Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Second Day - Big Meadows

I had hoped to reach Big Meadows about halfway through Skyline Drive on the first day. I didn't make it that far. I did get there about 10 in the morning on the second day though. I went for a interpretive tour with a ranger and then wandered around the meadow for a bit. After that, I took a walk through the woods.


The visitor center at Big Meadows from the meadow.





Shots from the meadow.



They burn 1/3 of the meadow every year to keep it from becoming overgrown with brambles. This is a section that was burned about a month before I got there.



The path leading from the campground and lodge to the visitor center.




Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Second Day, part 2

After a bit the weather started to clear.

At one of the many turnouts along the road.







Random stops along the way



The Second Day

The next day started off pretty overcast. The clouds were low and you couldn't see the tops of the mountains.

Starting up Skyline Drive.


A couple of miles up the road at a visitor center.


Skyline Drive


Skyline Drive



Along Skyline Drive




Day 1

Most of the first day of my trip was spent driving to Front Royal. By the time I got there, it was later in the day. I'd hoped to hit the soaring club there, but the airport was closed down and there was no activity there.


This was located at the entrance to the airport. The weather was crummy so I didn't stick around.


I did however, drive a few miles into the park. It was getting dark and the road was in the clouds so I didn't spend much time there before turning around and heading back to Front Royal for the night. The entrance to Shenandoah National Park and the start of Skyline Drive.