Blue Ridge Days... Rocky Mount Day Hike

April, 2008

It's hard to believe how much time has passed since I've been in Winston-Salem. A year ago I was working full time at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, receiving inventory, selling gear, and helping run a store. I was also going on a considerable number of day hikes with numerous friends, among them, Dan the Man! It was around this time last year when we ventured to Skyline Drive, out in Shenandoah National Park (SNP), for a vigorous hike on the Rocky Mount Trail. It is one of the only 9+ mile circuit hikes in SNP, and with nearly 3,000 feet in elevation gain, it is a strenuous (and rewarding) climb!

We park the car at an impressive overlook and take a jaunt down Skyline Drive till we encounter the trail head, marked with a blue blaze and sign. The trail immediately descends into dense forest, indicating the upward battle we will later endure. Within the first mile of hiking, we come across a glistening, reflective pool, fed by a narrow stream, which Dan somehow manages to step in, resulting in soggy hiking shoes. I make fun of him, but he easily shrugs it off and probably finds a clever way to throw it back on me. This type of dialogue is most common between us and oddly entertaining. A mile or two later, we take a break in a sunny glen, set apart from the trail adjacent to another brook. Bugs are out but unobtrusive, and the water looks clean enough to drink. The grass is neon green, interspersed with slim, towering trees. It seems too good to be true, and even now, I can't believe how perfect a spot it was. We don't stay long, though, and return to the task at hand.

Soon, the trail grows steeper, and we are forced to climb hard, all the while, crossing streams, hopping across rocks, and wheezing like asthmatics. We've descended so far; now we must reclaim that cursed elevation. Eventually, the dirt trail gives way to "riprap:" countless, shifting, granite, sun-reflecting rocks. They are a royal pain in the butt, as they roll and tumble right out from beneath your feet. I also have to put my sunglasses on because of the glare, and by now it is hot. Sweat stings my eyes and clouds my vision.

As we traverse this tricky portion of the trail, we notice two bear cubs scurry across the trail up ahead and shimmy up a tree. We stop and stare. This is amazing! I can't get my camera out fast enough. But wait just a second. We realize where there are baby bears...there is sure to be a mother bear. And mother bears are fiercely protective. There is little talking about it. We make haste, continually looking over our shoulders.

From here, the trail intensifies. It is ridiculously steep, and we are moving too fast. I urge Dan to slow his pace, but he says he's out here "to get it on!" Even if it kills him, apparently, as one could hear him rasping from a mile away. In short, we make it to the summit of Rocky Mount by lunch time, and I nearly collapse from lack of oxygen. But we made it, and, boy, what a view!

After lunch, we hit the remaining segment of the trail. By now we are exhausted. Therefore, the last couple hours are a blur. When we return to the car it is late in the afternoon. Some poor sap is just getting ready for a hike, strapping on his pack and lacing up his boots. Dan and I share looks of bewilderment. If this guy thinks he's hiking that trail before nightfall, he's in for one heck of a hike! We say as much in other words, but he's convinced otherwise. "Your funeral," Dan mutters.

In summary, the Rocky Mount trail in SNP is no easy stroll in the forest. But it is well worth the effort! Check it out if you get a chance. For more information, visit Hiking Upwards, the premiere online site for information on Virginia trails. Easily accessed from Skyline Drive, Rocky Mount is a feasible destination, no matter what direction you're coming from!