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Dori and I took a day trip out to Grandfather Mountain today, and experienced some of the toughest hiking we’ve ever done. The start of the trail was rocky with moderate inclines, boulders, and moderate amounts of trees and shrubbery. As we climbed higher we found smooth slabs of rock 10-20 feet tall with rope lines to aid the traversal. Higher still, the rope lines were replaced with ladders. Ladders met other ladders, separated in parts by 4-inch-wide ledges offering no room for error. The mountain in the foreground is Grandfather Mountain with the Mile-High bridge visible at its peak.