Discover Top Posts Tagged with #thunder ridge

Thunder Ridge Overlook on Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia {source:flickr} ~beauty-funny-trippy

#amazing landscapes #sunset #trees #thunder ridge #blue ridge parkway #blue ridge mountains #virginia #clouds #sunrays #sun rays #photography #landscape #nature #beauty-funny-trippy

Blue ridge parkway | Thunder Ridge

#blue ridge mountains #blue ridge parkway #thunder ridge #boone #northcarolina #cycling roads #vscocam

June 25, 2016 Day 59 Thunder Ridge Overlook to Saltlog Gap

9:30 – 7:45

48,329 steps Total Steps 1,928,787 21.1 miles Mile 792.2

Today, I had the biggest scare I think I’ve had in my adult life. I was shaking for minutes afterward and still feel the nerves jolting through me when I think about it. There I was making good time walking at a decent pace, looking around and enjoying the scenery. I would look down on occasion to make sure I wasn’t stepping on any rocks or anything. Well, at one point, I look down, really pushing hard and I notice something very large on the trail and then I hear it – the sound of a rattlesnake rattling, warning me not to get any closer. By the time I realized it was there to when I yelled and ran backward was a split second, but it seemed too long to me. I was about 18” in front of this giant snake’s head. One more step and it would have struck. This thing was massive! It had the length of an adult Black Rat snake and the girth of a Python. I was estimating 5 feel long and 3” in diameter. I’ve seen 3 rattlesnakes out in the wild, but the size of this one trumps them all. The sound of the rattle was quieter than expected. Ziploc heard it from about 20 feet behind me, but didn’t know what it was until I screamed and ran towards him. It honestly sounded like a mild locust, so any sort of stream or breeze might prevent you from hearing it. I already saw a 5 foot black snake earlier in the day. I didn’t need to see that! Anyway, after gathering myself, Ziploc and I went high up in the weeds a far from this thing as we could in order to pass it. It had moved into the shrubs next to the trail, but was waiting in strike position. This will probably haunt my dreams for a while. The rest of the day I made Ziploc lead and at camp I was scared about going off the trail to our hammock trees. I may never trust the woods again.

Anyway, shortly after this terrible encounter, we crossed the James River on the longest foot – only bridge on the AT. The James River was clearly flooded from all the rain the past 2 days. On the other side, we began our 3 mile steep uphill climb to nearly end our day. This mountain was a beast that took away nearly all my energy. The best views were from a small plateau 2 miles up that overlooked the James River Valley. Gemini and Flow were at the viewpoint as well. We haven’t seen them in over a month, so it’s cool passing people we already know. The last mile was even more difficult than the two before. The elevation profile of this mountain is like the Superman roller coaster, where the higher you get, the steeper it gets. But we made it up and hiked a few more miles to our camp. We were amazed that we were still able to maintain a 3 mph pace at the end despite being drained by Mt. Everest. Oh, by the way, we nicknamed this giant that because it seemed appropriate.

#journal #AT #appalachain trail #Thunder Ridge #Saltlog Gap #snake #animal #bridge #James River

June 24, 2016 Day 58 Cove Mtn Shelter to Thunder Ridge Overlook

10:00 – 7:40

41,515 steps Total Steps 1,880,458 18.3 miles Mile 771.1

Virginia is without question the toughest state so far! Whoever started the myth that Virginia was flat where big miles are plentiful should be hanged for villainous treason against thru-hikers. The entire day was steep up and down after steep up and down, covered in rocks and long walks between water sources. Today wasn’t rare either, the whole state has been like this. My goal is to dispel the current myth about Virginia so people aren’t surprised when they get here. One good thing Virginia has that other states haven’t are a decent amount of views. In previous states, you could walk 2 days without having a good view. Here, you get at least one per day. Our first came at the top of Apple Orchard Mountain where a large FAA radar tower was located. I of course took a picture with it since its function is my namesake. On the way down, we passed under the “guillotine”, which was a boulder wedged between two much larger boulders. It was a bit nerve wracking standing under it, but nothing short of an earthquake could move that thing. On the way to our campsite I got startled a bit when a large turkey left it’s perch up in a tree and flew right overhead. My first thought was that a tree was falling, so I was prepared to run either direction. Stupid bird got my adrenaline pumping. We set up camp tonight right at the overlook. I think it technically isn’t allowed, but there aren’t any signs telling us we can’t do it. It was a pretty good sunset tonight, but seeing the clouds develop and move into us rapidly was the coolest part. We also used Ziploc’s phone for an 80 minute time lapse of the sunset that was compressed into an 80 second video. It should turn out pretty neat.

#journal #AT #appalachain trail #Cove Mountain #Thunder Ridge #Radar #Animal #turkey