Appalachian Safari (Day 44) – The Hike

Today we arrived at Grayson Highlands, which truly feels like an Appalachian Safari. This has been one of my favorite days so far.

Before we could observe the wild ponies and other wildlife, we still had 5.5 miles of detour left. While yesterday the trail was very nice and gradual, today it was rocky and overgrown. It’s not our favorite part, but we did it in great company!

New trail family?

The last few days, my dad, Ferdinand and I have been walking and hanging out with PK and Dreamcatcher. We thought it would be fun to walk around Grayson Highlands together and do a little Pony Express, as you will.

Ponies!

The Grayson Highlands are not only beautiful, but also famous for having wild ponies roaming around. It’s not every day we get to see these cool animals, so we’re excited!

The views did not disappoint! We are very lucky with the weather. The sun is out, making all the colors super vibrant.

500 miles!

We almost forgot about the 500 mile mark! But today we are also crossing it! Today is full.

Safari time!

We took a break at a small rock outcropping. Not only were we treated to incredible views, but we also witnessed a small play. Because while we were having a snack, a family of ponies entered the scene.

They were grazing peacefully, until another horse-like animal appeared. We couldn’t tell exactly what it was, until he made the characteristic donkey sound and ran after all the ponies to scare them away. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s like watching a nature soap opera.

A little later we reached a patch where we could see the ponies up close. As you can imagine, it’s a slow day, but this is a section to savor and not rush.

If all the ponies and donkeys weren’t enough, we also saw a herd of longhorns crossing the trail! It’s great to see so many animals along the way!

The hardest part of the day.

We crossed the Fat Man Squeeze – a fun but tight little rock scramble.

After all this, we were leaving Grayson Highlands and still needed to travel a few kilometers to reach the shelter.

For the stunning views, interesting landmarks and impressive animals; You’d almost forget you were climbing rocks all day. But now that we’re back on the «normal» path, we’re starting to feel it. The rocky road was hard.

We arrived at the camp at 8 pm, tired but very satisfied. To our surprise, someone had left us a couple cans of beer in the bear box. It’s a great way to end the day! Don’t forget to pack the can. Health!

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