Picture of the day - December 17, 2005

View Of Whitetop Mountain From Abingdon, VA

The highlands of southwestern Virginia are home to the state's two highest peaks: Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. Whitetop is so named because there is a huge open field on the side of the mountain that stays white with snow for most of the winter. Whitetop can easily be seen from many locations throughout the Mountain Empire, including beautiful and historic Abingdon, Virginia. Today's picture features a nice view of Whitetop from East Main Street as you approach exit 19 of Interstate 81 from downtown. It had snowed the day before this picture was taken, but what little white stuff "stuck" to the ground in the lowlands quickly melted. But both Konnarock and Whitetop Mountain received significant accumulations of snow - more than enough to allow for some great photos! As you can see, Whitetop was completely white - not just on the large open field. I've been up on Whitetop when it was covered with snow and it certainly is pretty up there. If you want to check it out for yourself, simply take U.S. Highway 58 East from Damascus, Va and follow the signs to the Whitetop community - but be aware that the only way to drive to the top of the mountain is on a very narrow one-lane gravel road! Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo More Interesting Articles