{"id":6018,"date":"2011-07-11T08:32:28","date_gmt":"2011-07-11T13:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/?p=6018"},"modified":"2011-10-23T15:39:58","modified_gmt":"2011-10-23T20:39:58","slug":"best-times-to-hike-mcafee-knob-on-the-appalachian-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/2011\/07\/11\/best-times-to-hike-mcafee-knob-on-the-appalachian-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Best times to hike McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925505931\/\" title=\"Silhouette shot at McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6004\/5925505931_cca3bb4ed8.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Silhouette shot at McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>McAfee Knob might well be the most-documented stop along the Appalachian Trail. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hikingupward.com\/JNF\/McAfeeKnob\/\">Click for the essential turn-by-turn guide at Hiking Upward.com<\/a>). A rocky slab juts out from a rock face, creating a perfect promontory for snapshots giving the impression you&#8217;re braving extreme danger to be  there. OK, so if you fall off the edge your chances aren&#8217;t good but otherwise it&#8217;s a reasonably safe outing. <!--more--><\/p>\n<p>McAfee Knob belongs on any avid hiker&#8217;s Life List, but it&#8217;s way-popular and right down the road from a metro area of over 300,000 people (Roanoke, VA). Go anytime if you don&#8217;t mind the throngs, but if you want a memorable outing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid the most crowded times: Weekend afternoons during peak leaf-peeping season (late October-early November), for example. <\/li>\n<li>If you can&#8217;t get there on a weekday, show up first thing Sunday morning while everybody else is in church. <\/li>\n<li>Pick a sunny to partly sunny day. No point hiking up there when the Knob&#8217;s fogged in. <\/li>\n<li>Take somebody with you to take your picture at the Knob.<\/li>\n<li>If you want to meet some thru-hikers, try late May to early June. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With the public service message of this post now concluded, we can get on to what happened Sunday, best summarized in one word: sweat. <\/p>\n<p>I left the house an hour before sun-up and hit the trailhead on Highway 311 west of Salem, VA (Roanoke is just up the road) at about 7:30 &#8212; plenty early enough to be in my church while everybody else was in theirs, but from the first step there was no denying this would be one moist outing. <\/p>\n<p>Also: It&#8217;s uphill the whole way &#8212; over 1,100 feet of ascent somewhat mercifully stretched out over four miles. While not nearly as grueling as the ascent from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/2011\/06\/24\/blood-mountain-loop-and-neels-gap-on-the-appalachian-trail\/\">Neels Gap to Blood Mountain, <\/a> it&#8217;s still a vigorous workout. <\/p>\n<p>On to the pictures: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926057398\/\" title=\"Catawba Mountain sign by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6133\/5926057398_95d33ca479.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"402\" alt=\"Catawba Mountain sign\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This sign at the trailhead tells you you&#8217;re in the right place.  Crossing the road is the last flat section of the hike. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926057990\/\" title=\"Some flowers still blooming by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6017\/5926057990_3c6540ba3d.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"331\" alt=\"Some flowers still blooming\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s still wildflower season, but they&#8217;re becoming more rare. I also saw a few wild blackberries (well, I think that&#8217;s what they were). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925498407\/\" title=\"3.4 miles to McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6133\/5925498407_25163ce756.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"312\" alt=\"3.4 miles to McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A trail board about a third of a mile up the trail has a map and more signs pointing you along the way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926059498\/\" title=\"Trail bridges by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6148\/5926059498_87882f79c7.jpg\" width=\"338\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Trail bridges\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These trail bridges made me thankful for the local folks who maintain this section of the Appalachian Trail. Otherwise there&#8217;d be a lot more navigating sections of steep sloping rock face. Unfun.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925499995\/\" title=\"Hot sun by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6133\/5925499995_bdf81523f5.jpg\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Hot sun\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Posted in honor of the blazing morning sun. <\/p>\n<p>Two Appalachian Trail shelters are on spur trails along the way. Just stay on the main trail and avoid the turns toward the shelters and you&#8217;ll stay on the right route.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925500701\/\" title=\"John's Spring by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6131\/5925500701_d8a23c85f6.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"311\" alt=\"John's Spring\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A trickle from a spring near the Catawba Mountain shelter. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926061490\/\" title=\"McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6014\/5926061490_5295905d5e.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"327\" alt=\"McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This sign tells you the climbing&#8217;s done. Just explore side trails over to the cliffs. Watch your step; it&#8217;s a long way to the ground below. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925502411\/\" title=\"Outcrop at McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6024\/5925502411_5a00772ba8.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Outcrop at McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the most famous outcrop at McAfee Knob. I was hiking solo and didn&#8217;t feel like bugging fellow hikers to take my picture. Just for fun I tried inserting stuff into the frame to see if it made it any more interesting. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926063226\/\" title=\"Shoes and cliffs by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6146\/5926063226_c0059f25f2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"372\" alt=\"Shoes and cliffs\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Shoes. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925504213\/\" title=\"Hiking pole handle by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6005\/5925504213_a6981b6024.jpg\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Hiking pole handle\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hiking staff handle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925504377\/\" title=\"GPS unit at McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6005\/5925504377_37d9a9daae.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"GPS unit at McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>GPS receiver. Hmm, wonder if should I start charging these companies product-placement fees. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925505239\/\" title=\"Pinecones at McAfee Knob by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6150\/5925505239_2120a67afb.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Pinecones at McAfee Knob\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pine cones are reliably photogenic. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5926063772\/\" title=\"Self portrait by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6146\/5926063772_bd249e169b.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"352\" alt=\"Self portrait\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I also tried to take a self-portrait with the outcrop in the background. I had no luck on that account, but it did amuse me to see the reflection of my camera in my sunglasses lens.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/busybeingborn\/5925506559\/\" title=\"Newspaper clipping at Johns Spring Shelter by busybeingborn, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6017\/5925506559_9065419068.jpg\" width=\"375\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Newspaper clipping at Johns Spring Shelter\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the way back I stopped by the Johns Spring Shelter, where this newspaper clipping told the story of the guy who got the shelter built in honor of his son, a thru-hiker named John Haranzo who committed suicide in 2001. Text of the story is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.roanoke.com\/outdoorswb\/wb\/xp-4702\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>By the time I got back to the parking lot it was well north of 90 degrees F under a punishing sun. The parking lot was still almost full, so you can imagine how jammed it gets on weekends when the weather&#8217;s friendlier. <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;ll cover it for this week. Links for this hike: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.everytrail.com\/view_trip.php?trip_id=1183161\">EveryTrail GPS track.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/category\/destinations\/appalachian_trail\/\">All my Appalachian Trail hikes. <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hikingupward.com\/JNF\/McAfeeKnob\/\">Hiking Upward trail guide. <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tumblr.com\/tagged\/mcafee+knob\">McAfee Knob images on Tumblr.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Google map: <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=200322641802611516044.0004a7cb1a814532f5ec6&amp;gl=us&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=p&amp;ll=37.386526,-80.063038&amp;spn=0.047738,0.085831&amp;z=13&amp;output=embed\"><\/iframe><br \/><small>View <a href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=200322641802611516044.0004a7cb1a814532f5ec6&amp;gl=us&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=p&amp;ll=37.386526,-80.063038&amp;spn=0.047738,0.085831&amp;z=13&amp;source=embed\" style=\"color:#0000FF;text-align:left\">McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail<\/a> in a larger map<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>McAfee Knob might well be the most-documented stop along the Appalachian Trail. (Click for the essential turn-by-turn guide at Hiking Upward.com). A rocky slab juts out from a rock face, creating a perfect promontory for snapshots giving the impression you&#8217;re&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/2011\/07\/11\/best-times-to-hike-mcafee-knob-on-the-appalachian-trail\/\">Read the whole thing<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[488,461,432],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6018"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6018"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6876,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6018\/revisions\/6876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6052"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tommangan.net\/twoheeldrive\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}