It feels like fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Blue Ridge Parkway around milepost 4 in Virginia. Fall-like temp at mid-day was 53 degrees — sweaters and sweatshirts were on tap on this mid-September Sunday.

Looking over Stuarts Draft / Augusta County in the Shenandoah Valley. In the distance are the Alleghany Mountains.

Black bear ambles into Humpback Rock picnic area

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Sunday afternoon in Humpback Rock picnic area, as families grilled and set up picnics on tables scattered throughout the wooded mountainside on the Blue Ridge Parkway, an unexpected — or perhaps not so unexpected — visitor showed up to sniff the air and look for hand-outs. The young black bear had discovered easy pickings in an area populated by people and … food.

Cool summer day at Humpback Rock

By Lynn R. Mitchell

New split rain fence was put up last week at Humpback Rock Farm at Milepost 5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Today it was overcast with fog obscuring the well-known rock outcropping at the top of the mountain … cool temps around 70 on this August summer day in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Foggy day at Humpback Rock

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Humpback Rock was hidden in fog above the Humpback Farm Saturday on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 5.

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
August 9, 2014

Picnicking along the Blue Ridge Parkway

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It was a good day to pop up to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a picnic lunch at Humpback Rock picnic area so that’s exactly what we did.  With a brisk breeze, the temperature in the mountains was a comfortable 82 degrees in the middle of the day, perfect to meander along the Parkway and check favorite hideouts.