eevy24012
Snowy Sharp Top View
Whenever it snows this is the mountain view I try to reach. It's a true 360 from a pile of rocks and the best in this part of VA. This snow event was rather disappointing for long range views, since here was right on the edge of it all, and east at the base of the mountain there was none at all. This view is looking SW but the snow seemed to be falling in hard from the west, so the eastern facing slopes were a little on the light side with accumulation. Throw in the very boring "Sonic Clear" skies and it combined for a scene well below par as compared to years past.
This is for me though an outdoors trip I probably enjoy more than any other of the year. The hike under the best circumstances is rather difficult, 1.5 miles from the parking area to summit and 1500 ft of elevation gain. There are a few prolonged relatively flat sections of trail too, so when it's going up, it's very steep with many large rocky steps up and down. It's an extreme workout for someone my age with the 6 inches of powder making every step more or less a 1/2 step with the continuous slipping and traction loss, and necessary reduction in stride. I had to stop and rest some after the first half mile, not from lack of wind but from the incredible over-heating and sweating in 25 degree weather with the stiff wind. The layers would be needed at the top but not so much on the hike up. I have done this in deeper and more challenging snows, but every time the first 1/4 mile out from the car I think how daunting it all seems. Oddly enough as I neared the summit at one of the steepest sections I was feeling like it was just another hike, gotten used to it a little.
This is the best time of the year up here. The parkway is closed and not as many people know of the alternate route, plus the road up is ice covered and risky. The hike is 3x challenging as normal too and not as many want to tackle it. It all combines for me to know that when I arrive alone, I'll also most likely be leaving alone, I have never encountered another up here in the snow, but have seen other tracks. It's great solitude and though Sonic Clear, the skies looked eternal after the numerous days of rain and gloom leading up to this, a feeling of being set free.Saw an eagle leave the rocks below the summit, took photos, played around with my dog Turbo, and you know it's been a rewarding and draining day when you get home and your 2 year old Border Collie just sacks out the remainder.
This is 4 vertical shots Photomerged, most of the sky cropped out for being boring.
Snowy Sharp Top View
Whenever it snows this is the mountain view I try to reach. It's a true 360 from a pile of rocks and the best in this part of VA. This snow event was rather disappointing for long range views, since here was right on the edge of it all, and east at the base of the mountain there was none at all. This view is looking SW but the snow seemed to be falling in hard from the west, so the eastern facing slopes were a little on the light side with accumulation. Throw in the very boring "Sonic Clear" skies and it combined for a scene well below par as compared to years past.
This is for me though an outdoors trip I probably enjoy more than any other of the year. The hike under the best circumstances is rather difficult, 1.5 miles from the parking area to summit and 1500 ft of elevation gain. There are a few prolonged relatively flat sections of trail too, so when it's going up, it's very steep with many large rocky steps up and down. It's an extreme workout for someone my age with the 6 inches of powder making every step more or less a 1/2 step with the continuous slipping and traction loss, and necessary reduction in stride. I had to stop and rest some after the first half mile, not from lack of wind but from the incredible over-heating and sweating in 25 degree weather with the stiff wind. The layers would be needed at the top but not so much on the hike up. I have done this in deeper and more challenging snows, but every time the first 1/4 mile out from the car I think how daunting it all seems. Oddly enough as I neared the summit at one of the steepest sections I was feeling like it was just another hike, gotten used to it a little.
This is the best time of the year up here. The parkway is closed and not as many people know of the alternate route, plus the road up is ice covered and risky. The hike is 3x challenging as normal too and not as many want to tackle it. It all combines for me to know that when I arrive alone, I'll also most likely be leaving alone, I have never encountered another up here in the snow, but have seen other tracks. It's great solitude and though Sonic Clear, the skies looked eternal after the numerous days of rain and gloom leading up to this, a feeling of being set free.Saw an eagle leave the rocks below the summit, took photos, played around with my dog Turbo, and you know it's been a rewarding and draining day when you get home and your 2 year old Border Collie just sacks out the remainder.
This is 4 vertical shots Photomerged, most of the sky cropped out for being boring.