Appalachian Spur Trail: Grayson Highlands State Park, VA.
Vistas, Vistas, Vistas. Wild Ponies. Amazing.
The Hike: We tried to go to Grayson Highlands once on Mother's Day when Julian was a baby and had to abort the mission when the boys got too cranky. It was fine. Even if you don't make it all the way to this remote destination, you can stop almost anywhere on the way and find some great outdoor places. That day, we ended up playing in Beartree Lake.
But Fall Break, 2012, we managed to camp in the Grayson Highlands campground for two nights and it was one of our favorite camping trips ever. Our itinerary: FRIDAY - shuttle then bike down the Creeper Trail; drive the remaining hour to Grayson and set up camp... SATURDAY - short morning hike with picnic lunch, rest time, late afternoon Appalachian Spur Trail hike, late night star gazing... SUNDAY slow pack up, lunch in Abingdon, VA and a show at the Barter Theater before returning back to JC.
The Appalachian Spur Trail is a short (.8 mile) hike that takes you up to an intersection with the AT, where you can either go left or right. In typical Jodi style, I asked EVERY SINGLE HIKER coming back on this trail whether they'd seen the wild ponies and if so, in which direction? Based on mostly contradictory and vague information we decided to go left at the intersection. Steve and Bridger got ahead and then Julian and I got waylaid for 30 minutes with a wilderness first aid episode for a preteen who'd fallen and had debris embedded in the palm of her hand. By then the sun was starting to wane, Julian was asking to be carried, and folks (who I continued to badger, relentlessly) were saying the horses had "gone on for the night." Alas, we carried on and, as you can see from the photos below, we DID see the ponies, including the one they call "Fabio" for his fantastic blonde mane. The boys were beside themselves! So was I! What a place!
Directions: To get to Grayson Highlands State Park (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml), take I-81 North to Exit 19, then US-11/US-58 to US 58 E Jeb Stuart Highway for about 16 increasingly remote and twisty miles. The road eventually becomes US-58 E Highlands Parkway, and you should follow it, and park signs, for another 9.5 miles. Make a left on VA-362 N/Grayson Highland Lane and in less than 2 miles you will be in the Park. From here, follow signs to the Ranger Station for an overview, updates on trail conditions and where the wild ponies have been hanging out, wild pony paraphernalia, and most importantly, a decent map of the park and trails. We also hiked the Big Pinnacle Trail and it was fantastic.
But Fall Break, 2012, we managed to camp in the Grayson Highlands campground for two nights and it was one of our favorite camping trips ever. Our itinerary: FRIDAY - shuttle then bike down the Creeper Trail; drive the remaining hour to Grayson and set up camp... SATURDAY - short morning hike with picnic lunch, rest time, late afternoon Appalachian Spur Trail hike, late night star gazing... SUNDAY slow pack up, lunch in Abingdon, VA and a show at the Barter Theater before returning back to JC.
The Appalachian Spur Trail is a short (.8 mile) hike that takes you up to an intersection with the AT, where you can either go left or right. In typical Jodi style, I asked EVERY SINGLE HIKER coming back on this trail whether they'd seen the wild ponies and if so, in which direction? Based on mostly contradictory and vague information we decided to go left at the intersection. Steve and Bridger got ahead and then Julian and I got waylaid for 30 minutes with a wilderness first aid episode for a preteen who'd fallen and had debris embedded in the palm of her hand. By then the sun was starting to wane, Julian was asking to be carried, and folks (who I continued to badger, relentlessly) were saying the horses had "gone on for the night." Alas, we carried on and, as you can see from the photos below, we DID see the ponies, including the one they call "Fabio" for his fantastic blonde mane. The boys were beside themselves! So was I! What a place!
Directions: To get to Grayson Highlands State Park (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/gra.shtml), take I-81 North to Exit 19, then US-11/US-58 to US 58 E Jeb Stuart Highway for about 16 increasingly remote and twisty miles. The road eventually becomes US-58 E Highlands Parkway, and you should follow it, and park signs, for another 9.5 miles. Make a left on VA-362 N/Grayson Highland Lane and in less than 2 miles you will be in the Park. From here, follow signs to the Ranger Station for an overview, updates on trail conditions and where the wild ponies have been hanging out, wild pony paraphernalia, and most importantly, a decent map of the park and trails. We also hiked the Big Pinnacle Trail and it was fantastic.
graysonhighlandsatspur.gpx |
graysonhighlandsatspur.kmz |
Wild Ponies.
It wasn’t just the wild ponies.
It wasn’t that we were standing above 5,000 feet and seemed on top of the earth itself.
It wasn’t the way the cool wind brought autumn to the air in spite of the sun,
Or the way the subtle colors shone on the mountains beyond.
In my mind’s eye, it replays in bold scenes.
My own feet one ahead and then the other:
Trodding along a dusty, rocky path, slow-going.
The weight of Jules on my shoulders:
Noticing a “letting go” of the promises and the encouragement.
The treeless landscape :
Unmoving with each step.
Clear air on moist skin:
A sense of abandon to chance.
Then you, in the distance, off trail:
Waving your arms to come along.
Then you, again, up close:
Taking Jules and carrying him on your back up that long grassy slope.
Then Bridger, a spec:
Sitting like a sentinel on the ridge.
My mind growing edgy:
Wondering, will we make it?
Then, cresting the ridge, the boys’ eyes, wide with excitement.
Pointing and smiling and jumping with exhilaration.
Then the four of us.
Alone with wild ponies. Our own magical moment. Earned with patience and perseverance, curiosity and hope, a loosening of fusion to the outcomes, and a commitment to the gravity of living each moment.
Left: running to the start of the trail in 2012
It wasn’t that we were standing above 5,000 feet and seemed on top of the earth itself.
It wasn’t the way the cool wind brought autumn to the air in spite of the sun,
Or the way the subtle colors shone on the mountains beyond.
In my mind’s eye, it replays in bold scenes.
My own feet one ahead and then the other:
Trodding along a dusty, rocky path, slow-going.
The weight of Jules on my shoulders:
Noticing a “letting go” of the promises and the encouragement.
The treeless landscape :
Unmoving with each step.
Clear air on moist skin:
A sense of abandon to chance.
Then you, in the distance, off trail:
Waving your arms to come along.
Then you, again, up close:
Taking Jules and carrying him on your back up that long grassy slope.
Then Bridger, a spec:
Sitting like a sentinel on the ridge.
My mind growing edgy:
Wondering, will we make it?
Then, cresting the ridge, the boys’ eyes, wide with excitement.
Pointing and smiling and jumping with exhilaration.
Then the four of us.
Alone with wild ponies. Our own magical moment. Earned with patience and perseverance, curiosity and hope, a loosening of fusion to the outcomes, and a commitment to the gravity of living each moment.
Left: running to the start of the trail in 2012