Still smilin'

Even though days are long, miles are exhausting, and

clothes are smelly, there's always a reason to smile on the Appalachian Trail.

Hello Deer

We see deer on an almost daily basis out here. Many of them appear undisturbed by the presence of hikers, much like this deer who dined near us at Lambert's Meadow Shelter.

Dragon's Tooth

We had a great afternoon clambering down the rocks at Dragon's Tooth. We took these pictures just afterward, then raced down the mountain to Catawba, VA. where we shared a pizza! In all, a great day.

Rhododendron

We were worried that we may somehow miss the rhododendron in full bloom, but it's everywhere now! Hopefully peak season isn't over yet, and we'll have another few weeks with these gorgeous pink blossoms.

The Keffer Oak

At 300 years, this is the second oldest oak tree on the trail. Its girth is 18 feet, and it is a massive and overpowering sight.

Cold Feet

Sometimes there is no bridge; sometimes there never was a bridge. In any case, the stream must be crossed. In this case, the bridge was washed out in a flood and we had ourselves a blast wading through the freezing cold water.

Mountain Laurel

One of the most exciting events of spring in this region is the blooming of the mountain laurel and the rhododendron. It really livens up the mountains and makes them right colorful.