Linville Gorge Wilderness

 

February 7th

ON THIS DAY in North Carolina history…

1951

It is the deepest chasm in the eastern United States. Rock outcroppings rise in spires and chimneys, and cliffs jut boldly through the virgin timber forest that covers a gorge almost 3000 feet deep. To the east rises Jonas Ridge, to the west Linville Mountain, both about 3,500 feet along their rims. And between them flows what the Cherokee called Eeseeoh--”River of Cliffs.” We call it the Linville River, and the spectacular valley it forms, Linville Gorge.

It is among the most beautiful and ecologically significant natural areas in North Carolina. The headwaters of the Linville river flow off of Grandfather Mountain and fall 2000 feet in 12 miles to merge with the Catawba River down in the Piedmont. Table Rock Mountain and Wiseman’s View provide incredible views of the gorge.

Tommy Morgan, our resident geologist here at NCXP (and our good friend), would tell us that gorge is here because of Precambrian granitic quartzites that were solidified from molten rock more than a billion years ago and were resistant to the erosion that carved out the gorge between them. This is mainly responsible for the rough and craggy scenery. Thank you, Tommy.

The gorge is named for William Linville and his son John, who while hunting and exploring were killed by marauding Shawnee Indians just above the main waterfall in 1766. Linville is a close friend and companion of Daniel Boone.

In addition, an incredible virgin forest still covers the floor of Linville Gorge. Because it was nearly impossible to log, the gorge escaped the virtual deforestation that swept through the mountains after the completion of the Western North Carolina Railroad. This logging of North Carolina timber is financed by northern capitalists who acquire vast tracts of timberland and build numerous commercial sawmills, making logging one of the state's most important New South industries. In all fairness, however, the development of large-scale commercial logging also provided the factories of North Carolina's furniture industry in High Point, Thomasville, Hickory, and elsewhere with the raw material needed to become world famous.

It also provides one more thing. When the logging is done much of the land finds its way into the hands of the US Forest Service which oversees the regrowth and management of the mountain forest we enjoy today. And ON THIS DAY, one of those northern capitalists, John D. Rockefeller to be exact, donates to the National Park Service for preservation in its natural state the 10,975 acres of the Linville Gorge. It becomes the Linville Falls Recreation Area. Later, the Linville Gorge Wilderness incorporated acres of the gorge into it. This was part of the original national wilderness system established in the 1960s.

Kevin E. Spencer, Author, North Carolina Expatriates

Pictured:

Linville Gorge and Linville Falls

I have only visited the upper falls. Here's my blog about my last visit there.