Grace Estates and Afton Mountain Vineyards and a photo op at Cardinal Point

I loved the rustic signs in the Grace Estates Vineyards!

Minnie’s Take:

We had a nice, crisp fall day for our most recent wine trip, where we did a tasting at one winery in the Northern Monticellio wine trail, and one on along the Western cluster.  Our original plan for this trip was to re-vist a few vineyards that we had not been too since very early on in our wine tasting-hobby days.    But then, I found out about a new winery in Crozet from a beloved teacher of Billy and JJ’s.  Her daughter has just settled on Grace Estates as the venue for her upcoming wedding, and after hearing about her rave reviews, I was surprised Grace Estates had not popped up on our radar before.     Then, upon doing a little research on their webpage and seeing the beautiful views this winery offers…..we just had to alter our plans, and check it out.  And, we were not disappointed.

Turns out, Grace Estates  is now established on the Mt. Juliet Farms in Crozet, VA.  We had been in the vicinity of this property a few times before,when it was just a vineyard, and not a winery.   The property had been very visible to us as we traveled to both White Hall Vineyard and Glass House vineyard on trips in the past.  For the past 18 years, Mt. Juliet Farms has been churning out grapes for a number of VA wineries.   They boast 63 acres of grapes, which sticks out on the road as you travel by.  And then the sheer size and beauty of the estate high on the hill makes you do a double take!  In both of our drive bys, we had been interested in the property, so we were delighted when we arrived at the winery and made the connection.

Grace Estates from the road

Once we got up the long winding road to the estate, we saw that the view from that side was even better.

  The view and the grounds are reason enough to visit Grace Estates.  The employees are another.  They were prompt in greeting us and worked very hard in keeping up with many number of tastings they had in progress.  In between pours, we were able to garner some really interesting information from them.  First off, the winery has only just opened this past June.  However, from the history of the farm, they have well established grapes, and now about 20 % of their grape  to bottle wines under the estate name.  The name of the vineyard and the logo come from the Grace Family of the WR Grace Company  which is a chemical conglomerate.  One of the three brothers, John Grace recently brought the property, as it is a replica of the Kilarney Estates in Ireland which has ties to his ancestors.   Even though the house looks quite old from the road, it is actually a pretty new residence, and that is evident once you get up close and personal.   Mr. Grace’s primary residence is in Switzerland, and thus the basement of the house has recently been turned into a nice tasting room.  On  the first ‘chilly’ fall day we have had so far this year, we were greeted with a toasty fire and some beautiful paintings of the vineyard.  It provides a nice backdrop to a tasting.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a glass (Mickey a Vioginer, and me their Chardonnay) outside on the porch taking in the view.

Looking back towards the tasting room and porch of Grace Estates.

Our visit to Grace Estates was most enjoyable, and we look forward to seeing how this vineyard develops in the coming years.  With a beautiful setting and friendly employees, they are off to a promising start.

Cardinal Point’s LOVEworks sign is wonderful!

From Grace Estates,  we veered back to our original plan of visiting one of our early forays into the Virginia wine world: Cardinal Point.  We had a few of these to chose from, but I had an ulterior motive in picking Cardinal Point:  they have a Virginia LOVE works piece made out of wine barrels.  That in and of itself was reason enough to pay Cardinal Point a visit.  Turns out, that was all we got.  The tasting room was busting at the seams, and we were a bit pressed for time, so we decided to head up the road to Afton Mountain Vineyards.

Afton Mountain Vineyards was just up the road, and  Mickey had wanted to go there instead of Cardinal Point the in the first place, as he had been reading about all the upgrades Afton Mountain has made in the past few years and was excited to check them out.  But, I insisted on Cardinal Point for the LOVEworks.  In the end, I was so glad we check out Afton Mountain. (But, we also got a cute picture…..so it all worked out!)

First, there is the view…..

The amazing view at Afton Mountain….even on an overcast day!

Pretty much backs up their claim that ‘grapes don’t grow in ugly places’!

What a gem Afton Mountain Winery is……and they are doing so many things right.  First off, they have moved from their original tasting room into what used to be the house of the previous owner.  That tasting room and patio have then been expanded upon a few times, and an additional patio/ weather proof pagoda has been added on to the premises.  The facility is only overshadowed by the view:

And then, there is their service…..as soon as we stepped in the door, we were greeted by a friendly employee who asked if we wanted a tasting, and directed us to a couch to wait while a space was created for us in a tasting.  Shortly thereafter, we were added to one already in progress.  Interestingly enough, the other couple in our group had seen us at Cardinal Point, and left for the same reasons.  They were a fun pair, and combined with a hilarious pourer, we had the best time making our way down the enjoyable list of wines at Afton Mountain.  You have the choice here to taste just reds, just whites or both.  Our friends left after the whites, which left us to chat up our pourer for the rest of the tasting.   She had been at Afton Mountain through all of the expansion and gave us some nice history and fun anecdotes during her time working at the winery.

We are quite smitten with Afton Mountain Winery, and already have plans to head back next month with friends for our fall ‘un-win(e)d Friday!’

One other side note from this trip through the Monticello wine region is this:   weekends in Virginia wine country are getting busier.  There is much more traffic on the roads, and the tasting rooms are bustling.    At the outset, we thought we would meet small crowds since it was a home UVA football game.  But, it was noticeably busier than last fall.  It’s no wonder….as it is a great hobby, and a really great way to spend the day.  We are thrilled to see the industry booming, and hope that the vineyards will keep in step with the growth so wine tasting in the Old Dominion remains a pleasant pastime.

 

Mickey’s Take:

This past weekend, we decided to take a trip to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage while sampling some great wine.  We left Harrisonburg with a plan to visit Grace Estates Winery in the Crozet area and then perhaps check out Cardinal Point Winery and/or Afton Mountain Vineyards on the way back home.  Our visit to both Grace Estates and Afton Mountain were spectacular, as I will discuss in more detail below.

Grace Estates Winery

The tasting room for this winery is located in the “walk-out” basement of a very large home, located on top of a ridge, in the White Hall area of Albemarle County.  There is a patio and sizable yard area behind this home that are amply furnished with comfortable chairs, couches, etc. which are perform to enjoy both the wine and the view.  The view faces to the east and is absolutely spectacular.  Similar to Stone Mountain, but without the crazy drive.

The service was great.  We were greeted at the door and promptly seated for our tasting as the bar was full.  The servers were obviously busy, but they did not appear harried nor did they rush us through our tasting.  They were professional and friendly, but also very efficient.  My only criticism is that they did not seem extremely knowledgeable about wine.

I did not keep tasting notes on each wine and my memory is now fading (this happens when you approach 40).  However, the wines were not memorable with the exception of the Viognier and the Chardonnay, but for different reasons.  I found the Chardonnay to be very weak and over-oaked, very disappointing.  In contrast, the Viognier was medium bodied and full of a bright fruit flavor.  An excellent wine that can be enjoyed with a light meal or by itself.  The other wines were all average.  Not great, but not bad either.  Drinkable.

All in all, Grace Estates Winery is spectacular.  Definitely a “must see” if you are in the Crozet area.  You will love the view and service while probably finding at least one wine that you enjoy.

Afton Mountain Vineyards

 

In a word, “awesome”!  We first visited Afton Mountain Vineyards approximately six years ago when we were first beginning our journey to become accomplished winos.  Our recollection of the visit was vague, but we knew the tasting room was small and we heard bad things about their service in subsequent years.  Recently, I had heard that new owners had totally revamped this vineyard and that it was a great place to visit.  What an understatement!

The spacious new tasting room is in a renovated home with views to match those from Veritas (which is located just a few miles down the road).  Additionally, there is a large outdoor seating covered seating area that you can enjoy if you wish.  We were greeted at the door by an employee who immediately seated us and then directed us to the first available server.  Our server was extremely friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable about wine.  Definitely one of the top servers which we have encountered at our many (although not enough) vineyard visits.

The covered seating area is a great addition to the grounds at Afton Mountain

As at Afton Mountain, I did not do a good job keeping tasting notes.  Bad, Mickey!  With that being said, my recollection is that all of the wines are good.  However, the Pinot Noir and Cab Sav, were much better than average.  Very tasty and better than most.

The next time you want to a visit a vineyard in the Charlottesville area, I’d recommend that you skip the crowds at King Family/Veritas and visit Afton Mountain Vineyards!

Virginia is for Lovers!

Our family at the outset of Harrison Holiday 2013 posing at the New Kent LOVE WORKS sign.

My name is Minnie, and I have a new Virginia obsession….visiting and photographing LOVE works signs!  These signs have been popping up throughout the state as a nod to the most endearing tourism logo ever…..”Virginia is for Lovers”.

Is it too late to change our blog to virginiavinesandtrailsandloveworkssigns?  Yeah, even I think that  is a bit much.

The slogan, ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ was established in 1969.    It is hard to believe that it is even older than me (though if you read our last post, you know not by too many years!).   According to the Wikipedia site which is dedicated to the slogan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_is_for_Lovers), “it has become a well recognized and often imitated part of American jargon. In 2012, Advertising Age called Virginia is for Lovers “one of the most iconic ad campaigns in the past 50 years.”  So much so, that in fact the famous ‘I love New York’ is one of those imitators.

Over the years, and in variations on the main theme for travel and tourism, different additions have been made:  Virginia is for (beach) lovers…..for (mountain) lovers…..for (history) lovers, and our favorite:  for (wine) lovers, to name just a few!

In 2013, the Virginia Tourism Corporation added a fun twist to the constant theme:  encouraging cities throughout the state to show that ‘Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation’ by putting their own spin on a LOVE works sign for their area.  At the time of this post, there are 31 locations across the state, and I have become very engaged in tracking them down for photo (and learning) opportunities!  The Virginia Tourism website has an interactive map detailing each location:  http://www.virginia.org/love/

The draw for me is the uniqueness of each piece of work.  The communities that work together to put them up spend a great deal of time and energy coming up with what sets their area apart and consolidates their ideas  into wonderful representations of their history and culture.  Besides, I have always loved a good photo-op, and Virginia LOVE works signs provide a wonderful backdrop for such endeavors.

So, here is how my interest in the  the signs began:  I first noticed a LOVE WORKS sign about a year and a half ago.  We were headed to VA Beach, and stopped at the Virginia Welcome Center in New Kent.  The boys and I were messing around and had Mickey take a few pictures of us around different letters.    Later, while reviewing the pictures, I had really wished Mickey had been in them with us because they would have made an awesome Christmas card!  The next few times we were through that area, the LOVE sign was no longer there, to my dismay.  It turns out, the original sign spent the year traveling around to tourist spots throughout the state.   As of early summer 2013, the sign was back at New Kent as a permanent fixture, just in time to for us to pose at the start of Harrison Holiday 2013!

But, in the meantime….

In the spring of 2013, I happened down to the Harrisonburg Farmers Market on a random Tuesday to get bread for that evening’s dinner and saw my second LOVE woks sign, right here in our hometown.  I posted about it on Facebook, and was shortly sent to the Harrisonbug LOVE works website from some friends ‘in the know’.  I loved reading on the website about how a group of local artists and community members came up with this great piece of art:

As I learned,  each letter took on a meaning from four aspects of our local culture:  L=Ethnic and cultural diversity / O=agricultural heritage / V= outdoor recreation / E= the arts.  And construction of all four letters used ‘locally sourced and re-purposed materials”.   Then each letter has been placed for display upon a bluestone slab, which is also a local treasure!  The sign is strategically placed  near the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, but a little off to itself where visitors can enjoy it in a nice tree-shaded, grassy spot.    As wonderful as Harrisonburg sign looks in a photo, it really does not do it justice as to how individually crafted each letter has been made, and the attention to detail:  The L has flags and lists of the many different countries that are represented by people who now reside in the Harrisonburg area.  The O has a wonderfully carved mountain scene into its base, the V is made of old bicycle frame, and the E; since it represents art;  has a dry erase area for visitors to express themselves.  Check out the website yourself, to learn more:  http://loveworksharrisonburg.wordpress.com/

As a side note on the Harrisonburg sign, here is an example of how these signs can be used in unique ways for members of the community:

The BBC enjoying the Harrisonbug sign

For the past four summers, our family hosts a Boys Book Club with some of Billy and JJ’s friends.  In the BBC, the boys read the book on their own, and then we meet to discuss it and do a fun activity that is (sometimes loosely) related to the book.  We used the Harrisonburg LOVE works sign as a focal point for one of our meetings in July.  After reading Bridge to Terebithia, we all met in downtown Harrisonbug and found a few existing letterboxes.  The boys then created a letterbox of their own incorporating the LOVE works sign, as well as some tidbits of local history.  So, now a trip to the LOVE works sign in Harrisonburg can also take you on a little scavenger hunt to find our letter box, and learn a little bit about the older buildings in the city, courtesy of the BBC!  Here is our letterbox:  http://www.letterboxing.org/BoxView.php?boxnum=65423&boxname=For_the_Love_of_Books

The sign in New Kent was just a photo op for me, but our experience with the Harrisonburg sign and the BBC got me hooked on the LOVE works signs.   I was anxious to find other sites and see if they lived up to the bar set by our hometown sign.   In late summer, I started to make plans to see them on all of our adventures.  In September, the boys and I headed to Ohio for a family visit and a reunion planning committee meeting for me at my college.  Humpback Bridge is a fun point just off interstate 64, near Covington, VA.  We have stopped at this location before to break up our long drive, and we have always enjoyed our time there.  So, imagine how happy we were to find this gem there:

Once again, the picture just does not do this masterpiece justice.   Three of the letters were made out of resourced materials from local factories, and the bridge itself.  And then they used the natural beauty of the area to set it up so that the tree along the creek bed could serve as the ‘V’.  In its simplicity, it is quite impressive.  When we first walked up to it, however, at the side angle, we thought the V was missing!   Imagine our delight when we spotted the V in all its glory!  Of all the signs we have seen thus far, I would recommend the Humpback Bridge one as a destination all its own.    I remain quite partial to the Harrisonburg sign overall…..but the Covington one is stunning.

The next weekend, I was set to run a half marathon around Leesburg with some of my girlfriends.  Being the good friends they are, they humored me by taking a small detour to the town of Purcellville to see their LOVE works sign.  It is dedicated to the emerging wine industry in the area, which of course is of endearing to me.  I especially liked the L because it was made entirely out of wine corks.  I enjoy crafting things out of corks….and now have it in mind to make our very own sign for home out of corks.   That’s a lot of corks, however…even for us!     I also liked the E, as it had a number of wine labels from different local vineyards shellacked on the letter.  It was fun to pick out wines Mickey and I have tried.  The Purcellville sign is a wonderful representation of the local flavor.  Set next to the train station and bike path, and surrounded by a charming retail area, this sign is a most charming presentation.

The Waynesboro LOVE works sign is a perfect example of how my new hobby is informative.  Even though I visit and pass through this neighboring town often, I did not know that it was home to Virginia’s first Urban Trout Fishery.   And so, not surprisingly, their LOVE works sign pays tribute to that distinction with all four letters having some association with fishing.   Visitors can find this sign just past downtown in Constitutional Park.  It resides in a lovely little spot along the river and walking path.  On the day I visited there were a number of residents enjoying the sign as they were recreating in the park.  This is an area used by the city for many festivals and events, so the Waynesboro LOVE works sign serves as a fantastic welcome to visitors and residents alike.

Luray’s LOVE works sign is wonderful in its identity.  Nicknamed the ‘logs of love’, the entire sign is made up of wooden logs to signify Luray/Page county as being the ‘Log Cabin Capitol of Virginia’.  The sign is located adjacent to Luray Caverns parking lot, so visitors are treated to a lot of action in this location.   Besides the caverns, there are many fun recreational opportunities in the same vicinity….a few local interest museums, the garden maze….and our favorite, the ropes adventure course, not to mention the famous caverns themselves.  Luray is one LOVE works sign my family did not complain about visiting!

And finally, our most recent LOVE works conquest:  Winchester.  This cute sign, is located inside the Fredrick Country visitors center, although it is a mobile display that is taken out for parades and other community events.  LOVE is spelled out in pink and green letters, and decorated in Apple Blossoms.  Winchester is  known as an apple producing region of Virginia.  Each year, the city plays host to  the Shenandoah Apple Blossom festival with large crowds and various events during the week long festivities.  Visitors to this location are rewarded with a choice of free and fresh apples, picked fresh and delicious.

I travel to Winchester a few times a month with Billy, as it is the base of the Shenandoah Valley Young Marines, of which he is a member.  I waited patiently for an occasion where our whole family to be along before visiting, and I finally got one this past weekend.  Through Young Marines, Billy and JJ were afforded the opportunity to participate in the Young Eagles program at the Winchester airport.  After the flying lesson, my LOVE works sign-suffering family obliged me with this great group shot:

So, seven signs down…..24 to go.   It might take me awhile, but I hope to see as many of these works of art as I can.  They are great compliments to our adventures throughout the state, and a new hobby that I just ‘LOVE’!

Hawksbill Summit

MM: 45ish on Skyline Drive. (** See rant below for ‘ish’ explanation) 

Closest Entrance: Swift Run Gap

2.2 Miles Roundtrip. (By our GPS, the guidebook said 2.1…. most accurate yet)

Last weekend was my birthday weekend, and it had been a few weeks since we hit the trails, so I was really itching to fit in a hike; and maybe catch a glimpse of some early changing of the leaves.  Especially since it appears our next few weekends are jam packed with events.    I just needed to find the  ‘perfect hike’ for us to do.  In the last few years, one hike keeps popping up on our radar, but for some reason or another it has always been set aside for a future date.  That hike is Hawksbill Summit, which at 4,050 feet is the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park.  Located just a few miles north of Big Meadows, this hike is one of the most popular trails on Skyline Drive.  One reason is its close proximity to Big Meadows, the second reason is the AMAZING views, and I think a third reason is that it has a few varied routes that would appeal to different hikers for different reason.  And a 4th reason, (but probably not last reason) for Hawksbill Summit’s popularity is…who does not want to say they have hiked to the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park?   And then be rewarded with this view:

JJ soaking in the majesty of Hawksbill Summit

The descent on any hike is where I really start to show my age. The family hikes ahead and then pauses in wait for me the entire way.  See them far in the distance.  This is my usual view on our descents.

As mentioned before, there are a few ways to get to the summit, and by description, the hike itself will be quite different depending on which route you take to the top.    There is a loop that measures in at 2.9 miles round trip, and then two out and back options  at 1.7 and 2.1miles respectively.   On this day, we chose the 2.1 route.   By research, we learned that the loop option was the most scenic, but with a very steep downhill return.  I had mentioned this being my birthday week…..and as an approaching 42 year old, I have really come to realize that steep downhill is tough on my aging knees, so I made the executive decision to avoid that route.  The shortest route was also the most steep uphill climb…..which ultimately is the hardest route, despite being the shortest.    Thus, the middle route on this particular day seemed the best for us.  We were more in the mood for some fresh air and quality family time spent at the summit, not necessary a hard core hike.    Billy had been at a slumber party the night before, and was operating on just a few hours sleep…..and JJ said he was still ‘recovering from Dragon’s tooth’….3 weeks ago.  I knew they were being good sports to agree to my ‘birthday hike’ so we all compromised on the easiest route.

One of the more interesting plants we encountered was this thing. And judging by a carved path off the main trail about 50 yards away, we were not the only hikers to have gone to take a second look!

As far as the trail experience, know that I am just speaking  to the middle route, and the three different options actually unfold quite differently.  For us,  the first .7 miles were a nice ‘walk in the woods’. We saw a variety of foliage and vegetation; including pine trees since we were approaching such a high elevation.  But, then at that point, the trail runs into a ‘fire road’ and the last half mile up to the summit was less than enjoyable.  It was rocky and steep without much to look at…..but for us, on this day, it was the perfect choice.  I know we will head back one day and probably chose the longer loop, as it is rumored to have the best ‘aesthetics’ of all the choices.

The first thing you encounter as you approach Hawksbill Summit is the Byrds nest shelter.

As we approached the summit, we immediately encounter the Byrds Nest #2  shelter.  It is a three sided structure just available for day use, as overnight camping is not allowed on Hawksbill Summit.  The shelter is very reminiscent of an AT shelter….and whenever I see them, I always marvel at the thru hikers who view these structures as ‘luxury’ during their journey!  We figure at one point, the hut was available for camping….but with the popularity of the hike, that no longer became practical.

Breath taking views in all directions are found at the Hawksbill Summit!

Straight ahead, you will encounter the amazing view of Luray and the Massanutten Mountain Range.  We had the distinct pleasure of hitting the summit on a beautiful early fall day.  There were slight hints of fall foliage the the trees, getting us excited for what we have heard will be a beautiful fall for us leaf peepers!

If you follow the trail just a few yards up to the right, there is an observation platform with a built in compass that was fun to use to orient ourselves.  From that perspective, we were able to look down on Skyline Drive as it meanders through the mountains….and in the distance Stony Man peak.  While we were discussing the view in this exact position, we were blessed with a most wonderful act of kindness.  A man approached us and handed the boys each a homemade compass, which they were absolutely thrilled with.  Turns out he and his wife have ‘store’ on ETSY (one of my favorite websites and shopping locations!) with items inspired by their time in the great outdoors.  Such an unexpected treat for my adventure loving guys!  And now the compasses are prominently attached to each of their ‘adventure’ bags for future use, and a reminder of a kind man who just likes to share his love of the outdoors and his crafting talents.    This encounter is prime example of one reason I love hiking…..the people you meet.  We have discovered some of the most friendly and interesting people on the trails, and despite our worlds intersecting for just a few moments, those encounters are so memorable.  An interesting chicken/egg question……are kind people drawn to the trails…..or can hiking influence people for the better?

So, to repay the kindness, if you are ever in the market for fun, handmade outdoorsy things, check out Wilderness Serenity shop on etsy.com:

Billy and JJ with their cool compasses, which by the way matched up well with the compass at Hawksbill Summit.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WildernessSerenity?ref=shop_sugg

The last picture taken of me as a 41 year old was a ‘selfie’….headed towards the highest peak in the SNP. Not bad for an ‘aging’ lady!

All the views at the summit were more than we had expected.  Despite finding ourselves high atop a peak on average of about once a month for the past five years….. the beauty of mountains still continue to astound me.    And we paused a good long while to take in the view, munching on Mike and Ikes (JJ’s choice) and loving life.    As it often happens in our schedule, we take our hikes on Sundays after church.  And our time upon the mountains is quite spiritual for me.  I love soaking in God’s grace and power in a place that can only have been created by the divine.  Glory be to God, indeed!

One note of importance on the return hike: make sure you remember to take note of the entrance of each hike variation to the summit so that you head back on the correct trail.  If not, finding your car might be a challenge.  We made the correct return choice and had a pretty uneventful return, slowed down by my pace as noted in an above picture.  We took a few moments at the Big Meadows way station for a bathroom break and a chance to look in the gift shop, which I always like to do when our hikes are close enough to one of the Lodges.

So, all in all a fabulous birthday-eve for me.  And one I feel very blessed to have taken.  I know 42 is not that old, and that my best years are ahead of me and that every moment is a blessing.  But, the days do pass quickly, and the years even more so.  And, when it gets to the point that my knees can no longer take me down the mountain and/or Mickey and are in our ’empty nest years’, I will have memories….and pictures like this to look back upon, and know that our family is so very lucky to be able to hike on a whim in the beautiful Shenandoah National Park!

As I sit here writing this blog a mere 48 hours later, we are in the first few hours of the government shutdown.  And guess what that means?  All facilities and activities and employees in the Shenandoah National Park are sidelined today and infidelity.  Yes, on October 1st…at the beginning of the best month of the year for hiking and leaf peepers.  For locals and for vacationers alike to take in the majesty of the mountains.    When we visited the park for just two days ago, every parking lot we passed was filled to the brim with people enjoying the park.    I am not a big fan of the Government as it currently exists (and I know I am not alone in this opinion whatever side of the aisle you are on) and I happen to believe that it is doing most things wrong (not to start a political debate).  But, other than our military which sacrifices immensely to keep us safe, I would say that the National Park Service is the best thing the Federal Government offers… by providing such amazing opportunities all over the country to millions of people each year.    Although I have my opinions on things, I realize there is no easy answer to the predicament our country now faces.   And I am not naive enough to think I have the answers.  But, it just ‘grinds my gears’ that gross incompetence at one level abolishes the good that happens at ‘non-essential’ levels.

I will get off my soapbox in a moment, but not before I add this….here at VW&T, we really try and give accurate information to our readers to make the planning for their hiking/wine trips seamless.    I would like to be able to provide you with the exact mile markers for each of the variations of Hawksbill Summit.  However, as of today (10/1/13), not only is the park closed to the public…..but all governmental websites are as well.    I accessed it over the weekend, and found the hike MM we wanted….but did not record the others.  And now that information is floating through cyber-shutdown land!  That is right….we cannot even access information on the park service website until this shutdown is resolved.  All of our ‘law-makers’ in DC still get paid to reference what ‘The American People’ want in their bloated speeches that go nowhere, and we cannot even access existing information on websites.  Really?  So, we will update this post when we can, but for now, the entrances to all the three trail heads is around MM 45.  I did not plan to do this rant until I could not access this info…but forgive me, that just sent me over the edge!

And now to get me into a better mood after my  ‘rant’, I will add two pictures of the world’s best hiking dog…..just because!  A daddy/daughter pose…..and one I shall call, ‘Boy and his dog’!

Ratings  Hawksbill Summit:

4.4 (out of 5)

Minnie – 4.5. ” I loved the views and would highly recommend this hike!”

Mickey-4 ‘It’s a neat view, and I like the platform at the top.”

Billy – 5 “It was really pretty and not too hard.  Who am I kidding, I was so sleepy from my slumber party, I hardly remember anything except the view and my compass.”

JJ – 4.5. “I am still recovering from Dragon’s Tooth so it was as good as any non-rock scramble hike could be.”

J-Wow:  4. ” Since it is so popular, there were a lot of other 4 legged friends on this hike which I always like.  However, some of them were not very friendly to me….which you always need to be aware of!  I am not a huge fan of just sitting around at the summit.  But, the rest of my pack is.  So, I annoyed them a bit, and finally we were able to head back down the mountain and try and catch all the squirrels along the path.  I am never successful in doing that….but I will keep on trying!”