What started out as a gray, misty day suddenly transformed to a day awash in sunlight. Happy that both Sarah and Tim were home on their college breaks, we had planned a 7 mile loop in the forest of Shenandoah National Park, along some swift moving streams, where the gray and mist of the day would eerily enhance a woodsy, winter walk.
But as we got just miles from the Park, we were greeted with blue skies and sunshine - and quickly, the thought of clear mountain views and sunshine on our faces changed the original plan.
As we started, the red oaks immediately stood out. Awash in color just a few months earlier, they were now completely stripped of their leaves; bare, disfigured, and nearly ghostly white. We agreed what a cool hike this would be on a clear winters night with a full moon lighting the way.
Moving northbound along the Appalachian Trail, 3.5 miles would get us to Mary's Rock. Doing it as an out and back, would get us the 7 mile hike we had set out to accomplish.
As we made are way to the top of Pinnacle, we passed through a garden of Pedlar Granite, dating back 1 billion years. There's something really cool about walking through a billion year old rock garden.
The views from the summit of Pinnacle are vast and beautiful. The Shenandoah valley below, the town of Luray and the Massanutten mountain range off in the distance.
The views from the summit of Pinnacle are vast and beautiful. The Shenandoah valley below, the town of Luray and the Massanutten mountain range off in the distance.
As we descended Pinnacle, we came upon Byrds Nest #3 Shelter. It was interesting to see a shelter with built in fireplace, but with water nearby, it appeared to be a decent option for backpackers.
From the shelter it was 1.5 miles further to Mary's Rock. Once back up on the ridge line, nice views awaited.
Mary's Rock was the perfect destination. A chance for lunch, 270 degree views of the area, stillness except for the sound of the wind.
As the sun gets lower in the winter sky, the temps begin to fall. Signs of the colder temperatures are apparent with frost and ice in the shady areas. We felt fortunate that, for a few hours, the temperatures warmed, the sun shone bright in the sky, and we were able to enjoy a beautiful Winter's day.
The hike itself is easy to moderate, and as an out-and-back, I was able to knock off 3.5 more miles of the Shenandoah 500.
