![]() The guide asked me if we wanted to turn around. About 10 minutes into the ride it started to sprinkle. Not full of life so to speak and I was a bit nervous so I didn't strike up a lot of conversation. We started out on the ride with a guide who was ok. My children and I went for a trail ride on July 4th while my husband waited for us. Please understand the final outcome was the disappointing factor of this facility. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be returning on our next vacation! Our kids are calling it "the magic stable," an accurate description! There is a church nearby and we could hear the bells ringing as we rode along we were not ready for our ride to end! Back at the barn, another girl met our group at the gate to help us off our horses, and we were able to feed our horses the carrots we had brought after they drank water. We felt very safe and were quite amused at how the horses would respond when she called them if they stopped to look around for a moment. ![]() Our guide, Laura, was very patient and friendly. All we had to do was occasionally discourage our horses from eating along the trail. The horses are well trained and very calm. ![]() Our youngest was nervous, but our guide kept her horse on a rope for the entire ride and she was smiling and laughing after only 5 minutes. ![]() My wife and our three children (ages 7, 13, and 16) had never ridden a horse before and I have only ridden a little so we are quite inexperienced. My wife was touched by the care our guide took as she encouraged an elderly horse ("Apple," aged 40) that was hanging out around the grassy pond area to come inside the barn "for a snack and a nap" before everyone went out on the trail. Unlike some stables where you feel sorry for the skinny, lifeless horses, these horses seemed quite content. They are all well fed and extremely clean. The horses are obviously well loved and cared for. The barn itself is charmingly shabby this is no luxury stable but a rustic high country barn. The stable and trail is in a beautiful location with great views of Seven Devils Mountain and Grandfather Mountain. Now I can say I've accomplished it, but don't think I'd do it again.My family visited Banner Elk Stables during the second week of July. I had to keep encouraging myself that "I could do it" " I got this" I'm grateful my husband was there to enjoy it with me. I have to admit, I am beyond proud of myself for making it!! I never would have thought I was capable of such a strenuous hike. The two of us went through 5 bottles of water. Please be prepared if attempting this hike. We gave them a bottle of water and some oranges. Met some people who were not prepared with anything. We took our time, stopped for water and to chat with other hikers and wait our turn for the obstacles. We finished the trailin just under 5 hours. It was a long trek back as our muscles were screaming at us and our knees were feeling every step. Luckily we made it down safe and the rain didn't last much longer. I was terrified of slipping off one of these ladders and falling to the bottom or slipping and going right over the edge. The problem is that EVERYTHING becomes EXTREMELY slippery and there is no cover from the rain pelting you in the face. Upon our decent, we reached the 3 ladders straight down and the skies opened up and started to pour. Which was just as intimidating as the way up was. The clouds were coming in so we decided to head back down. We decided that was far enough and not to continue to Callaway Peak. I was determined and we finally made it to McRae Peak. One missed step and you're gone over the edge of a HUGE cliff. Once you get toward the top, there is lots of areas that are super sketch. I suggest one at a time as it's hard when someone behind you is wiggling the rope trying to climb up too. It gets slippery when you're sweaty or it rains. The hand ropes weren't nearly as hard as I thought they would be. Some are straight up and some have a bit of a lean. They are secured well into the rock and seem sturdy. The ladders are all slanted a bit to the left or right, making it feel off. The ENTIRE trail is a mix of scaling rocks, climbing up ladders, using hand lines to climb up and balancing. the first rope area and ladders are just to get you into a false sense of accomplishment. Its straight up and over rocks to get to a trail. This trail gets you right from the start. I was almost in tears at times because of fear (especially when it started to rain) I'm not in the best shape, but amaretto active in kayaking and outdoor activities. This was the longest, most terrifying 2.6 miles of my life. It's mine and my husband's 25th anniversary and we decided to have an adventurous week. I'm not a young person anymore and knew it would be a challenge, but wanted to attempt it. Wasn't sure if icould make it with all the ladders and rope pulls. I looked up reviews and information on the hike to Gallaway Peak.
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