We may be close to Heaven, but the Devil is here too

For those of us who live here, the NC mountains are close to heaven. We often stand in complete awe of the majesty here. In all seasons the mountains touch our lives and uplift our spirits.

However, there are many places in our mountains where the Devil himself makes his presence known. One such place is a rock formation in Chimney Rock State Park.

As you climb above Chimney Rock itself, the formation comes into view.

A closer look gives the details of the Devil's face, looking out over the mountain.

Folklore tells us that the Devil is there to remind us of his continuing presence and influence in our lives. Geologists tell a slightly different story. They say the rock is part of a very large rock slide with this boulder landing on the ledge. Because of the nature of the rock, some areas eroded away, leaving the outline of the head and facial features.

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes around another famous rock formation known as the Devil's Courthouse. Folklore tells us that the devil held court there.

Cherokee legend tells us that a huge giant named Tsul'kalu' used a cave within this mountain for a ballroom and danced there. The slanty-eyed giant who stepped across the mountains, scratching and carving the stones, is now called Judaculla. (Like so many other names, settlers felt the need to make Cherokee and other Native American names easier to pronounce.)

I understand the scientific explanations for our rock formations. And yet there is a part of me that clings to the legends. Don't get me started on the Indian princess(es) who leapt from the waterfall(s).

The Devil Holds Court in the Mountains

Regular readers are well aware of my love of the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). Hardly a week goes by that we don't drive up through Pisgah National Forest to the Parkway. It is a lovely drive in all seasons. Since we live nearby, we can drive up during the week when there are fewer tourists. Mondays and Tuesdays are best.

The various shades of green rival the colors of Autumn. The scenery is spectacular in every direction.


A famous rock formation along the BRP is known as "Devil's Courthouse." It is clearly visible from an overlook and there is a well-maintained hiking trail to the summit.

There is a cave inside this rock formation and according to the Cherokee Nation, the Devil himself had a courtroom in this cave. From this courtroom, the Devil judged the evil people of the world. At other times, the legend tells us, the cave was used as a ballroom for a slant-eyed giant who loves to dance there.

The summit of Devil's Courthouse provides a panoramic view. In the past, four states were visible from the summit; North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. The view is still spectacular, but the view of the four states is now relegated to the outstanding photographs of days gone by.

---------------I have wonderful memories of trips on the BRP as a small child. The mountains seemed so much more vibrant and beautiful back then. For a long time, I thought the difference was a childhood illusion. The brutal truth is that the views from the photographs of yesteryear are simply not present today. The clear and crisp resolution in the old brochures has turned into a smoky haze that tremendously reduces the visibility of the distant mountains. It is estimated that fossil fuel pollution has reduced the distant visibility in some areas as much as 80% in the past 50 years. Let's all hope we wake up and make some REAL changes in our lives to reduce pollution. It's not simply the view...the pollution is acidifying the streams damaging the trees, hurting the fish, the trees and plants (and thus the birds).