January 27, 2011

Egypt's Adoption Day:

All photos: Lamar Smart

Looking Glass Rock

 Looking Glass Rock, North Carolina

3,969ft.

February 2009

Trail: 6.2 miles (Round Trip)

Elevation Gain: 1,700ft.

 Looking Glass Rock from Blue Ridge Parkway

 Trail Map

Trail Head Sign

Pictures along the trail:

Summit Photo

On the edge of Looking Glass Rock

The view from Looking Glass Rock

Christmas Morning 2011

Christmas started a couple of days early when we purchased an eel for Kellisa. Since we don't really like the idea of a pet snake or keeping frozen mice in the freezer, we thought a pet eel would easily double as a pet snake and since both kids call it snake, I think we were successful.                                      

                                               

Our Christmas morning started with Egypt screaming from her bed in terror, which had never happened before. I woke up and ran into her room and she was hysterical. It took a few minutes to settle her down and she was pointing and saying "snake, over there" while pointing towards her bedroom door. I took her very seriously for two reasons. First, we had a corn snake in the garage a few months before and we always have snakes in the yard, so it was believable. Second, a little anole had gotten into Egypt's bedroom just a couple of weeks before Christmas and she accurately told us and pointed to where we found him in the middle of a toy pile.

Scared, but trying to be brave in front of Egypt, I ventured out into the hall and then the living room and didn't see anything obvious. I was hoping it was one of the many toy snakes we have in the house that just caught her off guard because it was early in the morning. I asked Egypt exactly where she saw the snake and she pointed to a rattlesnake on the cabinet we have in the entry hallway. It was actually a gift I had received as a child that I had found the day before in the garage and I thought the kids would love to have it on display somewhere.

Once Egypt realized it wasn't real, she wanted to hold the snake:

                                             

74 degrees outside and we still had our traditional fire:

It was all smiles once the presents were spotted:

Egypt and Kellisa received matching spiders that hang from the ceiling and descend when you walk under them (bought at Halloween time):

 

Kellisa enjoying her remote control rattlesnake that slithers, hisses and rattles:



Fun with the presents:

Kellisa reading a new book:

Egypt opening and then playing with her basketball hoop:

Always jealous of Kellisa and her "Hannah headphones", Egypt finally has her own MP3 player loaded with Alicia Keys, aka Egypt's Rock-n-Roll:

Relaxing:



Mount Rogers

Mount Rogers, Virginia

5,729ft.

Kellisa and I went to Virginia in June of 2006 hoping to reach the summit of Mount Rogers. This would have been our first highpoint that required serious hiking. Unfortunately, the trail we had planned to hike was steep and rocky. We were unable to attempt the trail with Kellisa's store bought jog stroller. I was hoping that we "just weren't ready yet" for Mount Rogers.

6.13.06

Not ready to give up on reaching the summit of Mount Rogers with Kellisa, I decided to solo hike the trail in March 2008. It was a cold day and the trail was covered with fresh snow. I made it to the summit following the trail from Massive Gap in Grayson Highlands State Park. 

I found myself in the area of Mount Rogers and completed my second solo hike to the summit from Massive Gap in October 2008.

There are three trails and possibly a 4th variation using horse trails to the summit of Mount Rogers. Already ruling out the trail from Massive Gap, I decided to try a second route from Elk Garden Gap when I was in the area in June 2011. I reached the summit for a third time. Unfortunately, this trail is not suitable for an ascent with Kellisa. With options still remaining, I am hopeful that I will find a path for Kellisa.

The trail started out promising:



And then the roots and rocks appeared: