Buffalo Mountain

This one might just be the best in the way of "effort: reward."  I'm a bit overdue on posting it, but some college friends were back in town for a few days over the fourth of July and so we made a trip to this neat little hike.  It really is a "little hike" for some big views.  At about one mile each way, even though the trail climbs steadily, it's not a tough one.  The gnats were swarming at the top and unlike the last time I did this hike, there was little breeze at the summit.  However, in any case, it was an enjoyable trip.

The group at the summit

Views from the summit

Views from the summit

Mount Pleasant

This hike is located in the same location as the Cole Mountain/Old Hotel Trail loop, but is slightly easier (albeit still with amazing views) and doesn't take you through a grassy meadow.  Although the hike itself is easy-moderate in difficulty, the drive to get there takes you up a bumpy gravel road.  My relatively small, two-wheel drive car made it to the trailhead, but not without a few "oops" moments when I accidentally took a bump too quickly and scraped the nose of my car against the ground.  Going down I was more prepared and coasted down slowly in first gear.

The hike itself is generally easy with a few moderate climbs.  There are two vistas: one in either direction.  Both are beautiful and they're close enough together that you must do both if you visit.

Sign to the vistas

Casey at a vista

Casey and I at an overlook

Another view

Mountain laurel

Casey and Max

Ireland - Gap of Dunloe and Cronin's Yard Walks

I must admit - I didn't do too much actual hiking while in Ireland, but the scenery was too beautiful not to share.  

At Kate Kearney's Cottage before embarking on the Gap of Dunloe Walk

The Gap of Dunloe is a gorgeous stretch of road that winds its way through a mountain pass before reaching the Black Valley.  We parked at Kate Kearney's Cottage and from there walked the 3.5 miles up the road to the "top of the gap."  We then returned by retracing our steps back down the road.  The road is narrow (barely wide enough to allow a car to pass walkers at points), winding, and not recommended for tourists to drive, but you can walk, bike, or take a horse and cart to the top for some gorgeous sight seeing.

Kate Kearney's Cottage

On our walk up, sheep and wild goats dotted the hillside and we enjoyed what may have been our brightest day since arriving to Ireland.  I don't usually think much of walks along pavement, but this was an exception.  It was easily a highlight of my trip.

Jenny and I on our walk through the Gap

Sheep hanging out in the road

Casey and I (view of road through gap)

Wild baby goat

The entire group at the top of the gap

By the time we reached Cronin's Yard, we were running out of time to do the entire "Cronin's Yard Loop," but we walked a ways into the sheep pasture for some views of Carrauntoohil (Ireland's highest peak) before returning to the car.  The road into Cronin's Yard was barely wider than the Gap of Dunloe road and our side view mirrors scraped a few bushes as we squeezed our way in.  I recommend rental car insurance if traveling to Ireland as it seemed there was no way to not scratch up the side view mirrors at points.

Cronin's Yard serves as an entrance to the Carrauntoohil walk and if I should ever make it back to Ireland again, I will make a point to climb the mountain.

Lamb at Cronin's Yard

View of Carrauntoohil from Cronin's Yard

Sharp Top

This past Sunday night was meant to be spent backpacking, but with Casey not wanting to leave the lake (I can't really blame him!) and my mom displaying a rare willingness to go on a short hike with us, I caved and we went to Sharp Top instead.  It's always a nice little hike and this time was no exception.  It was busy, as seems to be usual for Sharp Top, but the views were phenomenal.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, there were hoards of gnats at the top of the mountain, but other than that small damper, it was an afternoon well spent.

Mom and Dad at the top

Casey and I on the rock overlook

Buttermilk Northbank Trail Loop

This trail is the epitome of an urban hike.  At about 6.2 miles, the loop is a multi-use walking and biking trail in Richmond that crosses the James River, bypasses a cemetery, traverses through several wooded areas, and provides access to Texas Beach and Belle Isle.  For walking, it's a pretty easy trail with just a few mild ascents and descents.  Casey and I haven't tried biking it yet, but I imagine that it takes a bit more finesse to manage the ramps, roots, rocks, and single-track areas on a bike.  The bikers were generally kind to us (and are expected to yield to pedestrians), but at points the trail is tight.  We parked at the Texas Beach access lot and took the trail in a clockwise direction, beginning on the Northbank trail, crossing the Tyler Potterfield Pedestrian Bridge, taking Railroad Ave. to get to the Buttermilk trail, following the Buttermilk trail to the Boulevard bridge, crossing the bridge, and then taking the rest of the Northbank trail back to the parking lot.  It may be an urban trail, but it's worth checking out if you are in the area!

Trail passes a cemetery

Northbank Trail

View from the T.Tyler Potterfield Bridge

View of rock climbers and pedestrians from near the bridge

Playing on rocks near Belle Isle

High Bridge Trail

High Bridge Trail has been on my to-do list for quite some time, but I've never had an excuse to get to Farmville, VA until recently.  Fortunately, timing worked out well last weekend and Casey and I were able to make a day trip to visit this neat bridge.  The bridge has some historical significance from the Civil War and from what I'd read, is an interesting place to visit.  It's not exactly a hike (although could make a nice walk), so Casey and I decided to bike it instead.  We started from a lot near downtown Farmville, biked a bit in the opposite direction to check out the town and then headed the 4.4 miles to the bridge.  Even in the dead of winter, the views from the top of the bridge were nice and the trail was excellent for a leisurely bike ride.  The trail actually spans 31 miles, but we didn't even attempt to do the whole thing this time around!   If you go, I'd recommend checking out the quaint downtown area as well as the bridge.  

View of the Appomattox River from High Bridge

Casey looking over the side of the bridge

The bridge doesn't look so high here, but it was right about at the treeline

In downtown Farmville

Hightop Mountain

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Not that a 60 degree day in January should be considered analogous to lemons; however, when a ski weekend was in the plans, but not the forecast, hiking turned out to be a pretty good substitute.  The weather was unusually warm on my trip to Massanutten, so Stephanie, Josh, and I decided to hit a different sort of slope.  Hightop Mountain fit the bill.  It was rated as having good views, being moderately difficult, and not too long.  Add in that neither Stephanie nor Josh had previously been to Shenandoah National Park and it seemed like a "must do."  The hike didn't disappoint.  The trail was entirely along the AT and the vistas were quite nice, even if not quite up to the expansive summit area of Old Rag or the neat overhanging rock of McAffee's Knob.  I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

View from Hightop Mountain (2nd vista)

View from Hightop Mountain (1st Vista)

Trees along the trail

Stephanie and Josh on the trail

Me at the first vista