Black Hill loop hike

I am working up to longer hikes again, and so on Saturday I aimed for at least five miles in our local Black Hill park. My route traced one of the lake's northern peninsulas, and so was rather flat.

Byrd's Nest #4

On our last day in Shenandoah, we got another hike in, only a little more challenging - a loop to Byrd's Nest #4. We started on Rocky Branch, which was surprisingly overgrown, then took the Appalachian Trail to the Neighbor Mountain trail. We followed it to Byrd's Nest #4, one of four day-use shelters. What was supposed to be a mown (I think, based on other photos) field was filled with waist-hike grass, which obscured the trail. But after a lunch break, we plowed through and down Neighbor Mountain back to Skyline Drive and our car.

Traces Trail

We spent a few days in Shenandoah, and in large part due to the weather only did a little hiking. On one day, I did a solo hike of the Traces Trail, an easy loop around Mathews Arm campground.