| Date | Distance | Time | Elevation Gain | Average Moving Time | Year to Date Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/29/2021 | 2.1 miles | 1 hour 42 minutes | 352' | 1.5 | 178.8 |
Parking: Graybeard Mountain Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 363.4
Directions: Hike north from the overlook to Lunch Rock. Return the same way
A nice relaxing short hike after work. Today was another day in the 90's, but in the mountains, the temperature wasn't bad and there was a slight breeze which helped with the humidity. This hike had fewer flowers than yesterday's section, but it was still a very interesting hike, and one that I can see doing a number of times again. The trail passes by a gnarled birch tree growing on a rock. It then passes by a wind shelter made out of rhododendron branches. The trail passes by the summit of Bullhead Mountain. We used to bushwhack to summits when trails passed close by, but the rhododendrons were very thick up there, so bushwhacking through them didn't seem like a fun idea. We passed a small rock outcrop, with a bit of a view. Then we got to lunch rock. A small trail goes around the back of it, and from there, you can climb up the rock. So wow - there were 360 degree views from that rock. I loved this spot! I love being able to hike to a view and not be surrounded by a crowd of people who also want a view (Craggy Pinnacle - I'm talking about you). As a bonus, the rock was surrounded by blueberries. I think we're a couple of weeks too early, but we did find a few ripe ones. I'm really looking forward to a blueberry hike we have planned next month. So yesterday, I downloaded the iNaturalist app. I want to start learning to identify the trees and flowers in this area. I tagged a few - red spruce and white monarda. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this app.
The gnarled beech tree
The rhododendron wind screen
iNaturalist was suggesting this was one of the 3 types of spruces.
I need to play with the app more, as I can't find its suggestions anymore.
One of the suggestions was a red spruce.
Does anyone recognize this butterfly? Maybe a pipevine swallowtail?
It has orange, iridescent blue, and white spots.
White monarda
View from a small rock outcrop before Lunch Rock. There are mountains back there, but the haze makes them hard to see.
Lunch Rock
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