Pinnacle Rock

Took a break today in Pennsylvania to watch dozens of raptors flying around Pinnacle and Hawk Mountain.  They ride the drafts around the point and nest on the rocks below so it's a great vantage point to see the birds up close in flight from above and below but up close either way. The in-person view is spectacular but it is hard (for me at least) to get a good picture.
For those who are wondering,  I skipped north again after a few days of recovery from an infected foot. I go back to NYC soon to pick up my hiking partner for next week, so it made sen sense to stay near. Stay tuned for updates!

ATC Headquarters

The official halfway point on the trail is further north in Pennsylvania,  but the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is the more popular milestone marking the northern half of the trail from the southern half for most long distance hikers.

Raven Rocks

On the Virginia / West Virginia border only a few miles south of Harper's Ferry.

Secret X-Files projects?

One of the interesting things about northern Virginia is the trail runs alongside several high, barbed wire fenced, governmental facilities that are distinctly not open to the public. This one conducts conservation and breeding of endangered animals (cloning Saber tooth tigers or giant mastodons, maybe?). It's the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Research facilty. It used to be run by the US Army for breeding and training government mules among other projects...
Tomorrow takes me to Mount Weather, the FEMA Special Location that becomes the home of the federal government and the broadcast site for messages from the President over the Emergency Broadcast Network. Look it up on Wikipedia!

Exit

It's taken a few days but Shenandoah National Park is now fully to my south. Another week in northern Virginia and West Virginia then across the Potomac into Maryland. Stay tuned.

Pinnacle Mountain

Looking out over the Shenendoah Valley from Pinnacle Mountain.  Lots of humidity and haze today but use your imagination or plan your own trip in late fall or winter when the horizon stretches all the way across the valley.