#TravelsWithOllie: November Group Hike
November 6, 2018
After three failed attempts at hiking Mary's Rock in Shenandoah National Park this year, we finally made it. And wow, we had an amazingly beautiful day for it.
Mary's Rock is one of my favorite moderate hikes in the Shenandoah's. The trailhead is easy to find and the ascent is just the right amount of challenging. This is one of the last hikes I did with all three of my Boston terriers before we lost Murray this year so it also holds a special place in my heart.
Due to the peak fall foliage, the only challenge we faced on Sunday was getting into the park. The lines at the gate grew exponentially as the sun warmed the mountains. Unfortunately, this meant we lost a few hikers to the line. But the hearty group who made it to the trailhead in time enjoyed a fabulous hike up and down the mountain.
It was a party atmosphere at the summit with people eating lunch, sunning themselves on the rocks and taking in the beauty of the great outdoors. We carved out a little space for ourselves while the dogs munched on snacks, posed for pics and relished in the attention of fellow hikers. After a nice respite, we headed back down the trail and went off to enjoy the rest of the afternoon along Skyline Drive.
Our next hike, celebrating a full year of dog-friendly adventures, will be on December 1st at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate for a laid-back holiday stroll. Learn more on my facebook page and if you're planning to attend, please RSVP.