krasota ([personal profile] rootofnewt) wrote2004-01-07 02:20 am

Humpback Rock 4 jan 04

So, defying all rational and logical thought, boy and I climbed up to Humpback Rocks on Sunday. So we put on the most mismatched layers we could find and set off for the hills.

Humpback is a large outcropping 2-3000 feet above sea level... the climb is about 5 million feet straight up.

The view of the Shenandoah Valley is worth it. (Actually, we could also see into the eastern valley, since none of the trees were in leaf, but that's not quite as impressive.) We briefly considered climbing the southern hump, but were exerted from the mile UP hike, so we climbed down to the middle again. From that spot, we stairstepped out onto the lower promontory of the southern hump rock. Boy quickly sat down to eat while I walked out to enjoy the view and wind. (I liked it out there. so does this tree.)

We sat and ate our sandwiches, then boy settled down for a warm winter's nap, while I scrambled up on top of the southern hump.

The northern rock is easier to climb, but that didn't stop me from climbing the southern to take pictures. ;) I also clambered over to the northern side to take more pictures of boy.

After boy was rested, he joined me on the northern side. I straddled this rock, where I did not announce to the world, "Well, if I was intact before, I'm sure not now." (Incidentally, perhaps I should've saved these at a higher quality, weird little artifacts are showing up--I swear, I did no photo touching up, nor was I wearing clearasil.)

Boy found a graffito he liked, so he took a picture of it. A young man who suffers from vertigo teetered on the edge as he snapped this picture of trees menacing a fair young couple. I told boy it was time to go and he finally agreed, but I insisted on hiding behind some mountain laurel.

On the way down, this tree borrowed boy's backpack. And this rock decorated its scars with moss.

[identity profile] merii.livejournal.com 2004-01-06 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
i remeber i used to love climbing humpback! (i must do it sometime soon!) thanks for the memories! :)

nice pics!

[identity profile] circumspectly.livejournal.com 2004-01-06 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
i love when you do the picture stories. it looks like y'all had a great time. i'da died! :)

[identity profile] moominmuppet.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 10:48 am (UTC)(link)
Likewise; I don't always comment, but they make me extraordinarily happy...

[identity profile] stmaybe.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
looks like a great hike. & wow your shirt makes me dizzy from here. our stripped shower curtain has the same affect on me, guess i'm a stripes wimp.

[identity profile] odosonata.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
[Unknown site tag] and I really enjoy your pic posts!

[identity profile] odosonata.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
::spits nails::

I never, ever get that right.
(sorry again gn0s)

[identity profile] floppy-hat.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
Nifty pictures, looks like you had a nice time.

[identity profile] eilonwy.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
You two are so disturbingly cute. I love you guys. :)

[identity profile] jkatj.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
Is your husband reptilian?

[identity profile] windsea.livejournal.com 2004-01-07 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
What a glorious, perfect hike :-)

(Anonymous) 2004-01-07 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww! I love the pictures. Especially of Tom in his niche and Jos hiding in the brush and looking like she'll pounce any moment.

-Sam the Girl