Can you find average last frost date and hardiness zone for the elevation? My impression is that ZIP code / USDA Hardiness Zones are not fine enough to really say what YOUR climate will be.
I tend to think of ridge tops as cold and windy, but maybe ridge tops in NC are warmer.
When you look around at vegetation already there, can you tell whether the weeds get enough rainfall? Do they seem vigorous and green as if the soil is fertile, or do they look like they are working hard just to make ends meet?
Do you have much soil, or just rocks?
