High alpine meadows

Between Damascus and Grayson County is a long stretch of curvy road. Ask Macie, she knows because she got car-sick on the way up the mountain. I feel lucky that we had a change of clothes for her in the car.
As hard as it is to get a two-year old up the mountain, it is equally rewarding. She loves riding in the backpack, and I love to hike with her singing and playing back there.
The high alpine meadows of the Grayson Highlands are an amazing contrast from the forest below. Although fall was in full effect in the lower elevations, the wind had blown away any sign of fall.

climbing

Wild Ponies

Grayson Highlands

-The Highlands-

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Jefferson National Forest

Virginia high country

The Virginia Highlands

With a large group heading to set up camp at Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, we realized Jeff had reserved the Gazebo picnic area, not the camp sites. It would have been a great 3-days of cake, but we needed to set up about 10 tents; and it was a busy holiday weekend in the woods. We piled into a couple of small sites and tragedy was narrowly averted.
Erin and I knew it would be tough with a 7-week old. Macie enjoyed being in the woods and being around all the happy people. The first night was tough on Erin, since I was over-served and slept tight. She struggled tending to Macie with the constraints of camping.
We spent Sunday biking, hiking and made a trip to town for ice cream. After dinner we pulled a red eye back to Knoxville.
Our only regret was not being able to go with the group on the Virgina Creeper trail ride. Since Macie is still too young for a bike ride, we opted for an awesome hike on Whitetop Mountain.
We are already looking forward to a return to Damascus. The mountains are beautiful, and the town was full of bikes. Hundreds, maybe thousands of bikes filled the small town.