McAfee's Knob Hike

Sunday was a beautiful, sunny fall day so we decided to pack a picnic lunch and take a hike.  Based on a suggestion from a friend we hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail to McAfee's Knob.  It was about an 8 mile hike round trip, and we underestimated just what we were embarking on!  We followed the AT on the way up and then followed the fire road on the way back.  In retrospect, I wish we had taken the fire road both directions.  It was a bit shorter, posed fewer elevation changes, was far more scenic, and was easier walking.  It took us about 3 hours to get there since Will needed quite a few rest stops (ok, maybe Jerry and I enjoyed the rest stops too!).  The trip back down was faster taking just over 2 hours.  We felt a bit rushed when we realized it was going to be a longer hike than we thought so we didn't linger long for many good pictures, but the view was amazing!  The panoramic mode on my camera couldn't even capture the whole view. 

Will did a good job spotting the white blazes on the trail.

On the way up...

These huge boulders near the top were almost as impressive as the view from McAfee's Knob.
But by this point I was too tired to stop for many great pictures!

WE MADE IT!!!  And that cliff is as dramatic as it looks - it's not a camera trick!  : )

Jerry said we needed proof!  : )

Will got a really good picture of Jerry and I.

Taking this group picture using the tripod was Will's idea.
Plus it provided an excuse to sit for a bit!
This was near the end and we were tired!  : )

Can you see the face or were we hallucinating by then?

I told Will he had to smile for a picture - if I carried him for a bit on
the way back down it got me some bragging rights!