December 7: Dragon’s Tooth Trail to Appalachian Trail north to Scout Trail and Dragon’s Tooth Trail loop. 3.3 miles.
The doggie, see, can no longer—never could really, chicken that she is—make the semi-technical climbs there toward the end of the AT to the Dragon’s Tooth. That was our excuse for this weenie walk.
December 13: Our house to downtown Roanoke’s Billy’s Restaurant. 6 miles.
No doggie excuse this week—just The Sometime Greatest Day Hiker Of Them All pleading to stay out of the woods on a cold day and instead walk to some delicious food, followed by only minimal complaints that we hadda walk back home.
December 21: Appalachian Trail from Va. 311 north to McAfee Knob and back. 7.8 miles.
The In-Gear Greatest Day Hiker Of Them All showed her still-vibrant colors on this day, charging up the mountain in proof once again that when she has a destination and knows how far it is, she will crush it. I caught up in time for lunch.
December 27. Star Trail on Mill Mountain up and down. 3.4 miles.
The classic bait and switch hike from part of the family, as the plan was to all hike up and all hike back down. However, the two families, using the oh-so-flimsy excuse of sleeping babies (not to mention the dread of carrying them back down), dispatched The Day Hiker and me back down to get their cars and drive up the dang mountain. Unconscionable.
