November 4: Appalachian Trail from Dripping Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Humpback Rocks and back, 8.6 miles. A beautiful, cool day for new miles of the AT, taking us to one of the more popular spots along this mid-Virginia section. Our walk started just west of Wintergreen Resort at the Dripping Rocks parking area at parkway milepost 9.6, and then climbed up Humpback Mountain for stunning views to the east and south. The trail then makes its way along the ridge to the side trail to Humpback Rocks, which on this November mid-day were host to at least 40 people as we arrived, with many more coming and going, most from the short walk up from milepost 6.0 at the Humpback Gap parking area. With old-dog Gunnar – territorial at times – along for the walk, we decided not to eat on the rocks, and instead retraced our steps on the blue-blazed side trail and ate at a high spot back on the AT. The popularity of Humpback Rocks was demonstrated one more time when a lone walker ambled into our lunch spot – a mile away from the crowded rocks – and wondered aloud where the view was.

November 11: Buffalo Mountain in Floyd County. At 1.5 miles total up and back, this is by far the shortest hike of our now nearly three years of weekend jaunts. This walk, taken with friends Karen and Randy Scott, was made in conjunction with a Floyd-getaway weekend, which included a fine dinner at Oddfellow's and a night of terrific music from the Asylum Street Spankers at the Sun Music Hall, just up the street from the restaurant. The walk is as nifty as it is short, taking you quickly up into a preserve and to just under 4,000 feet. A sign on the way up explains the microclimate and the rare species. We experienced the former – it turned distinctly cooler at the summit on a very pleasant day for November – and we searched fruitlessly for the latter. The views from the peak are nearly endless, giving the feeling you're looking at a whole lot of Virginia at one time, from one beautiful spot. We played name-that-mountain in every direction.

November 19: The Appalachian Trail from Jennings Creek at Va. 614 to Bryant Ridge Shelter and back, 7.6 miles. A cold enough day that The Greatest Day Hiker Of Them All requested a walk to a shelter so we could build a fire for lunch. And Bryant Ridge, by virtue of its location between two streams and its unique, several-level design, is a great one to walk to. The design is the result of a contest among architectural students who went to school with the hiker in whose memory it was built. Son Carl, near-thru-hiker in 2000, remembers Bryant Ridge as among the nicest shelters on the entire trail, and notes its exception in being placed at the confluence of two streams, a circumstance that is generally avoided – to help keep the streams clean and free of pollutants. This walk, up from Jennings Creek, features a steady climb up Fork Mountain to a winter viewpoint, and then a descent and a gentler climb to the shelter. Our fire burned well, lunch was good, and the walk back out was as pleasing – with its views, rock hops and climbs – as the one in.

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