River of High Mountains
This past week I traveled SOUTH to Shenandoah Nation Park, where I'd never been before, to meet up with my good friends Glen and Mike to do a little camping and trout fishing way back in the mountains. Glen is the original creator of Glen G's Furry Foam Stonefly Nymph, a killer fly on Pennsylvania's Penns Creek, while Mike is the originator of the Bowman Baetis dry fly, a staple of spring creek baetis hatches anywhere, as well as a former bass player for the Allman Brother's Band. I took the long way getting down there and spent a couple of days hiking and clicking in the Park before meeting up with the boyz.
Blue Ridge Mountains
There's a reason they call them the Blue Ridge Mountains. When the light is just right that is exactly what you see, wave after wave of a sea of blue ridges. There are even blue colored rocks in the mountains and streambeds. Bluestones perhaps?
Bottomless Hole
We saw cascading streams plunge into seemingly bottomless pools.
Shenandoah Valley
Gazed across the wide Shenandoah Valley and it's rolling river.
Skyland
Stayed at the NPS' Skyland Resort for a couple of days. The above image of Skyland was taken from the summit of Stony Man Mountain, at 4,011' it's the second highest peak in the park. Both, Skyland and Stony Man are perched on the western slope of the range.
Old Rag Mountain
We saw views of Old Rag in the evening.
Skyline Drive Snow
And even a few piles of snow left over from a recent spring storm.
And even a few piles of snow left over from a recent spring storm.
Old Rag Mountain
We saw views of Old Rag in the morning.
Traces of the Western Slope
There were so many views, like this one from Tanners Ridge, that I forgot where most of these were taken from.
Around Big Meadows
Somewhere along Skyline Drive is the best I can do.
Fishing Anyone?
I like to fish.
I especially like to fish where I can get into some really good wild country that's teeming with wild native trout. Toss in a well preserved, historical, presidential retreat that's open to the public but only accessible by foot, AND has a couple of trout streams flowing through it then I'm all over it like stink on a monkey.
Yep, that's right. I said Presidential Retreat.
Eat your hearts out.
Eat your hearts out.
It's filthy lousy with water like this...
...And this....
Relics of the Ice Age
...and beautiful native brook trout like these...
Riverstones
Rocks from the proverbial basement of time.
Camp Hoover - The Brown House
Camp Hoover, now known as Rapidan Camp, was the rustic retreat of former President Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou Hoover. It sits high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Shenandoah National Park. The Brown House, as opposed to the White House, was their primary residence when there.
The Prime Minister's Quarters
All men are equal before fishes.
The Brown House Porch
A temporary retreat from a busy world.
Sitting on Top of the World
I reckon.
The Creel House
The Brown House Bridge
The forces of nature discriminate for no man.
Daughters of the Stars
Fishin' for Fun
Stony Man Mountain
The summit of Stony Man Mountain is the second highest in the Park.
Skyland
Happy Motoring America!
Parting Shots:
It's the time of the year when we hold our annual "Where Am I" contest here at WRWT. If there's anyone out there who knows the exact location of either of the two photos below, please jot it down on the back of a 1969 vintage black Fender Stratocaster guitar with a '57 C-shaped maple neck, 5-way pickup selector, late 60's single coil pickups, synchronized tremolo bridge, Gibson PAF humbucker pickup, 1-ply beveled black acrylic 11 hole pickguard and Fender vintage style tuning machines and mail the whole thing to me, Wade Rivers, right here in Hooterville, PA.
Only one entry per person and best of luck to everyone.
Where Am I? #1
Where Am I? #2
8 comments:
I believe that Mike actually wrote the lyrics and music for Ramblin Man, if I'm not mistaken.
Not sure about the first pic, but the 2nd one, I know I was there before, in reality too, not some Jerry Garcia flashback kinda thing. My best guess is looking down the Hughes River valley, towards Old Rag, from the Skyline.
Nudder nice job!
Thanks!
Wade:
I think it's safe for you to venture into the Shenandoah Valley - there's no mistaking you for the #1 villain of the valley - General Phil Sheridan. At 5' -5", Little Phil could really get up close and personal with the land he was burning. Helped him stay under the smoke.
I hear he liked fresh brook trout on his hard tack.
My wife Melissa thinks you guys are too funny. Great being with you guys. How'd you do Sunday?
Mike
Ahh, sweet Mellisa....
I got a skunking, but Elliott caught one. Steve scratched too, I believe. Ell was happy, he caught one each day! It was just a beautiful day on Sunday! We left at about 12-1, probably just as the fishing was going to heat up. Water was still cold at 50 when we left. There were people swimming at the trailhead! Air temp of 60, water temp of 50.....burrrrrr......Yep, outstanding weekend of camping and fishing with great company!
I woke up Sunday morning, and I had those Statesboro Blues. Felt like I was tied to the whipping post too.
So I left a little "scorched earth" in my wake. How come no one ever remembers me for scouting and building the Beartooth Highway?
Nut's to them, let 'em try using the Clarks Fork Canyon to get to Colter's Hell from Fort Union the next time.
Rag Mama rag
I can't believe its true
I like cool river to swim and to fish. I am fond of fishing specially Carp fishing . I am used to do it since my childhood that I have passed in my village where there are a lot of ponds and canal.We usually do Carp fishing in our ponds. Thanks again for such a nice pictorial post.
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