Mount Rogers

picking burrs out of a pony mane

Weller's Salamander

I'm finally done with the West updates and able to get back to those Virginia hikes.  I'm not going to lie - hiking on the West coast was amazing.  But hiking in Virginia is just as magnificent in its own way.  Mount Rogers is home to the highest point in Virginia and, unless I am mistaken, is one of the only states in the region with a "state high point" that is not accessible by car.  We did the hike to the summit from the Massie Gap parking lot.  The round trip distance was probably 8-9 miles and absolutely beautiful.  Even more, the area is home to a handful of "wild" ponies that are used to keep some of the vegetation in check.  While actually quite far from wild (the ponies like head scratches and to scan your pockets for treats), it was great fun to experience them. 

At the (very poorly marked) summit

Interestingly enough, the Mount Rogers summit is one of the few areas of this hike that doesn't have a view.  Instead, the summit is covered by a spruce-fir forest.  Despite the lack of views near the top, we had a great time looking for salamanders and did not come up empty handed.  Alex, the resident herp guy, managed to find a few Weller's salamanders which are apparently only found on a handful of mountains - Mt. Rogers included.

Overall, it was an amazing hike on a beautiful day.  I can't wait to make a backpacking trip of it at some point in the near future.

At an overlook along the way

 **these photos belong to a friend and were not taken by me**