Date: 2007-06-19
From: Shenandoah National Park

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 107.1
Weather: scattered clouds

"Oh Shenandoah..(sing along now)"      Ranger Jan Reporting   Before reaching Waynesboro and joining my friend Bert (trailname Chert), I still had a couple of days of 20+ mile hiking. Main Top Mountain, The Priest, Three Ridges, and Humpback Mountain were all in the 4000' range and proved quite formidable. On Sunday I foung incredible views atop Spy Rock, an old Confederate lookout point, and one of the AT's best view points. And as the sun continued to shine, thankfully, some great water spots provided relief from the heat and a soak for my overworked feet. (Tye River & Harper Creek)   Monday I made Waynesboro and joined Chert at the Inn at Afton, a motel just off trail, at the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park. He was itching to get on the trail, so Tuesday AM foung us well into the park, on our way to Blackrock Hut. (shelters in the Shenandoahs are called huts) The Blue Ridge Parkway became the Skyline Drive and the AT in Shenandoah National Park closely follows the Drive. (The original AT was actually the route of today's Skyline Drive.) We met Alpine Strider, Tigger and Chuck Norris that night at the hut and would see them off and on through the park.      Wednesday morning we found an incredible 360 degree view from Blackrock to start our day. Great views abound in the park and over the week we would enjoy dozens. (both from the Skyline Drive and from the many rock outcroppings along the AT) Another notable feature of the AT in Shenandoah as the tourist "Wayside". Campstores and restaurants provided several welcome breaks from our normal hiking routine. (Loft Mountain, Big Meadows, Lewis Campground, Skyland, and Elkwallow)   Wildflowers and wildlife are the parks other great features. Each bend in the trail seemed to bring another variety of wildflower, bird or family of deer (seemingly almost tame) It's the bear, however, that all longed to glimpse. And "glimpse" is the operative word here. A few hikers reported sightings almost daily, but Chert and I weren't as lucky. He saw 3, but I only saw one. (and mostly his retreating posterior) The sightings were brief and fleeting. Our most memorable wildlife encounter was litterly a surprise. As Chert and I rounded a bend in the trail we heard the chirpings of several grouse chicks as they scurried off into the woods. Suddenly the mother Ruffled Grouse burst screaming and rushed towards us. Her attack reminded me of the splay winged raptor in Jurassic Park and believe me, we were taked aback.      Though the park is known for its smooth, well-graded trails. there are still some taxing climbs. Hightop Mountain, Bearfence Mountain, Hazeltop, Hawksbill Mountain, Stony Man Mountain, The Pinnacles, Pass Mountain, Hogback Mountain and the Marshall Mountains all greeted us with substantial uphill hiking. The rewards, however, were also substantial. Mary's Rock (a billion years old) offered stunnings views. The blue blaze (side trail) to Hawksbill Mountain was another "Best" of the AT's views. I watched a Peregin Falcon take flight as the early morning sun's slanted rays washed over the valleys below. It was breathtaking. While not as rugged and daunting as the Smokys, the Shenandoah range offers its own brand of beauty.   AT Rock Spring, Pass Mountain and Gravel Springs Huts we met many including Baggins, The Breeze, Dr. Ninja, and Traveller. Along the trail new faces appeared regularly as old ones reappeared. My mobile family is always changing. Chert, my old friend from MI was leaving on Monday, and soon I'd be hiking alone again. Alone, at least, until my next new or old face appeared.