A Hike in the Clouds

We celebrated Ryan’s birthday last week. His only request was that we go for a hike as a family. He has taken the girls hiking quite a few times this summer without me while I sewed to fill orders or cleaned at home. The girls were so excited that I was going to join them, and so was I! I really enjoy getting out in nature, especially during this time of year.

We were planning to hike the 2.2-mile Upper Hawksbill trail, which leads to the highest summit in the Shenandoah National Park. We have hiked this trail several times in our marriage, but I think the last time was when I was about five months pregnant with Emma, and Ellie had turned two a couple of months earlier. We were impressed that Ellie summited on her own at that age.

Emma hasn’t hiked that trail on her own feet yet, so we wanted to give it a try with her. We drove to the trailhead before deciding that we would try it another time because the weather was foggy. I didn’t want to give up on hiking, though, and suggested that we go back to the Story of the Forest Trail near Big Meadows.

The weather cleared up as we started walking, and it was lovely. For most of the time, Ellie and I took the lead. She, like me, likes to walk fast, and I often had to call to her to stay in my sight, because she liked taking the lead.

We came upon a little bridge crossing a creek, and immediately Ellie was drawn to the water. I tease her that water and mud act as magnets to her.

The girls washed their trekking poles in the creek, wanting to stay and play in the water. Considering that it was a cool day and this was near the beginning of the hike, I asked them to please keep their shoes and clothing dry!

We broke away from the trickling water, and Ellie and I continued leading the trail. Ellie started collecting leaves along the way.

Ferns covered the forest floor at various points, and the contrast of the fall leaves on the ground next to the green of the ferns caught my eye.

Ellie and I were merrily hiking along when we realized that it had been quite a while since we had seen or heard Ryan and Emma. When we came upon this enchanting spot in the forest, we stopped to wait. The smell of a wood fire hung in the air, wafting over from the campground nearby, adding to the pleasure of the setting. Walking into this grove of pines kicked Ellie’s imagination into high gear. She immediately wanted to build a fire, and play house and make a bed in the leaves. She wanted to slide down the fallen tree.

Eventually, maybe 15-20 minutes later, Ryan and Emma caught up with us, and I took a picture of them in this cozy forest spot.

We continued on the walk. Not much past this spot, I looked back to see a very tired Emma, walking head down and dragging her trekking pole. She enjoys hiking, but she was getting tired and hungry. At this point, Ryan decided to walk on ahead with Ellie because Emma wanted to be with me.

Before reaching the end of the trail, the mist had settled on the mountain again, and Ryan and I were very thankful that we had changed our plans and weren’t climbing Hawksbill in the fog.

As we were walking, I noticed this rock in the grass and asked Ryan to take a photo of me with girls. I don’t have many photos of myself with them, and I wished that I wasn’t wearing a baseball cap (I am not even a sports fan!). But I absolutely love the expressions on the faces of the girls, and I am glad that we took a moment to capture the three of us together.

Ellie excitedly pointed out a stone couch beside the trail.

Emma continued lagging along, and finally said that she was “freezing.” I took her raincoat and hat out of her backpack, thankful that I had packed them in there, along with her water bottle and snack.

We finally made it back to the car, but the area around the parking lot was too crowded by this point for us to feel comfortable picnicking at that spot. I suggested that we drive to an overlook and picnic on a stone wall.

To wash our hands before eating, I had taken along a washcloth (soaked in soapy water and a few drops of Thieves essential oil) for each person—I remember my mom taking wet cloths along when she packed amazing picnics for those wonderful times we went to Big Meadows when I was growing up.

It was a simple picnic of sandwiches, chips and cookie bars. I had a flashback to another overlook picnic that I had packed many years ago when meeting a friend and her husband as they were traveling through the state. That day, I remember packing chicken salad on croissants and chocolate covered strawberries…and my friend inadvertently alerting me to the fact that she was pregnant when communicating to me prior to our picnic that she wasn’t eating tuna or soft cheeses. During that picnic, we also blessed a young man who was through-hiking on the Appalachian Trail with “trail magic.” I don’t remember his trail name, but I have never forgotten how thankful he was for the food.

Typically, when we go in the Shenandoah National Park, I crave a cup of hot tea. So, before we left, I brewed a pot of tea and put it into a thermos and grabbed a mug to take along. Ahh, sipping hot tea in the cool, misty air…so delightful!

When we arrived at the overlook, this was our view.

As we ate our lunch, the view became more spectacular.

And last, but not least, here is a picture of the birthday man. I pray that we will celebrate many, many, many more years of birthdays with him and hiking together as a family.

Have you ever driven through the Shenandoah National Park on Skyline Drive? Have you ever hiked any of the trails in the SNP? If so, tell me about your adventures and let me know your favorite trails in the comments below.