Apalachian Trail, Blackrock Summit, Blackrock Hut and .. BEAR!

At Jack's suggestion, I drove Elise to the Cross Keys Battlefield, and then we rode over to the Port Republic Battlefield.  We drove by the dromedary camel at Mill Creek Church of the Brethren farm, and went up to Elkton and got on Skyline Drive.  At Dundo Picnic Area (formerly Dundo Group Campground, and decades ago, Dundo CCC Camp), we came across Harry's friend Professor Snakely:

We parked at the Blackrock parking area and started hiking along the Apalachian Trail.

This was taken at Blackrock Summit.

We continued on the A.T. past Blackrock, and continued down towards Blackrock Gap, and came across this doe blocking the trail.

We hiked down and down and down, and finally got to the Blackrock Hut.  I had forgotten how far DOWN it is from Blackrock Summit down to the hut.  It must be at least a 500 foot elevation drop across three-quarters of a mile or more.  The hut is used by through-hikers on their way from Springer Mountain Georgia to Mt. Katahdin Maine, but occasionally you find short hikers spending the night.  These people were from Cleveland, and some other places I can't remember.

On the LOOONG climb back to the car, we found a bunny who apparently didn't realize that he was supposed to be scared when people approached.   Elise commented that the only thing that could make the day any better would be to see a bear.

And just about dark, as we were driving home, down Skyline Drive, just south of Beagle Gap, we found him!  He was a teenager, no longer a cub but not quite fully grown, about the size of a fat labrador, just waiting on us to come by and take his picture.   The flash lit up the grass by the side of the road, whereas the bear is over on the other side of the ditch and didn't get as much light.  Oh, well, we know it's a real bear.