McAfee Knob
The Day Hiker doesn't much like standing out on that precipice.
This favorite has become a bit of a tradition for New Year's Day or Eve over the past several years when we're in town. And for others too, it seems, as there's generally a little crowd up top.
Not so much on this threatening day. And sure enough, just as we were spreading out lunch, the drops started to fall. I strung up our little fly for the second time ever, and it looked just as wacky and approximate as the first time; but did keep the drops off while we ate.
We started back down under a drizzle and at the 1.5-mile mark, cheated off onto the forest road for a little easier walking. The rain let up about halfway down.
Appalachian Trail from Va. 311 to McAfee Knob and back. 7.4 miles.
How to get there: Va. 311 west from Salem.