A Cold Start and a Day on the Trails
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
Wow…..so cold this morning. We actually stayed pretty warm through the night with our sleeping bags (thank you Kelty), but the second we got up, it was a different story. I felt like an icicle. I quickly changed and layered up in fleece before getting breakfast going.
The tent felt a bit cramped overnight, so I decided the clothes bags are headed back to the car for the rest of the trip, lesson learned.
At some point during the night, someone set off a bear bang and startled the entire campground. There wasn’t even a bear around. Not exactly appreciated in the middle of the night. On the bright side, Echo was perfect. He didn’t bark once, only gave a single growl. He curled up in his sleeping bag at 7:50 PM and stayed there until 6:30 AM. Perfect camping pup!
After breakfast, we set out to explore, hitting a few hikes and stopping at several overlooks along Skyline Drive. The views out there are incredible, though reliable cell service is surprisingly rare. A few of the lookout spots will give you a couple bars.
We made our way toward the southern section of the park and took a short stretch of the Appalachian Trail at Powell Gap. It’s only about a mile, but the uphill packs in around 250 feet of elevation gain. The view at the top was nice, though similar vistas can be found at some of the roadside overlooks. Still, it was a good way to get moving.
Next up was Black Rock Summit, which turned out to be a highlight. Another short hike, about a mile, but with a solid climb and a fun rock scramble at the top. Echo handled the rock climbing like a pro and got a lot of compliments along the way. Having the harness with a handle definitely came in handy.
From there, we checked out Bear Den. This one was a bit of a letdown. It’s advertised as having panoramic views, but everything was so overgrown that the view was mostly gone. We did find a small spur trail with a partial view, though it came with some not-so-scenic power lines. The trail itself was still nice, though…. a peaceful walk through the woods with a decent climb of around 377 feet over 1.7 miles.
After that, we made our way back north, stopping at Elkwallow wayside to pick up firewood. It’s a small spot with a store and deli, but it had everything we needed.
Back at camp, I took some time to get organized. I forgot that camping in bear country definitely adds a layer of effort, as everything has to be stored properly in the bear box, which is a bit of a shuffle.
If everything goes as planned and we’re both feeling up for it, tomorrow’s goal is the Cedar Run–White Oak Canyon Loop. It’s going to be a tough one for both of us. For now, I’m just hoping tonight is a little less cold than the last.
