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Kurt’s Hikes

CURRENT Kurt’s Hikes

Snowy Hike on Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail from U.S. 220 at Daleville to Carvins Cove overlook at back. About 5.6 miles.

Walking to John Gorka

From our house via the Roanoke River Greenway and Franklin Road to downtown Roanoke and back. About 6 miles.

A Virginia “Classic” in Winter

Rock Castle Gorge loop from Rocky Knob Campground at Parkway milepost 167.1. 10.6 miles

Where 4.0 is really 2.8

Price Mountain and Sulphur Ridge Trails loop. 4 miles

Late December Hikes: Three Nearby Faves

December 15: Parkway Milepost 101.5: FR 191 to AT to Fullhart Knob Shelter and back. December 23: Read Mountain Trail up and back with Aden and Matthew. December 31: Woodthrush Trail to Ridgeline Trail to top of Mill Mountain and down the Star Trail.

Current Issue

Snow on Tinker Mountain, 1/26/2013.

Snowy Hike on Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail from U.S. 220 at Daleville to Carvins Cove overlook at back. About 5.6 miles.
Hard to hear, in the typed word, John Gorka's joke as he picked up this G-sharp guitar: "OK, I'm gonna play a little guitar for you know." (As in "talk a little smack" or "tell you a little story" . . . OK, you had to be there.)

Walking to John Gorka

From our house via the Roanoke River Greenway and Franklin Road to downtown Roanoke and back. About 6 miles.
f6030d54-6a4c-11e2-81d7-1231394043be-rock-castle-bald2

A Virginia “Classic” in Winter

Rock Castle Gorge loop from Rocky Knob Campground at Parkway milepost 167.1. 10.6 miles
Have we mentioned we have matching hiking shoes, with a not-matching-anything dog?

Where 4.0 is really 2.8

Price Mountain and Sulphur Ridge Trails loop. 4 miles
From left: Aden, Kurt and Matthew at Buzzard Rocks looking west, December 23, 2012.

Late December Hikes: Three Nearby Faves

December 15: Parkway Milepost 101.5: FR 191 to AT to Fullhart Knob Shelter and back. December 23: Read Mountain Trail up and back with Aden and Matthew. December 31: Woodthrush Trail to Ridgeline Trail to top of Mill Mountain and down the Star Trail.
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Departments

Vibrant Monarch butterfly clings to its translucent dew covered cocoon
Creature Feature

Monarch Mimickers

It’s easy to mistake other orange species for the king of fall butterflies.

August 26, 2026
At Coopers Rock State Forest, new Stargazer cabins invite guests to look up through skylights and telescopes.
Country Roads

Even Closer to Almost Heaven

New Stargazer cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest offer a skyward escape in the mountains of West Virginia.

June 29, 2026
©Duncan Seaman
Country Roads

A Mountain Tradition Turns 90 

Visitors flock to Galax, Virginia, each summer for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention, a days-long celebration of Appalachian music.

June 29, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS