Two Cabin Trips Rolled Into One

This blog will cover not one but my two most recent trips to the Cabin. The reason is I'm behind on blogs and two to celebrate the end of my mowing migraine. These trips were just under a month apart with the first in mid-May and the other just a little earlier in June. In April I barely got the lawnmower to run, but finished the yard as the belt broke. When May came around we still hadn't gotten a new mower for the Cabin, but the problem with that was the Spring explosion had happened, so we had to piece together that Crappy Craftsman Mower. It mowed most of the yard but finally gave up the fight, this time it was done. So, on the return in June, a wonderful thing happened...we finally got a new mower. Yes, it took some time, but we unloaded the new Husqvarna. I won't get into too much detail, but let's just say it was such a relief to just mow and not have to spend a day working on a mower. Also, I was able to mow the road two the second fence because it really needed it. I also decided to get some miles out of the Worx's batteries I bought I took the overmatched weed eater to the Cabin to always have one here.

Out with the old in with the new.

Of course, I did get a chance to run the drone. I will say it is over at the Cabin that I test new stuff I learn or just try out stuff I might want to work out before doing it somewhere it might be harder to recover the drone if something went wrong. One more thing there were plenty of wildflowers.

(Clockwise) Deptford Pink, Common Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Long-Stalk Crane's-Bill

Young Red-Tailed Hawk

Above the Cabin...

...May...

...(A) June. (BT) May Sunset & (BB) June Sunset.

CareNET Hike In Virginia @ Natural Tunnel State Park

Last Saturday afternoon I went on my first hike in quite a while with the folks from CareNET. It was the first time in some time. I believe it was the first time since May of 2021. So, it was good to see some people I haven't seen in a while. The hike was Saturday, at Natural Tunnel State Park. near Duffield, VA. It was strange because I had only hiked here in the wintertime. 

Wintertime at Natural Tunnel

Last Saturday

So, this was really a wildflower hike. As I posted here there were a lot of wildflowers, including a favorite of mine Fire Pink. Because it was spring the chairlift was operating and I will say (Pete) that I wasn't embarrassed about riding it back up. Because it was a wildflower hike we had to cut it short before going to Lover's Leap.  Anyway, I will need to come back soon to tour the Wilderness Bockhouse.

Natural Tunnel

On the chairlift with Pete!

(T) Where I didn't go Lover's Leap & (B) Wilderness Blockhouse

Only Cabin Blog Needed Courtesy Of The Hiking Machine

Well, Peteoholics I'm back and it was a trip to the Cabin in Southwest Virginia. When I'm on the trail here it is mostly a training session for the Hiking Machine. First off, I didn't think we would make it because "Big Red" barely got us to Fort (Blackmore). It didn't matter as there was no hiking on Wednesday because the Lummox was struggling to get that piece of s**t lawnmower going. Well, that changed 

Thursday morning as it was time to hit the trail. Yes, it was 4/20 and I get my high smoking trail. Some have referred to me as Crazy Pete and that is what I become when I'm not let loose to crush trail like a crazed creature! While I wanted to go up my knob the nob that's the Lummox wanted to look for (morel) mushrooms. Like a Bigfoot or alligator, the Lummox saw the same thing...NONE! You know he would want to send up the drone. Well if it gets me on the trail I don't really care. We did see some wildflowers, including Bear Corn, but the Bruins themselves didn't show. I would have body checked them off the knob! 

On Friday, we did a mile going down to catch a ride back to St. Clair. I made the Lummox take a detour. He whined quite a bit until he spotted some wildflowers. I got in another mile which is better than no miles at all. Well, with that, you know what's next, I'm out...BITCHES! 

The Hiking Machine Is Back In The Saddle Again!

Finally! The Hiking Machine is back in the saddle and back on a trail! While it was just a trail over at the Cabin, I will f***ing take it! I know all the Peteoholics are having withdrawals from not reading of my exploits. Well, there is a reason I haven't had none! If you have seen the posts and blogs from the blockhead known as the Lummox, you will know that the idiot caught COVID from a bunch of mouthbreathers! Now, besides the fact I continue to mask (yes, I have questioned the Lummox about his masking habits), my constitution is just too strong for the virus to take hold, unlike the weak and puny Lummox. So, I have been on the sidelines chomping at the bit while that wuss recovered. Finally, this past week, we finally got out in "Fort Blackmore" and I finally could get some trail time in. I wanted to go up my Knob, but the Lummox was too weak. If I had let him, we would have just gone to the barn and back. So, we compromised on the Superloop, but the hard direction (down the road and back). While I was fine shredding trail and crushing the miles the Lummox, predictably, the Lummox struggled. I thought I would lose him at the other barn, and we still had the big climb. Let's just say I had a sore back. We got a break when we got to the top of (Wood Booger) Ridge as he wanted to run the drone. If it gets him out on the trail then I'm fine with the damn thing. It also made my trip back easier because the Lummox wasn't all the dead weight after the break. 

After we got back, he relaxed by the fire, and I thought about my next outings. Oh, I forgot there were some guys putting in fiber optic or something like that. The Lummox asked about the internet, and I was like, "HELL NO, I will never get him on the trail." Well with that there is one more thing...wait for it...I'm out BITCHES!!!

PPE Test Just Part Of Trip To The Cabin

Here is the first test of the new era of the blog. This past weekend I went to the Cabin, with Dad and Lester, to check on things and also start whittling away on a tree that has fallen across the road past the barn. It gave me a chance to test out new personal protection equipment (PPE) I got for using my chainsaw. See, I want to get my Forest Service Chainsaw Certification and I would need this PPE. So, I just took Skip, from Carolina Mountain Club, advice and got PPE.

I also did some hiking, built my first fire of 2023, and of course, ran the drone. Well for more pictures click on this SmugMug link... 

Ponies, Fall Colors & Snow All On The Virginia Highlands

It was still October when I finally returned to the trail for an overnight backpack. However, upon the Virginia Highlands in Mount Roger's National Recreation Area (NRA), it felt more like winter...well at least for one day.

This outing, like my last two here, started from the Overnight Backpackers' Lot at Grayson Highlands State Park. It was a bit of a late start, but when you get to see ponies at Massie Gap, that's a win.

Here, it was on the Appalachian Trail (AT) for a hike similar to the one I did in September of 2021. It was up to Wilbur Ridge, through the Fatman Squeeze, and to the high point of the ridge above Rhododendron Gap. 

I put the drone up here because I knew it would be a good place to and it didn't disappoint. It was done below that I camped on my last trip here, but this trip was to where I day hiked to then...Thomas Knob Shelter. 

This log, two-story, shelter is the highest on the Virginia AT (5,400 ft.). It sleeps 16, and because I was staying here, it meant no carrying a tent, and the bear box nearby meant no bear canister. 

After getting some stuff set up, I decided to go to the summit of Mount Rogers, which I haven't done since 2018. I figured I could run the drone somewhere, and I mean, it was so close. On my way up, it got slightly colder, and I started seeing snow. I had seen some lying around at Rhododendron Gap, but not this much. It must have snowed here a few days back... sweet! Once at the top, I was pleasantly surprised to find a small opening at the summit. This means I got views from Mount Rogers that people dream of.

Once back, it was time to eat and watch the sunset, which I didn't need the drone for.

That wasn't the case for the sunrise because it was hidden behind Wilbur Ridge, but not from the Drone. It was the same route to Rhododendron Gap, but once up above, it was off the AT and onto the Wilbur Ridge Trail. This goes over the top of the ridge where the AT skirts it. I will say this is more of a day hike path. It was hard carrying a full pack. However, the views were amazing, probably some of the best in the Virginia Highlands. 

Because of a late start and views, it was a little late getting out (supposed to leave by 1:00 pm and it was 2:30). The day was finished in Damascus and a visit to the shelter Thomas Knob replaced, the Deep Gap Shelter moved here in 1992.

SmugMug Photos