Chestnut Knob AT HIke

Time to re-open my blog. I had meant to use it to chronicle my new hikes and bike rides in Virginia, but my work schedule got in the way of that. Hopefully those issues have been resolved, and I can work on getting back in shape and exploring Virginia and West Virginia as planned. This should be made easier as I will now be working 4 10 hour days leaving my weekends open.

Today's hike was on the Appalachian trail above Burke's Garden along the ridge of Chestnut Knob. There is a 900' climb from the parking area at the end of West End Rd. with a few steep pitches, but nothing too bad.

Upon reaching the top of Chestnut Knob you'll find the Burke's Garden overlook, pictured above, a shelter for hikers, and this sign which designates the boundary of Beartown Wilderness which is comprised of the valley between Chestnut Knob and Garden Mountain and the summit of Garden Mountain itself.

About half a mile down the ridge from the Chestnut Knob shelter you'll enter a series of fields that line the ridge top. On less hazy days you have a beautiful view of the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachians connecting with the Blue Ridge to the south.

Looking north towards Garden Mountain.

Spring fed pond atop Chestnut ridge and my turn around point for the day.

Typical ridge line section of the AT in Virginia. If the weather is good next weekend I plan on going back and taking some pictures in the Burke's Garden area. The leaf colors look like they might be a bit better than what I was expecting. Here's a little teaser...