Hiking!

This past week the weather was perfect - low temps, next to no humidity and I was still on "house arrest" due to grass pollen. I finally decided that the pollen count was lower and I just couldn't resist the weather so out I went - figuring that I would pay the price later. I got quite lucky though, I didn't have to pay any price, other than the tank of gas to get to SNP! YIPPEEE!!!!

Over Spring Break I'd begun exploring the southern district of SNP and so I decided I'd continue that exploration yesterday. I found a shortish, easyish loop trail - 5.8 miles, 1,300 feet of elevation gain/loss. At the trails lowest point there was a creek where I could enjoy lunch and a possible foot soak and/or some wading if I was hot.

I was so glad that I decided to go out to SNP - the weather was perfect - 61 degrees as I was driving down Skyline Drive! When I stopped at a picnic ground to use the comfort station and was wishing I'd worn pants - it was chilly! Once I got hiking though, I was working up a sweat.

Check out a few of my pictures from the day...




The view from the overlook where the trail started.

Trail post for the trail I was hiking, with a great view in the background.

When I reached the creek I bushwhacked off trail a bit to a big rock to sit on to eat my sandwich - from my rock I could see this waterfall so I climbed over a few more rocks and walked through a patch of stinging nettle to get this picture!

Rock overhang on the AT on my way back to my car.

There were lots of flowers in bloom on the AT. I like this one with the bug on it!

More pretty flowers - I believe they are columbine of some sort.

This is one of my favorite pics - it came out looking like a professional photographer!

My 1st picture of an SNP bear!!!! I have seen many black bears in the park - both on the trail and from the car, this is the 1st one I have been able to get a picture of! This pic was taken from the car on Skyline Drive and yes I used the zoom on the camera....


Here's hoping for a mild summer with more low temp/low humidity days for more hiking! :)

Kennedy Peak

Yesterday I went on a lovely nine mile hike to Kennedy Peak in George Washington National Forest! Rain was in the forcast, however it never materialized, rather it was 60 degress and sunny! It was a wonderfully beautiful day, although it was very hazy and that hampered the views from Kennedy Peak. There was some snow and ice on the trail but nothing like a few weeks ago when I was sliding on my behind down the mountain!
Enjoy the pictures!

The river snaking through the valley is the Shenandoah River. This is looking east to the city of Luray.

The Traditional "Blue Ridge" shot!

On my way home from GWNF I decided to drive up Skyline Drive rather than going back via Sperryville. There was some rain moving in from the west which hampered the view somewhat, however I caught this view which reminded of the pictures on postcards and coffee table books! I actually took this picture by sticking the camera though the sunroof of the car!

Busy, Busy Weekend!

Having been out of school for 3.5 days this week had left me with a bad case of cabin fever so I had to get out this weekend!

I had plan on Saturday to go hiking at Catocin NP in MD, however I'd gotten reports of bad ice from some hiking boards I follow, so I decided that I'd bail on that. I needed to find something else to do, I have been lurking on Meetup.com for a few months but not gone to any events. Saturday morning I surfed over and discovered that there was a movie meetup happening - they were going to lunch and then to see "Children of Men". Sounded perfect for a cold windy icy day!

We had a lovely lunch at Ireland's Four Courts in Arlington. The other people I met were very nice, easy to talk to, we had lots in common and it was great fun meeting new folks!

The movie on the other hand wasn't quite so thrilling. It had a lot more violence and was a lot more graphic than I was expecting. I should have read the book so I'd know what was going on and who was who. The story line for the movie was good, however the ending sucked (I won't spoil it, although there's not much to spoil!)

Today I decided that I had to get out and go hiking. I found a hike with the Center Hiking Club that looked doable - on the schedule it said that we would do an 8 miles hike on Bull Run Mountain, when we arrived at the meeting place however, the leader informed us that we'd be going to Manassass Battlefield - to do a 5 mile loop with an option to do another 5 - because the ice was quite dangerous on the mountain. No big deal, we'd still be getting out to hike! We actually had a big group - 12 of us all together! It was about 28 degrees with a fierce wind - cold doesn't even begin describe it! The trail was much like a luge run - a sheet of ice! We did more slipping and sliding than actual hiking! My legs ache not from walking, but rather from trying to control my body and move fast enough to keep up, yet slow enough to not break my neck. On a few of the downhills I actually sat down on the trail and slid! It was easier to start on my bottom than to let gravity get me there! Near the end of the hike it started to snow! I wasn't able to capture any pictures of the snow falling but it was really pretty! Also the snow helped to increase the traction on the ice! :) We aren't sure if we were "hardy souls" or "certifiably crazy". We were the only ones out there hiking. Once we got back to the visitor center I decided that my legs had had enough and bailed out on the extra 5 mile option. Even the hike leader bailed on that, although there were a few folks talking about doing it!

Here are some pictures from today's adventure:

That's not me coming down the hill...but this is one of the hills where I sat down on my bottom and slid my way down!