Travel Date: July 2019
Written by: Brandy Caitlyn
Hello! Hello! Hello!
This blog will solely be about the Spinx Rock!
I know what you’re thinking… really she’s writing about a rock? She’s weird. But hear me out before you just click off. Not everything may be your “thing” but many people travel the world to see “weird” or as I like to say unique and different things.
So here is my take on this and the history I found!
My stepmother and I went out on an adventure to Grandfather Mountain for this adventure. It was several hours from the house but worth the drive!
ALWAYS a shout out to my awesome stepmom who jumps on these journeys with me!
SOOOO!!!
I stumbled upon this Rock when I was going to Grandfather Mountain to the swinging bridge (a blog about this later will be released). The rock was in a curve as we headed to the top of the mountain!
So of course me being me I had to stop and investigate!
When we initially stopped I didn’t know the rock had its own name and history. I just saw a unique rock I wanted to explore.
So we parked my jeep, hopped out and started looking around. This is when I found the sign with its name across the road from the rock. The sign is in the trees!
THIS ROCK IS SUPPOSEDLY OVER 650 MILLION YEARS OLD!!
What did I see? I saw a massive rock. A rock that sits on the edge of the road and mountain. A rock that has history. A piece of the earth that has sat for ages and moved, shifted, cracked and settled. A rock that many people would just drive by because, “it’s just a rock”. I saw this rock as earths beauty. The makers beauty that he created.
INFORMATION:
The Sphinx rock is located on Grandfather mountain. Grandfather M un ountain is located in the amazing Blue Ridge Mountains. You do have to pay a fee to get into the park but it’s worth it, trust me! They will give you information at the entrance to the area and then you can drive alone and listen to an informational CD (my vehicle didn’t have a CD PLAYER so I didn’t get to utilize this).
The drive up this mountain to the Spinx rock and many other options it has is breath taking and amazing. It’s like you can’t believe your eyes. There are some overlooks you can pull off at and see the beauties of the earth from and snap some pictures!
I found the below insert from a informational site and couldn’t believe the history so I had to share with you guys!
“ So, just where did they come from? The most likely origin of the Split Rock and the Sphinx Rock was the top of Grandfather Mountain. Thousands, maybe millions of years ago, the boulders broke from the upper outcrops on Grandfather Mountain and fell (rolled?) to their current resting places. Before arriving at their current locations the rocks were most likely underwater. The type of rock (metaconglomerate) also means they were created millions of years ago as a stream bed in a previous mountain formation that likely pre-dated the current Appalachians. Unlike the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, “
How cool right?? A North Carolina Staple that’s possibly MILLIONS of years old. Who wouldn’t want to say they saw that once in their life time??
Now it isn’t covered in gems, glittery or anything fancy. Yes it’s just a rock… BUTTTTTT … Nature lovers, history lovers, explorers and more may just want to see this historic rock!
I did climb the rock and go through the cracks some! But I ALWAYS say, DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, as did I!
It was incredible (of course my opinion) and I couldn’t believe I was staring at a rock that old!!
These are photos of my exploring into cracks in the rock!
After exploring cracks in the rock I explored the top of the rock! On both sides of course, one side isn’t pictured because we were trying to make sure we didn’t fall.
Looking back at these pictures makes me want to go again. Because It is amazing how the earth is created and the pieces on this huge ball spinning in space. The views from here are also beautiful!
I hope that my explorations inspire others to explore, discover and love this earth as much as I do.
And as always remember, Respect the earth, respect nature and #LeaveNoTracesBehind.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC23KG7_the-split-sphinx-rocks-on-grandfather-mountain?guid=2b8ebe87-8343-49e2-b189-85d9d6780e9f
- https://grandfather.com/sphinx-rock/
Much Love, B.
A Travel Loving Momma 