A straight word as you climb toward the summit, because the top of this mountain is a different world and it fools people. Down where you started it might be a mild, sunny afternoon. Up top it can be thirty degrees colder, wrapped in cloud, with a wind that'll knock you sideways — the weather up there is genuinely severe, some of the roughest in the East. So even on a warm day, bring a real jacket, a hat, something to hold onto your hopes. If it's socked in with fog when you get to the Castle, know that the view may be gone; it's worth checking the summit webcam before you commit to the drive.
And when you're up on that bare summit, watch your footing on the rock, keep back from the edges — the drops are real and there are no railings out on the natural rock — and keep an eye on children and the wind together. This isn't meant to scare you off; tens of thousands of people make this drive every year and have the time of their lives. It's just a big, wild, high place, and it rewards a little respect. Dress for the top, mind your step up there, and it'll give you a day you never forget.
Photo: GAD · CC BY-SA 3.0
