It's a MOUNTAIN thang...

For all you flat-landers out there - landslides, rockslides, and all that jazz are new to you like they are to me.  Due to all the rain this past week, these landslides/rockslides have happened in several different locations and all I can say is WOW.

Pictured below is a landslide that just happened Wednesday at Newfound Gap.  It's the mountain we cross over to go into Tennessee where the TN/NC line is.  The slide was estimated to have taken out a 200-ft section of the road.  Rance and I had every intention of taking Mandy & Brandon on a hike there when they come to visit soon but I do believe plans will have to change now since the road is NO LONGER THERE and the news indicates that the road will be closed for an extended period of time.

And the pictures above just represent ONE area. 

According to the news:

The rain-soaked western mountain counties have seen a deluge of smaller landslides over roadways, with nearly 50 slope failures causing problems on DOT roads. "We've had four in Cherokee County, three in Clay County, 23 in Graham County (that's Robbinsville), eight in Haywood, 10 in Jackson, two in Macon, six in Swain and none in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania." Said Joel Setzer, district engineer for District 14, which comprises the 10 westernmost counties.

This is heading up cherohala skyway in Robbinsville

Sounds like we just need to stay home.  Blows my mind that that really happens but now that I've seen it - it's definitely FOR REAL.