Mountains, Ponies, and Memories

We just returned from a week of hiking and camping with our son after his return from Korea.  

The escape from the demands of social media and everyday bustle gave us a chance to reconnect.

Grayson Highlands State Park is a remarkable place. Every hike has its own features. Some trails, like Wilburn Ridge, require rock scrambling. On others, streams must be crossed by balancing on the larger rocks sticking out of the water. Luckily I only fell in once!

 Purple thistle, hawthorn berries, and masses of yellow wildflowers were surprising bursts of color in open areas.

On the Cabin Creek trail we were treated to several wildly rushing waterfalls.

 

This forest with a lush fern understory felt prehistoric, like a pterosaur could swoop by any time.

Most of the trails offer incredible views from balds and ridges. 

Wild ponies crop the highland grass;  longhorn cattle along some trails give hikers a wary eye and in return hikers give the cattle a wide berth.

The Appalachian Trail runs through the park, and Grayson is one of its loveliest sections. These photos provide a small taste of this park's natural beauty.