The Blue Ridge Parkway -- Virginia

No mystery why they call them the Blue Ridge Mountains...

After our amazing time at Grayson Highlands State Park we made our way back to the Blue Ridge Parkway to follow it up to Shenandoah National Park.  We spent nearly a week traveling the last 200 miles of the Parkway staying at two campgrounds along the way – Rocky Knob and then Peaks of Otter.  Both campgrounds had many trails leading from them and made good places to stay as we explored more of the Parkway.

 

Parkway sky near  Rocky Knob

 

Mabry Mill near Rocky Knob with rhododendron still blooming

 

We hiked the better part of several days and even caught up a little on our reading on a couple of rainy afternoons.   Slowing down to travel like this is a luxury that we’ve never had before; spending a week to travel 200 miles when it used to be more like 2,000 miles in a week.  No hurrying to make the next plane or tour, no Internet and maybe a bar or two of phone service on the highest points.  Parkway-style travel could definitely get in your blood.

 

Old chimney still standing on Black Ridge Trail

 

 

'Fire Pink' blooms in May and June at higher elevations

 

 

The Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway was just as scenic and beautiful as the North Carolina section.  It wasn’t quite as high in elevation so much of the rhododendron had already bloomed in Virginia.  But the mountain laurel was gorgeous along many trails.  Summer flowers were starting to bloom in places and it was getting a little warmer.  Nights were in the low 60’s and days in the high 70’s to low 80’s – not bad considering my parents in Texas have had several days in the 100’s already.

 

Mountain laurel in full bloom

 

Tree fungi - decomposers can be beautiful too

Traveling along the Parkway has been a continual change in seasons, sometimes in a matter of minutes.   At higher elevations it was early spring and then in the lower elevations it was summer.  In a few hours on a trail you could go from summer to spring and back again. 

James River

 

View from Sharp Top Mountain near Peaks of Otter

 

 

We did see some of the effects of sequestration.  The campground at Rocky Knob was partially closed.  We didn’t have any trouble finding a place to camp but we were there during the week.  Weekend campers might not be so lucky.  Also, the visitor center and picnic grounds at James River were closed.  Three campgrounds of the nine along the Parkway were completely closed as well as several picnic areas and restrooms. Maybe camping and vacationing seem like luxuries that could be ‘cut back on’ but we hated to see our nation’s parks not being staffed and cared for as well as they could be.  Our parks are the jewels of our nation, a source of pride and our source as well.

 

Visitor Center Closed -- sequestration effects...

 

David's Stats:
Days Hiked   4
Rain Days     4   
Total Miles Hiked   16.02     
Ave. Miles per Day      3.8
Total Elevation Gain       3,655
Ave. Elevation Gain per day   894

 

'Monster Rock' on the trail near Rocky Knob