That's my new hat from Glen's Fair Price store. It has a chin strap to keep the wind from blowing it off on the ridgetops.
You can see how high up I am. This is from the halfway point on Austin Mountain, looking south towards Trayfoot Mountain. That's Furnace Mountain on the far right edge.
Below is the view towards the valley, looking out past the ridge of Austin Mountain out the Madison Run pass.
One of the few critters out this early in the spring.
The rocks on Austin Mountain are gorgeous. Notice the trail is following the ledge along a steep cliff. One misstep and you're suddenly 500 feet down.
Yes, that's the trail below. When the trail guide said this trail was rocky, rough, and strenuous, they mean business. This trail always tires me out when I'm coming UP it. (That's why I've only ever been halfway. Two miles of steep rocky climbing is about all I can take.) But going down, it's a lot better. This hike is now added to my list of favorites in the Shenandoah Park.
However, it is indeed steep, rocky, rough, and not for the beginner.
This trail runs along a ledge slabbing the southeast side of the the summit. The ledge runs along the cliff for about a mile. Great views to the east.
I got back to the gorge of Madison Run just about sunset, and still had almost a mile to walk back down the fire road to the car. 
Although most people would not think that a fifteen-mile, eight-hour hike with over 2400 feet of elevation climb is relaxing, I cannot think of anything I do that is more relaxing, unless it's sitting in my recliner listening to Rossini, Beethoven, or Handel. Ahhhh, I really, truly, need to do this more often.
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