La faune et la flore de Shenandoah Hazel Moutain.

Feeling on top of the world

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Hiking Shenandoah

Last Saturday Jim and I hiked on the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah, with an elevation of 3837.  We felt on top of the world!

Then we visited the Corbin Cabin.

I also took pictures of wildflowers.

Shenandoah national park is a haven for native woodland wildflowers.  Those flowers are 100% wild and are the pure product of nature.  With the help of bees, butterflies, birds and other animals the flowers spread their seeds and pollinate.

Jim and I watched very carefully our steps in order not to harm any wild life on the trail.  The destruction of the tiniest plant can affect the entire forest and the animals.  In Nature all things are connected, like in society.

Thornton River in Shenandoah

 Jim and I went hiking on Saturday.  We took a new trail called after Francis Thornton who bought land in 1740 and built a mansion.  I didn’t take a picture of the mansion but we took other pictures to share with you, once again.  The hiking was amazing, it was 10.6 miles (around 17 kilometers).  We came back refreshed, we filled our lungs with first hand O2, and our clothes with ticks; you know those little parasites that suck your blood?

Hiking Hazel Falls and Cave in Shenandoah.

This week-end, Jim and I went back again to the magical forests of Shenandoah.

The spirit of the woods took care of healing me from my last sickness:)

Finally, my energy is back and so is my vision.

It was a beautiful day.  Spring has left a carpet of flowers all along the trail path.

I took some pictures, but I am sorry for the poor quality, I wished I had Holly’s art or Debra’s skills to capture better the beauty of those fragile plants which may last one or two more days before the heat of the summer dry them up for good.

Hiking Tuscarora Overall Run trail in Shenandoah.

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Hiking, Overall Run Trail, Shenandoah, Tuscarora

Overall Run trail, beautiful falls!

Last Saturday, Jim and I went hiking in Shenandoah.  It was freezing in the morning, almost 30 F, but around 3:00pm the temperature reached 75F.

We took the Overall Run Trail, which is extremely strenuous.  We hiked 9.62 miles in 7 hours.  I know it is a long time to finish 9 miles but not when you are doing a steep descent along the cascade, followed by a steep ascent.  The cascades were beautiful and the river was high because of the snowmelts.  We had to cross many times the river, which means crawling on trees, thrown in the river, or jump from one rock to another.  It was exhausting and extremely challenging.  I am still sore even after 3 days.  This week I couldn’t train for the 5 K or take my exercise group classes (Yoga and Body pump); I can hardly walk to the kitchen to eat:)

But it was a beautiful experience and the first hike of the year.  Cannot wait to go back!