Six Days To Close Out September In SWVA

Blogs are sometimes hard to get up and this one is proof as it goes all the way back to the end of September that I still haven't shared on the pages of the blog. I spent a week in Southwest Virginia. Besides hanging at the Cabin I also adventured to Devil's Bathtub, attended the first in-person High Knob Naturalist Rally, and took down a hornets' nest just to name a few of the highlights of my six days there.

I went over on Thursday (the day after returning from the Smokies) because Saturday was the Clinch Coalition (TCC) High Knob Naturalist Rally. I wanted to get most of the mowing done so I could venture to the Devil's Bathtub. I have talked in detail about it here, but it is always a nice hike and I also took advantage of the trip for a unique viewpoint...from the Drone. I also got the chance to use my new propeller guards and they worked because I flew into some leaves and the drone didn't crash...win!

While the weather was nice Friday that changed when I awoke Saturday morning. It was raining and it continued to do so when I arrived at the High Knob Recreation Area for the first, in-person, TCC Naturalist Rally since 2019.  While it was a bit of a pain, it stopped halfway through the Tree Identification Hike I went on. Eventually, it cleared up and dried out to male for a nice 16th edition of the rally! Also, it was great to see people I haven't crossed paths with in two-and-a-half years. 

On my way out I stopped at the High Knob Tower to enjoy the view. Even though it was cool and windy, I got the drone up for some nice shots of the tower.

Dad came over to join me on Sunday and I got some nice sunset footage I also cut down the hornets' nest which learned about 'the Bringer of Darkness.' This gave us the ability to work on the tractor (which we didn't fix). Well, that about covers this trip to the Cabin.

SmugMug Photos:

Back & Above The Devil's Bathtub

Back In Person For The High Knob Naturalist Rally

Best Of The Rest In SWVA

I Been Busy Being The Hiking Machine!

Well, hello all my Peteoholics I hope you all enjoyed wearing my Halloween costume of me. This edition of Down the Rabbit Hole reviews my hikes of Halloween Week and a camp at Rocky Fork. So, this might be a little longer than average. Anyway, the Lummox came along and this is like the eighth annual Halloween portion of these outings. 

We started at the Cabin a couple of days before Halloween. We did the Superloop one day (Friday) and then I wanted to head up my Knob on Saturday, but we ended up just going up Robert and Russell. It was hiking so I don't f**king care!

Next up was last Tuesday, the day after Halloween, for the final hike of 🎃 week. Me and the Lummox headed to Bays Mountain Park for some hiking. While that was great the best part of the day was when we reached the Bays Mountain Fire Tower. The Lummox was all-ready to send up that stupid drone and guess what? It would fly...it was in a restricted fly zone (Holston Ammunition Plant) and would take off! The look on his face was priceless...HA, HA, HA!!!!

Finally, just a few days ago me and the Lummox headed to Rocky Fork State Park for a campout...HELL YEAH! We camped at the only backcountry site we hadn't visited, Headwaters Trail. It was a great site and the bears knew it was best to stay away because they would "get these paws!" 

Well, that about covers it, so with that, I have three words for you, I'm out...BITCHES!

Mt. Rogers Is Hiking Machine Approved!

This time out I'm going to do something I rarely if ever do, and cut the Lummox some slack. He has been down since that slobbering mutt Bax left us. While I had issues with him (like trying to eat me!) I kind of liked the old boy. Anyway, he needed some time on the trail, and what better place than the Virginia Highlands. 

This place is certified crushed trail by the Hiking Machine. Hiking out of Grayson Highlands (State Park) on the AT (Appalachian Trail) into the Mount Roger's NRA (National Recreation Area).  Then it was on to the camp spot, Thomas Knob Shelter. 

Then I grabbed the Lummox and headed up to Virginia's Highest Peak...Mount Roger's (5??? ft). We had seen a little earlier, but near this much...it was SNOW, HELL YEAH! Oh, the Lummox even got to run the drone, which made him happy. 

The following day it was back out. While I love the AT getting to go up that tough-ass Wilbur Ridge Trail was the trip's highlight. This trail is Hiking Machine approved. Another plus of this trip was the lack of ponies. While the two we saw were two too many at least it was a herd of them. Well, the Lummox will eventually do a blog on this and a few other trips but I'm out...BITCHES!

Gone But Never Forgotten...Bax

Friends come in all shapes, sizes, and species and our dog Bax fits this description. Sadly and with a heavy heart, we had to make that decision one has to make. The Wolfpac is down a member as Bax has left us.

My Dad with members of the Wolfpac.

See, Bax was more than just our dog he was one of my best friends. He is also one of the reasons I am sitting here writing this right now. Back in 2017, I was suffering from a mental issue. While at the Cabin, in a moment, I decided I just couldn't take things seriously and was contemplating suicide. While there were other factors that prevented me from doing it, hearing Bax on the side of the door was a big factor. You could say he saved my life. 

My Buddy Bax!

So, the Kaiser (my nickname for him as he was actually from Germany...he has a passport) was more than just a dog he was my friend. I feel bad for everyone, especially for Lester because he's lost right now. With that I chose to remember when we picked him up at the Gate City Police Station (he was a former police dog), playing in the snow, chewing on his pig, and being the best hiking partner (sorry Pete) a Wood Booger could have. I'm not a spiritual guy, but we will hike one day, old friend...

The day we picked him up.

Bax loved...

...snow!

Bax & his pig

...

..when you tried to take it or his ball.

Bax with me at Margarette Falls...

...& Cliff Ridge. (Below) how I will remember him...

The Censored Edition Of Down The Rabbit Hole...

Okay, I give the Lummox hell, and it is deserved, but sometimes he gets something right like hiking to Margarette Falls Wednesday.

I know he won't tell why we went there today and I know if I do it will be censored because that is just how he rolls...but **** ** ****** *** ****** ******* *** ***** *****. ***, *** *** ** ** ***** ** * **********...*'* ***** *******! I told you what he would do...what a b***h! Still, it was a good hike as we went to Upper and Lower Bailey Falls, which is Hiking Machine approved. The lower one is where he ******* *** *****...LOL! 

Well, since I will be censored if I keep talking I'm going to sign-off, so I'm out...BITCHES!

Another Day, Another Tapout!

Yeah, I know it has been almost a week since I went to Camp Creek Bald with 200 pounds of dead weight known as the Lummox. It has taken that much time to get over him tapping out...AGAIN! 

See, the plan was to Camp on the Camp, on Wednesday, and then the following day hike to Coldspring Mountain Meadow to camp. But, the Lummox did feel well, so on Thursday we didn't head out, just I COULDN'T F**KING BELIEVE IT! If you ask me what was bothering the Lummox could be solved with some Vagisil! 

So, I got only one night out with nothing more than a glorified car camp...wuss! As you can tell I'm still hot, so I'm out...BITCHES!

Grandfather Tapped Me Out...But Got A 2nd Chance on The Roans

Old age is one of the things that happen to us all. However, combined with being out of shape then what happened to me in mid-September was inevitable. See on Tuesday, two weeks back I was going to hike from the Daniel Boone Fork Trailhead off the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) to the trail with the same name up to the Hi-Baslam Shelter. I decided to get water (there is none at the shelter) at the Daniel Boone Campsite because it was either there or a hike over to the other side to Shanty Spring. I decided I didn't want to do the extra mile or so for water. However, this just added more pack weight to a hike of 3.5 miles and 2,000 feet in elevation gain. I did this hike way back in 2016...six years ago. I was still in my 40s then and in better shape. I got out of said shape during the early days of the pandemic and have been trying to get back ever since.

With that said I wondered if I bit off more than I could chew and it didn't take long to realize that was the case. I knew I wasn't going up the Nuwati Trail because I would then have to lug my pack up the Cragway Trail. The Daniel Boone overall is easier to where the trails meet at where I plan to get water. So, by the time I got from the trailhead to the start of the Daniel Boone I knew I had overestimated my abilities. So, I could have continued on, but it wasn't going to make a difference. Since it was still early (not yet noon) I decided to pull the plug. However, I did waste the opportunity to get pictures of the Linville Viaduct from a new perspective.

Where to go? Since I was feeling down, Pete was pissed and I had to travel back through Roan Mountain I decided on Carvers Gap. The next question where to camp? I thought about the Roan High Shelter, but the weather was so fall-like that I decided on the balds. Where on the balds? Well, I decided to just head up the Appalachian Trail (AT), and when I felt like setting up that would be the spot. I thought about Jane Bald and then Harriet Bald, but I had something to prove so I headed on up to Grassy Ridge. I decided to change it up and not go to my favorite spot on Roan High Ridge and camp before the rhododendron trees before the summit. That meant I decided to haul water instead of hiking to the source at my favorite site. I will say the venue change gave me a chance to run the drone more.

I made dinner and went to the Grassy Ridge Bald Summit for a wonderful sunset. After that, it was a nice, relaxing fire to close out the evening.

As the Sun rose on Wednesday morning I noticed that was coming up where I was supposed to be at Grandfather Mountain, Callaway Peak to be specific. That's ironic don't you think? After breaking camp, I ran the drone a few times before returning to Carvers Gap. However, I had one more bit of business. I had never gone down the North Carolina side, so down NC-261. There were some views of the Roans and some good fall colors. While not my original plan you can never go wrong on the Roans...

Photos: SmugMug