Starting from the Profile Trail trailhead.
Well-maintained Profile Trail.
The Profile Trail follows a small creek, paralleled by the State Road 105.
Pretty morning lighting on the creek along the Profile Trail.
Looking back.
A minor creek crossing on slippery rocks.
Finally the ascent to Grandfather Mountain begins after a fair amount of minor ups and downs along the creek.
A minor view along the way.
Switchbacks up the Profile Trail to Grandfather Mountain.
Stairs constructed in spots along the way.
The profile of Grandfather Mountain, for which the trail was named.
Some minor Class 2 boulder-hopping.
Junction with the Grandfather Mountain Trail at Calloway Gap. Left heads to the summit.
Lush and pretty on the push to the summit of Grandfather Mountain.
Watauga View to the left is worth checking out. Right heads to Grandfather Mountain.
First ladder along the summit ridge.
View along the summit ridge.
The most difficult of the ladders.
Grandfather Mountain summit (aka Calloway Peak). I should note that this lookout point isn't the true summit, but the high point was a little farther back, forested and unmemorable.
A close-up toward Attic Window Peak, accessible via the Grandfather Trail.
Watauga View, a minor detour off the main trail. Worth checking out for the views.
Looking toward Attic Window Peak from Watauga View.
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