rootofnewt | 23v04 Bearfence Mountain, Powell Gap

So, we hiked Bearfence Mountain with

nothingoth on Sunday.

We hiked up the slope from the parking lot to the AT, then turned south on the AT for a bit. I attempted to find wild ginger flowers to show Chad, but none were in evidence. There was some false solomon's seal, however, along with a healthy handful of millipedes. We eventually left the AT for a spur trail to the viewpoint, where Chad showed boy stuff about his Holga. That's also where the pic I posted yesterday was taken. The view is to the west. Massanutten and the Alleghenies were just visible through the haze.

We left the overlook and attempted to figure out which way we needed to go to get to the 360 degree panoramic view. After some hiking and backtracking (all level), we followed the trail to the rock scramble. Near the beginning of the scramble, I spotted the peak of the scramble. I turned around> to see where Chad was. After I spotted the summit, so did the boys. I decided to highlight the trail blazes (I'm below the rocks). Yes, they go right up the rocks. When I got up there, I turned around and took a pic from where *those* previous pics were taken.

Cloud shadows on Hazeltop (i think that's Hazeltop, to the north). Chad, looking NNE, just below the second summit. Looking west.

Chad tells the tale of the forming of the great arrowhead.

Tom realizes that the trail is a bit odd... and asks, "Um... where does it go?" Chad and I show him. Before we leave, a couple of guys declared themselves Kings of the Mountain. The higher summit of Bearfence is visible in the background.

There was a bit of a dropoff to the side below that rock. Boy did not like it when I asked him to stop and let me take a picture. You'd think it was 100' down or something. Piffle. It was only 40-50 feet. And they say this trail isn't appropriate for small children.

In case it's not obvious, this is a bit steep. Below me, we see tom's arm, severed by an upright shard of rock. Chad and I represent. Chad discovers that I really am part goat, but he is but a man. I told you it was steep. I'm glad we didn't go up that way.

So, we get back below the treeline. Tom realizes we have to go back up. You'd think Chad had never seen lichen before".

Then we found a nice spot. After working magic in the dirt, I took a break. The sky was pretty. Looking back at the bear fence (natural, of course).

Chad is damn lucky my husband and that rock were there.

A vicious tree rat got within 10 feet of me and then walked closer.

We arrived back at the car and decided to drive about 20 miles south and hike a brief AT bit from Powell Gap to see a rock ledge overlook. The view to the ENE was rather nice. North, Hightop, I think.

I climbed down past some pretty millipedes and tall corydalis to peek at the boys. Tom told Chad about the giant forest chickens... Then we roasted chad for dinner and drove home. It was a good day.