27 September 2020 Finzel Swamp and Mount Aetna

We started our day with a third visit to Finzel Swamp.  Our first visit here included multiple warblers sightings.  This was our second return with no bird sightings. It was still a fun walk and an easy start to the day. 

Our second stop was for a walk in Savage River State Forest.  We made a nice geocache find of an older hide hidden along a trail by Braddock's Road.

Mt. Aetna was also a new location for us to visit.  It was our longest hike of the day.  Besides a number of cache finds we were treated to what was our best colors of the fall.

We learned of all three locations from geocaches placed there.  For Finzel Swamp we continue to return to see what wildlife might be there.  For the other locations, they were pleasant journeys and a great way to spend a day on a trip during a very uncertain time.  I was happy for all three.

26 September 2020 Revisiting Favorites

 Our first stop was an old favorite location, the Cranesville Sub-arctic Swamp in West Virginia.  The swamp is an easy walk the always offers something new to see.

The fall colors were pleasant to see.  The swamp never reaches that point of vivid colors, but has a nice mix.

Today we were treated to nodding lady's tresses in bloom.  The were plentiful along the boardwalk and even along the wooded edge of the trail.

The gentians were past their prime but still had blossoms remaining.

We don't see pitcher plants often.  This was the first we had noticed in the swamp although it is a perfect location.

We spotted a few more orchids by the side of the trail on the walk back to parking.

The rocks are calling us.  We must go.  We had a fun walk through the rocks on Garret State Forest.

It can get tight in spots.

We always try to visit Swallow Falls when in the area.  This year visiting the main section of the park wasn't going to happen with COVID-19.  The trails are too narrow to be away from others.  Instead, we decided to make a return visit to a quiet trail in another section of the park.  The views here are still outstanding and worth the walk.

25 September 2020 Paw Paw Tunnel

 

We were leaving Shenendoah with a destination of the Paw Paw Tunnel in West Virginia.  We stopped for one last overlook near the park entrance.

We made a stop in Winchester to visit the National Cemetery.

We were both eagerly awaiting a return visit to Paw Paw Tunnel.  The long tunnel is an interesting journey with daylight decreasing to a small dot.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 has released absolute idiots on trails and parks everywhere.  Riding through a dark tunnel on bikes with no lights and with solid wall on one side and water on the other side is a really stupid act.  When Ali let out a terrified scream, I was ready to physically wound someone.  It was an unhappy walk thanks to a half dozen morons.

Rather than travel back through the tunnel we opted for the circuit hike over the top of the tunnel.

Besides the wildlife along the return, the trail offers great views of the Potomic.

24 September 2020 Visiting Old Favorites

 It was our last day of a fun stay at Shenandoah.  We decided to re-visit a couple of fun places we had seen before.  Our first stop was Compton Gap.  Compton Gap is a fairly easy connector to the Appalachain Trail.  The trail and the first small stretch of the AT are notable for the best columnar jointing we have seen.

The thrusted jointing along the Compton Gap Trail is very visual and close to the trail's edge.  These structures are a tease for the ones that lie ahead.

It was a week for caterpillars.

It takes some work to reach the best formation.

It's worth the effort.  The prime columnar jointing.

We stopped to visit one of the nicest overlooks before starting our last Shenandoah hike to Mary's Rock.

Mary's Rock is a mostly easy walk with some interesting vegatation and great views.

Fall blossoms along the trail

The view from a rock outcrop on the way to Mary's Rock

Looking out from Mary's Rock