The Faux Shaux

If the rest of my trip is any bit as satisfying as Shenandoah I couldn’t ask any more.

After my first night of backwoods camping, I decided I needed to find a proper campsite so I could make a fire.  After speaking with a friendly park ranger at Skyland, the highest summit of the Skyline Parkway, I called ahead and found plenty of vacancies at Big Meadow.  I quickly setup my tent on site A23, a tent-only area, to avoid the hustle & bust of the RV families that populate much of these campsites.  Figuring that my hike would place me back at camp after all the shops would be closed, I walked down to the shower/supply area to buy some firewood (it had been raining and the maps state ‘no wood gathering’ at Big Meadow).  A pleasant lady, Donna, greated me with a grin and walked me to the area to pick out a cord of wood.  Her arthritic hands fumbled with the split wood, but I happily stepped in and gripped one of the bigger bundles she was eager to dig out for me.  As we walked back to her office, I crossed behind her, changing sides to walk with my wood carrying shoulder away from her.  “Where’d you go?” she chuckled.  “I’m blind in one eye, so I lose people.”  Her blind eye was a lighter grey-blue than her strong eye.  It was charming in a Bowie way.  I bought some quarters for the coin-operated showers – a prize I’d save for after a strenuous hike.

Matt, one of the rangers at Shenandoah

Before driving to the Hawksbill trail head, I ran into Matt Gordon, the ranger I’d met while checking into the site.  After a a minute or two, it came up that I was headed to Asheville, NC.  Matt lived in Asheville for two years, and he generously listed a few must-see places to see live bands, eat tacos and healthy noms, as well as recommendations for two breweries (more about that when I get there!).  I showed him the loop I planned to walk; an 8.2 mile loop in White Oak Canyon peppered with waterfalls.  It was already getting late, but he assured me I’d have time to do it.  Enough talking, start walkin.

#1 Hike a Mountain

Lower Whiteoak Falls

My hike kicked off at 2:30pm from Hawkbill parking area.  I packed my headlamp, since I knew starting so late would mean I’d do the last leg of the hike in the dark.  I met a few friendly hikers, mostly locals who had hiked the trail many times before.  [note: I have to get back on the road since I’m at a Starbucks half way to Asheville.]  I’ll mention Whit’s friendly advice shortly.