Dragons Tooth and McAfees Knob hikes

[lmalterna]

Just thought I would share a couple of pics from two of our recent hikes. The participants and pinnacle:

 

[lmalterna]

The scrambles on the trail. This is the AT and some of the roughest of the entire trail- according to reviews.

 

[lmalterna]

A couple from McAfees: My daughter joined us for this hike.

The round trip is actually 8.8 miles, just happened to appreciate seeing this sign on the way up...

 

[dialton]

Nice pics. Love the view you two must have had from that overhang rock!

 

[P. McKinley]

The scrambles on the trail. This is the AT and some of the roughest of the entire trail- according to reviews.

Great account of what looks like a great day!
I have traveled that section several times and I do believe you are correct. That is indeed one of the toughest sections of the trail.....not THE toughest, but it just doesn't let up and the climbs can be pretty dangerous in wet weather.

 

[OwenM]

Nice pics! Looks like fun, and that McAfee Knob must be quite a viewpoint.

 

[sicily02]

Hey thanks for sharing the pics. I agree that pic of 2 sitting on the overhang this a freaking cool.

Bryan

 

[type00rev]

Thanks for sharing....looks like a nice hike. What was the deal with the reward poster in the first pic?

 

[lmalterna]

Thanks guys, I am glad you enjoyed them. Good thing the sun was not out that day- the glare from my head would have ruined the pic...

The reward is for information leading to arrest of persons responsible for the murder of two young people in late Summer '09 not far from Va. Tech in Blacksburg, Montgomery County.

I love rock scrambling but I am afraid of heights, i.e. Ladders, Ferris wheels and roller coasters- go figure! LOL!

While we were there, there was a young girl- maybe 14- that climbed to the tip of the "Tooth"- her carelessness was a little unnerving in how she acted but she did get down safe.

My wife is Filipina and reminds me constantly how blessed we are to have places like this set aside for us to enjoy in relative saftey.
Take care,
Bill

 

[PropThePolecat]

Beautiful pics. Thanks for posting.

 

[jacksterp]

Love the pics and your courage. But you would never, and I mean never, get me on that overhang regardless of the view

 

[lmalterna]

Jack, I understand as I am afraid of heights..actually just afraid of hitting the ground. Having fell several times and "nearly" fallen very badly... but for some odd reason, if I am standing on rock, I will walk to the edge without a bobble. Have stood with toes overhanging sheer drop at the GC and tossed snowballs into the canyon. Fear is an odd thing, but it sometimes saves us from ourselves

I have some good pics of Peaks of Otter when the clouds sat down on the mountain and also the Cascade Falls in Summer, just need to upload them. I had some good ones of the GC and Yosemite with my kids but likely lost them in the divorce for good.
Bill

 

[OwenM]

Guy I know(friend of a friend) wrote two books on thru-hiking the AT, and used a shot from there for the cover of the first one.
Pretty cool.

 

[Mtn Crow]

Great pics !! I was at McAfee's knob last month and plan on hitting the Tooth next week.

 

[HAKnPocket]

Ahhhhhh my daily drive. Great pics. I really need to hit the trail sometime soon.

 

[lmalterna]

I have my kids this weekend and I am trying to decide between the Peaks of Otter again or Dragons Tooth again. Might take the alternate return of AT to the Boy Scout trail. I need a different stove for multiple people though. I have the E2E Thru hiker alcohol burner but 2oz burn only heats enough water for one cup of noodles and two hot drinks.

Last time we went to Peaks, the mountain was shrouded in clouds:

we did capture photos of the "Witches of the Mountain" said to live there:

As well as some cool flora

 

[lmalterna]

Some pics from yesterdays hike back to Dragons Tooth with my daughter:

Exposed Iron Ore in the rock on the trail:

Lunch

 

[lmalterna]

Views from the top of the rock

 

[kgd]

very cool formation. Thanks for sharing your pics.

 

[knife doctor]

Does anyone else remember the old "ridge" trail that used to lead to Dragon's tooth? Whew!

I wonder when they added the metal hand-holds on that section? Wasn't there in the 80's and 90's... Guess I'm showing my age. I used to teach a beginner rock-climbing course on Dragon's Tooth for a outdoor store in Blacksburg in the late 70's and early 80's. Still one of my favorites!

Have you hiked Apple Orchard Falls near the Peaks of Otter? It's lovely...