trips and visit such a magnificent place as Grandfather Mountain and all the...
One of the most exciting features of the coming Wilson Center for Nature Discovery will be more than 12 new interactive exhibits that will enable visitors to experience the 16 natural communities that comprise Grandfather Mountain. PVAG Destinations, a recognized leader in the design of museums, zoos, aquariums, resorts and brand destinations, engaged with dozens of stakeholders and staff members to create the exhibit designs. The new exhibits will engage visitors to understand what makes the mountain is unique and will provide opportunities to experience this special and dynamic natural resource.John and Connie McLendon and their family made a contribution to sponsor the new Extremes and Weather exhibit. John’s grandparents brought him to Grandfather Mountain when he was a child.“Starting with those early visits, I remember feeling the wind while walking across the swinging bridge and experiencing changing weather on the maintain,” John said. “We’re excited about the Conservation Campus and the learning opportunities that it will provide, especially for families and school groups.” Did you know that Grandfather Mountain is so large that there can be a 10-degree difference in the temperature between the foothills and the peak of the mountain? This combined with intense winds can make the summits of the mountain perilous, but it also makes for dramatic seasonal changes. Connie has always been curious about wind and inspired by it. “As a child growing up in Florida, I had the opportunity to feel the caress of a gentle ocean breeze as well as the powerful force of hurricane winds,” Connie said. “Having such an exhibit will teach young and old alike the magnificence of wind.“John and I have three...
Barbara and Jim Goodmon have many happy memories of Grandfather Mountain. One that stands out the most is their honeymoon some 50 years ago. They drove from Memphis, Tenn., to stay at Hound Ears Club near Boone, as they celebrated the beginning of their married life together. Over the years, they would make the long drive to the mountains from Raleigh on two-lane roads as often as they could. Their friendship with Grandfather Mountain founder Hugh Morton grew through adventures great and small, which he shared with them and their children. “Mr. Morton, we have young children, and I’m in here with a bear!” That fond memory was of a time when Barbara was feeding Grandfather’s late mascot, Mildred the bear, and they laughed about it for many years. Their children loved the Mile High Swinging Bridge (although Barbara admits to being terrified when she would cross it), seeing the animals and family time together at Grandfather. “Mr. Morton was a very important part of our time up here, and he was also important in what he did for North Carolina,” Barbara said. “The things that he believed in, we believed in. And those are the things Jim’s grandfather, A.J. Fletcher, believed in.” For the past 10 years, the Goodmons have had a house near Grandfather, and now a new generation — their grandchildren — loves being on the mountain. Their 10-year-old grandson, Michael, is an avid volunteer at Grandfather, and the first thing he asks for when he arrives at their home is his Grandfather Mountain T-shirt. Barbara and Jim see tons more potential for educational experiences...
Robert and Susan Wilson have deep connections to our region. Susan’s family members were among the first settlers in the area around Jonas Ridge. They have a deep love of the mountains, reveling in the geological history, natural beauty and rich diversity of plants and animals found here. Photo above: Bob and Susan Wilson break ground on the new conservation campus on Sept. 2, 2019. Grandfather Mountain is grateful for their extraordinary commitment to its educational mission. And they have a passion for education that helps people of all ages better understand the planet and the resources that give us life as we know it. Susan’s mother, Dr. Marguerite Barrier Cooper, was born in Jonas Ridge, went school at Crossnore and taught chemistry at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., where she worked until retiring at the ripe age of 91. Her grandparents, Tuppy and Lloyd Barrier, are from generations of members of the Barrier family, who settled the Jonas Ridge area. The family worked hard to help others in need, and Bob and Susan Wilson are continuing that legacy through the creation of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery at Grandfather Mountain. The Wilsons are a part of the Grandfather Mountain family. They have expressed their appreciation for staff members in countless ways—great and small. They stepped in and provided transport for our youngest cougars, Logan and Trinity, from Idaho and were such a wonderful part of the cougars’ welcome to their new home at Grandfather. They are also engaged in helping the Stewardship Foundation continually expand its educational mission. Their extraordinary investment in the new Conservation Campus...
Photo by Deborah Anderson On Saturday, June 20, Grandfather Mountain bid farewell to Gerry the black bear. Gerry was humanely euthanized following a long history of debilitating arthritis. She was 31 years old. In the wild, black bears live into their early 20s, while those in captivity can live up to and beyond 30. “Gerry was loved by everyone who had the chance to meet her,” said Deborah Anderson, assistant habitats curator for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature preserve. “She was a sassy bear, always sure to let the other bears know just how she felt about them. She was just the best bear.” Gerry was born in the wild in Northern Michigan and then orphaned at two months of age. Michigan wildlife agents, including expert bear behaviorist Lynn Rogers, hand-raised her for a month before they found a wild mother bear involved in a research project who would adopt her. The mother bear then raised Gerry as one of her own. Gerry was an ideal candidate for Rogers’ bear research, as he could actually get close enough to handle the trusting bear, observe her feeding patterns and monitor her heart rate and body temperature. Unfortunately, after the research concluded, Gerry became too acclimated to humans, and Rogers feared that she would be put down for being a nuisance bear. Desperate to find a place for the gentle bear to live, Rogers searched high and low for a habitat with ample room in a natural setting. He settled on high, having been friends with the late Hugh Morton, founder...
Dozens of nature lovers and bird advocates braved the wintry weather Wednesday to hear officials from Audubon North Carolina and Grandfather Mountain talk with N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael S. Regan about the climate challenges facing wildlife and plant communities in the North Carolina mountains. For many bird species, the high-elevation western part of the state holds critical habitat, but these species also face unique climate threats, the speakers said. A new climate report by Audubon, called Survival by Degrees, found that more than 200 bird species in North Carolina are threatened with extinction because of rising temperatures and more extreme weather, and the majority of breeding species at risk are native to western North Carolina. The list includes iconic and beloved birds like the Wood Thrush, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Canada Warbler and 20 other warbler species. Native plants face similar threats, including distinctive and important plant communities like beech and hemlock cove forests. Officials spoke at the Nature Museum at Grandfather Mountain, touching on the diverse ecosystems of the northwestern mountains and the importance of addressing climate threats by protecting land and promoting clean energy. “A great way to look at the vast diversity of Grandfather Mountain is through our birds,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville nature park. “We have around 130 species of birds that nest here each year. The highest elevation bird species are the ones most sensitive to changes in our climate and weather. At this point in Grandfather Mountain’s history, this issue, perhaps,...
