CarISSMA - Diamond Back Cruise

CarISSMA is having a Mountain Cruise on the 28th if anyone is close to us and wants to join us - The more the merrier.

For those of you who are unfamiliar The Diamondback, NC's 226A is loaded with switchbacks looping almost 360-degrees. Runs of S-curves climb and twist sharply as they snake through lush green forest in route to the Blue Ridge Parkway just above Spruce Pine, North Carolina.

This heavily wooded trek, from Marion in McDowell County to Switzerland Inn, on the edge of Mitchell County, NC is an exciting and challenging drive. Two-lanes of smooth, well-marked pavement are flanked by rocky outcroppings, shear drop-offs and quick, tight hairpin curves.

The views are spectacular, and the drive is awe inspiring

Although the planned route is only about 30-miles long, this exciting sportscar and motorcycle route features at least 190 curves on the Diamond Back alone (some say as many as 200) as it links NC 226 to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

At the peak of the Diamondback is the Switzerland Inn and Chalet Restaurant (Mile Post 334).
Riding or driving the Diamondback through Pisgah National Forest not only takes you alongside heart stopping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is a refreshing climb with as much as a 12-degree temperature drop and a great escape from summer humidity.

Generally traveling north-south, 226A is entirely within McDowell and Mitchell counties. The Diamondback parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway along much of its northern segment.

We are meeting in Mooresville I-77 Exit 36 around 9 - 9:30. there is the Wal mart Shopping Center (if heading north on 77 when getting of the exit, turn right proceed to first stop light Wal mart shopping center is on the right) We are meeting in the wendy's parking lot. We plan on leaving there around 10 a.m Hop on I-77 north to I-40 west. exiting off at I-40 Exit 86. (For members that reside towards hickory we can meet up somewhere along I-40 and pick up you guys somewhere along that route)From there we plan on taking Route 226 to Route 70 to Route 80 following it to the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Little Switzerland.

http://diamondbacknc.com/db_loop_route.html

http://www.mcdowellnc.org/common/pdf/blue_ridge_drives.pdf

Switzerland Café http://switzerlandcafe.com/

We plan on taking a break in Little Switzerland do some sight seeing then head down the diamond back to 221/226 to I-40