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Shenandoah July 2010

The 18th of July we went fora longish hike at Shenandoah National Park. We parked at the bottom of the ridge and then hiked up to the Appalachian Trail and then back down again. It was a 12 mile circuit with a 2000 foot elevation change on Jeremy's Run Trail and Piney Ridge trail. We were quite tuckered by the end. It was quite eventful as hikes go. We saw tons of butterflies, and barged into a black bear and two cubs. Fortunately Rich was able to get the dogs on leash before they figured out what was happening and didn't insert themselves between mom and cubs. They bear were not mroe than 30 yards away. And of course once we saw them, we could find bear droppings all over the park. Rich also ran into some yellowjacket nests. All of a sudden he leapt from the end of the hiking line to the front! Anisa did very well after she got over the 2000 foot climb and entertained us with lots of songs on the way down....it also kept the bears away. And I have to mention the raspberries and blackberries that kept Anisa, Rich and Linda endlessly occupied.
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  • We get our gear out and get ready to go. There is all that adjustment to do....

    We get our gear out and get ready to go. There is all that adjustment to do....

  • Linda with her cool sun hat. Although mine is better.

    Linda with her cool sun hat. Although mine is better.

  • There really was only one parking space. Good thing nobody else was there. We started at the bottom of the mountain and went up to the top and along the ridge (which was the Appalachian Trail) and then back down.

    There really was only one parking space. Good thing nobody else was there. We started at the bottom of the mountain and went up to the top and along the ridge (which was the Appalachian Trail) and then back down.

  • There were tons of butterflies around. This one unfortunately was no longer living.

    There were tons of butterflies around. This one unfortunately was no longer living.

  • The trail starts. About a mile down this we came upon the bears. Rich was in the lead and the dogs were off leash when he saw what looked like a bear cross the path. He quickly got us to put the leashes on which was really good because at that time, a crying cub barrelled down the tree in front of us and disappeared in the bush with lots of loud noises. You could hear the Mom making noises too and then the second cub went off into the brush. We pretty much didn't move since we didn't want to get between the mom Black bear and the subs. And that was that.

    The trail starts. About a mile down this we came upon the bears. Rich was in the lead and the dogs were off leash when he saw what looked like a bear cross the path. He quickly got us to put the leashes on which was really good because at that time, a crying cub barrelled down the tree in front of us and disappeared in the bush with lots of loud noises. You could hear the Mom making noises too and then the second cub went off into the brush. We pretty much didn't move since we didn't want to get between the mom Black bear and the subs. And that was that.

  • Berries along the way. Linda, Anisa and Rich were severely distracted.

    Berries along the way. Linda, Anisa and Rich were severely distracted.

  • These posts were at all the trail intersections and were very useful to orient you.

    These posts were at all the trail intersections and were very useful to orient you.

  • A rusted hulk of an old car. We wondered how it got there. Later on on the way down we came across a graveyard, so there were some significant habitations back in the old days.

    A rusted hulk of an old car. We wondered how it got there. Later on on the way down we came across a graveyard, so there were some significant habitations back in the old days.

  • Distracted.

    Distracted.

  • A live butterfly this time.

    A live butterfly this time.

  • One of the posts with distance markers and trail names on it.

    One of the posts with distance markers and trail names on it.

  • Now should we detour to the overlook or not. Anisa -"yes we should". Rest of us - "No, we will find lots of overlooks". Bad decision.

    Now should we detour to the overlook or not. Anisa -"yes we should". Rest of us - "No, we will find lots of overlooks". Bad decision.

  • Distracted.

    Distracted.

  • Snacks from the forest. The raspberries and blackberries were the perfect ripeness.

    Snacks from the forest. The raspberries and blackberries were the perfect ripeness.

  • Spotted something...not sure what.

    Spotted something...not sure what.

  • A bird's nest with the little chicks.

    A bird's nest with the little chicks.

  • The little chicks.

    The little chicks.

  • Water for the dog.

    Water for the dog.

  • Back into the woods.

    Back into the woods.

  • Crossing the Skyline Road close to the top of the ridgeline.

    Crossing the Skyline Road close to the top of the ridgeline.

  • Linda has this plant at home as well.

    Linda has this plant at home as well.

  • This was the stretch that Anisa was really tired in. After that she was pretty much singing and laughing the next 3 hours. Kept the bears away.

    This was the stretch that Anisa was really tired in. After that she was pretty much singing and laughing the next 3 hours. Kept the bears away.

  • A mole that Anisa spotted.

    A mole that Anisa spotted.

  • Another plant that Linda has at home. Native Pennsylvania species.

    Another plant that Linda has at home. Native Pennsylvania species.

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