Peaks of Otter and Area with Tina

My RVing friend, Tina, and her dogs met me at Peaks of Otter campground on the Blue Ridge.

 Thistle and I got to meet her new Golden Retriever puppy, Lark. What a cutie she is!

 We took the dogs on the easy hike around the lake.

But I've been wanting to hike on Sharp Top, one of the Peaks of Otter.

It's a pretty rugged trail, so we decided to take the available shuttle to a point below the summit so we wouldn't have to hike so far uphill, then take the trail back down the mountain...prudent women that we are.

Stairs leading from the shuttle drop off toward a viewpoint on the way to the summit.

 Mountain Laurel were beginning to bloom along the trail.

 We could see another peak through the trees....perhaps Round Top?

The view from there.

There were lots of wildflowers in bloom, and so there were lots of bees too!

 The stone steps reminded me of the climb up Skellig Michael to the monastery in Ireland.

The summit of Sharp Top is covered with boulders. Rhododendrons are blooming here.

 Tina coming up the trail.

 There is a stone cabin up here that was built by the CCC.

 Sharp Top was once believed to be Virginia's highest peak.

 The trail continues between the boulders.

There is a 360 degree view from the summit. This is looking down toward the lake and the campground hidden in the trees.

 I didn't do that.

 Looking out over the roof of the cabin.

In the distance is another outcropping of rocks known as Buzzard's Roost. It involves a side trail off the main trail that we opted not to do, since we knew we weren't going to climb up there.

 Tina contemplating the expansive views.

 The trail down the mountain passes around and through many boulder piles.

 And down many steps.

Tina, outstanding on a rock.

The rest of the trail was uneventful until....

We came to the bear!

 We had been warned about the bear up ahead twice by other hikers coming up, so we were on the lookout. When we spotted it, it was moving away from the trail up the hill. It was far enough away that it continued eating, unconcerned about us.

These photos were taken with my zoom lens.

Some facts about Sharp Top Mountain.

Another day we took a car trip to the town of Lexington, VA. We stopped at the cemetery first where Stonewall Jackson is buried.

 He and his family are entombed under his statue in the center of the cemetery.

 We learned that there are soldiers buried in this cemetery from every war from the Revolution to the Vietnam War. 

We decided to take a guided tour of the town by horse and buggy (with a fringe on top). 

 This was Stonewall Jackson's house for a time. The entry that you see was originally at street level.

The townspeople wanted to level off the hill and did so by removing soil and rock from the top and depositing it on the bottom and sides off the hill. The result was that an additional story was created from basements below. You can see the original bedrock under the window of this building.

 The balconies on this building were originally at street level.

We learned a lot of history that I will not try to repeat here, but it is worth a visit.

One of many stately old homes in Lexington. Note the original sidewalk in front of this one.

 The bricks are grooved to provide traction.

This is the oldest house in Lexington, one of only two that survived an early fire that destroyed homes made of wood. 

Another day, another trail...this one to Fallingwater Cascades.

 It was a foggy morning, a good day for such a hike.

 Tina was rethinking her decision to wear sandals.

 The trail was downhill all the way...until it was uphill all the way back!

 Canopies of Rhododendrons.

A bridge crosses over the top of the falls.

Foggy view from the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, the trail follows the cascades on its downward flow. This is where it begins.

 Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel line the trail.

More steps... 

 And large boulders.

A section of the Fallingwater Cascade.

 The water flows over and under fallen logs...

Around boulders, 

Creating many mini-waterfalls along the way.

 At the bottom we have to cross back over the water without benefit of a bridge.

 I let Tina go first.

 Then the trail started up...

But it was worth the climb!

Want to watch the waterfall? Click on the video.