Little Devils Stairs - A Very Wet Hike

A few weeks ago, I hiked the aptly named Little Devils Stairs trail in Shenandoah National Park with a friend.  According to one website, there are 11 stream crossings of Keyser Run in the 2 miles (and a nearly 1,800 feet climb).  And after the torrential rain in the preceding days, not one of these crossings was passable using the usual rock-hopping method.  The stream was running fast and furious and all the rocks were at least partially submerged.  I ended up, for the most part, just walking straight through, with my feet wetter than I could imagine.  It was a cold and foggy (and eventually rainy) day, which made for slippery rocks but it was really beautiful.  A great pre-Halloween hiking adventure.  

foggy forest

In the space of a few weeks, it's gone from feeling summery to wintry.  Over the weekend we had one cool, foggy, misty day - which I enjoyed while traipsing through shenandoah national park - and then a day that started out feeling like April and ended up feeling like, well, January.   The hike was led by a natural history expert so in addition to stopping to catch my breath, I stopped to learn about my surroundings.   There were some amazingly beautiful rock formations in this part of the park.

  

Foggy Harpers Ferry

Following a fun day of hiking, spa, dining and s'mores with my friend Lisa, I roamed around Harpers Ferry which was enshrouded in a layer of fog.  The colors of fall were starting to peek through but there was still a lot of green.

First peek of fall

This past weekend, the very beginnings of the fall foliage were starting to peek through at Shenandoah River State Park.  The weather was perfect for a 8 mile hike, overcast, not too hot.

A healing journey

A healing journey two years ago through the woods, mountains and shore of virginia.  

misty morning on the mall

Twice, now, in one week, I got up before 6 and out of the house before 7.  Last weekend was for my half marathon (which I mostly walked, having JUST gotten over a nasty cold & cough).  And a few days ago it was to join my photo friend for sunrise with the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin.  Except there was no sun.  The mist, however, was eerie and beautiful in its own way.  

feeling foggy

A foggy walk along skyline drive in VA a year and a half ago.

October barn

just down the road from timberline resort, morning before photography workshop