Galleries | Strickler Knob | Saturday, October 03, 2009

I got to celebrate dad's birthday by taking him on a new hike in George Washington National Forest. The hike included a great ridgeline hike and some rock scrambling but also one of the most brutal ascents/descents in Virginia.


Shrouded Shenandoah
 
Shrouded Shenandoah

Low lying clouds in the valley are a rare sight.


Viewed: 143 times
Burst
 
Burst

The morning sun quickly burned away the clouds.


Viewed: 133 times
Poopa
 
Poopa

Ironically the one closely named to "pooped" was not the exhausted individual at the end of this hike.


Viewed: 49 times
The Path Ahead
 
The Path Ahead

Actually, the path behind ... and a friendly part of it.

Viewed: 165 times
The Path Ahead, Redux
 
The Path Ahead, Redux

Same shot as before, but the clouds moved in, opening up the shadows.

Viewed: 145 times
Overlook
 
Overlook

After walking well past the summit trail, this was the first of many overlooks.


Viewed: 66 times
Overlook
 
Overlook

Another nice view of where we've climbed down and up from.

Viewed: 73 times
The Wall
 
The Wall

The signal that the summit is near is a quick climb up a 10 foot rock wall.

Viewed: 80 times
Narrows
 
Narrows

The path narrows between boulders just as we reached the summit.

Viewed: 65 times
Just around the bend
 
Just around the bend

Almost there.

Viewed: 60 times
The Price Approach
 
The Price Approach

As a Price, we don't exactly exhude confidence when it comes to edges in high locations.

Viewed: 77 times
Perch
 
Perch

Just like an orange gargoyle.

Viewed: 80 times
Talk Time
 
Talk Time

Go figure our dad would be caught on a phone while hiking.

Viewed: 43 times
A phone booth with a view
 
A phone booth with a view

 

Viewed: 52 times
Hidden
 
Hidden

So this is a view of the trail we were on (at the right and left ends) ... but can you find the side trail that takes you to the summit? Good luck!

Viewed: 97 times
Almost done
 
Almost done

The was a sight for sore eyes ... after finishing the roughest 0.8 mile ascent I've ever laid my eyes on, much less attempted.

Viewed: 51 times