We started our 2 day backpacking excursion at Grindstone Camp ground and hiked in on the Mount Rogers Trail. Although the trail bears the summit's name it is the least traveled route to the top, probably since it's the longest ... but that how I roll -- the longer less traveled path!
The path was beautifully vibrant green and we didn't see many people until we got up to the campgrounds near the summit. After maybe 4 miles or so we got on the AT to take us the rest of the up. You can see the first white blaze of the AT in the background behind Mike --
After more miles and uphill hiking we were rewarded with wonderful views of the high meadows of Grayson Highlands.
This is also where the wild ponies roam and live!
The tallest peak in Virginia turns is a humble one, not boastful of its towering heights. In fact its gentle slopes make the summit not stand out from the rest of the mountains around and you would never know by the eye that it was in fact taller that all the other peaks around. We walked up the short summit from camp after filling out bellys with dinner and dessert. It was quite on the top as the sunlight of the day was growing dim. We enjoyed our solitude and then hiked back down before dark.
I thought Mount Rogers would be a good training hike not only phsyically, but mentally because you don't hike it for a summit view, there is none. As with Mount Rogers, I will need to not fixiate on the summit of Shasta, but rather the experience all together and moments of the journey captured along the way.
The next morning we packed up to hike out and not too far from the ridge where we camped there was a really cool rock outcrop, which of course I had to climb up to see what I could see, and man could I see -- the view went on for miles and miles...
Proof once again that the best views are not always from the summit, but often seemingly random moments along the way.
Climb On,
Jess
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