I have driven all over those mountain roads in western NC and eastern TE. I have an aunt who lives on the west side of Grandfather mountain, so I have had many opportunities to try different roads. There is no present road that would have been suitable for wagons across the mountains from eastern TE to Asheville. Interstate 40 is the best, but you can see from the blasting that there was not a prior route. Routes 19 and 23 both have many switchbacks. 23 was supposed to be rebuilt, but it hasn't been finished. There is, however a reasonable route from VA: Route 221. When it gets to near the back side of the Blue Ridge, there are two other smaller roads that are near level which take you to 19 and into Asheville with only a few low ridges to cross. From Asheville south, Interstate 77 crosses the Blue Ridge near where the "Great Wagon Road" passed. The last piece of the Blue Ridge parkway to be finished is on the east side of Grandfather. It is a spectacular road that hugs the mountain . There is a walking trail through there where you can see how the parkway was built out from the mountain where there were cliffs. There is certainly no way for wagons to get over the Blue Ridge from near Grandfather to Asheville. Regards, Martin