New Era In Seasons: WinterOutdoors '18-19 Top 5

This is the dawn of a new age for the Season Blog. It has been a staple of the blog since the beginning. But it is now time for a change, so I am going to a Top 5 Favorite Day Hikes of each season. Backpacks won't be a part of this I will do a separate one on those at year's end.
There are a number of reasons, but the main ones are the Season Blog is time-consuming and I am tired of tracking stats. So, I am just doing a Top 5 and I will mention some facts. Like the highest peak, I climbed, Rich Mountain (3,670 feet) or the largest waterfall, Burgess Falls (136-feet).

Honorable Mention: Hikes at the Cabin (December 2018 & January & February 2019) - Most of the hiking I did during WinterOutdoors was at the Cabin in Southwest Virginia. I did eight hikes and went to most of the spots I hike too. I also cut some new trails by clearing and marking. I do love hiking those woods and they deserve mention.

Number 5:  Panther Creek SP (January 7, 2019) - While this hike took place in
January it felt more March. This hike took place on the boat launch side using the Horse Connector Trail & four others. It offered beautiful views of Panther Creek and Cherokee Lake. Oh, I got to see Teddy the Barred Owl.

Number 4:  Seven Islands SBP (January 31, 2019) - You will notice that this Winter
hike has something the other outings don't have... snow. While it was a good hike having snow is what earned it the fourth place on this list. It was also the coldest hike of the winter to start. The hike was partly on a new path, the Hickory Ridge Trail. I also passed the bridge been built to connect with one of the Islands. It was a nice hike at an excellent park.

Number 3: Burgess Falls (January 25, 2019) -  While a short hike (around two miles) it
had a lot of bang for the buck.  The trail passes two falls the Upper Falls and the Middle Falls. In most parks, the 80 footers would be the main event but not at Burgess Falls State Park.  No that goes to the massive waterfall that gives the park its name. This 250-foot behemoth might be the most impressive waterfall I have visited. This hike might have been higher if I would have gotten to the base, but the stairs down got washed out by a flash flood. Still, Burgess Falls is one incredible waterfall.

Number 2:  Laurel Run Park (January 22, 2019) - No, Laurel Run Falls or any other
waterfall in this park can match the power or beauty of Burgess Falls. But this is a Top 5 Hikes, not waterfalls and this one comes in second for one reason...ice.  I did this one after a cold snap and because of this the main Cascade, Laurel Run Falls had plenty of ice. It was nothing compared to Kiner Creek Falls because it was shaded by the cliff it pours over was coated with ice. While beautiful, it made going under it treacherous.

Number 1: Rich Mountain (February 27, 2019) - Well, had to know this would be Number One as I wrote an entire entry just on the refurbished fire tower, so I said all I needed on the mountain sentinel. It was also the last hike of Winter, so you can say that I saved the best for last in m more ways than one. Anyway, this is a favorite hike of mine and with the improved fire tower just makes it even better. It is fitting that I closed WinterOutdoors with the top hike. Like I said above Rich Mountain was also the tallest peak too. Oh, and I got a coffee at Laurel Run Store...win, win and win!