West Virginia

Date of Summit: Saturday, September 4, 2010

Mountain: Spruce Knob

Summit Elevation: 4,863 feet

After visiting the Bradley's in Stephen's City, Virginia one weekend, we opted to take the long way home and get up to the top of Spruce Knob, West Virignia's highest point. We drove South on Interstate 81 through Shanandoah Valley for a while before heading west to the 'Wild and Wonderful' state of West Virginia. Lucky for us the high point is only a few miles west of the border down some narrow, winding roads.

We were a little disappointed to find that the trailhead for the hike is only 1/4 mile from the top of the mountain, so most of the elevation-gain "hiking" was done by the 4 cylinders of our Toyota Camry. Turns out that wasn't such a bad thing, as it was surprising cool up there and we were still dressed for summer.

We put Cai's pajamas over his clothes to help him stay warm for the little hike. The only other warm thing we had was Cai's little Choo-Choo train blanket.

This is the view of West Virginia (looking west) from its highest point, Spruce Knob. There is an observation tower on top of the mountain so we could get above the trees and enjoy the vista.












We had a lot of fun bouldering on these chunks of granite near the top. Cai's shoes wouldn't fit over his pajamas but he thought it was so fun to walk on the rocks on his feet.


There was a small divit in a rock and some water had collected in it. As soon as Cai saw it he was so excited because he figured that was his first time seeing a real volcano!

Cai's trip to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia!