Trillia, wateralls and .... snow???

Yesterday was a superb hiking day.  High sixties, mostly clear sky, and it had rained recently so the water was high and flowers in bloom.  I had been contacted by Melanie Perl, supervisor of trails for PATC for the southern part of the Central District of the SNP, and we hiked together.  First we started up the White Oak Canyon Trail, then took the Whiteoak Cedar Run Link Trail to the Cedar Run Trail, which was just lovely.  Lots of beautiful waterfalls, a big pool and water slide, and by lots of wildflowers, especially trillium which appeared to be just passing its prime. 

Cedar run

By the time the trail leveled off near the ridge, we were starting to see patches of snow.  We reached the Lower Hawksbill parking lot and saw a delightful little garden in a cavity of a tree.

Magical garden within a tree trunk

We then joined the Appalachian Trail for a short stretch, missing our turnoff at Crescent Rock overlook because we were gabbing too much.  En route we passed a beautiful succulent that looks like a sedum and "corn lily" or "false hellebore". 

This looks like a sedum.  Is it? 

There was a fair amount of snow on the western side of the ridge. 

We met three guys out on a multiday backpacking trip.  They seemed none too excited about their trip. 

Up at Crescent Rock overlook we took pictures of each other in front of a snowy Hawksbill. 

Melanie in front of a very snowy Hawksbill April 25

At the top of the Cedar Run Trail and along the Crescent Rock Trail were a number of trees that had bent over the trail, probably due to heavy spring snow.  Melanie, who always carries a saw, was able to clear the trail in several places.

After reaching the Limberlost Trail we sat down on one of the benches to eat our lunch.  It got chilly so we got going again pretty quickly.  In order to complete the trail, we continued on the Limberlost until it junctioned with the White Oak Canyon Trail and took the WOCT up to Skyline Drive and turned around (I just wanted to complete the trail but Melanie wanted to check out trail conditions).  Then we took the WOCT down to the bottom of the Limberlost loop (there are so many trails intertwined there!).  She waited while I complete the Limberlost Loop (entailing an extra 0.6 miles).  Then we descended the White Oak Canyon Trail.  I hadn't been on that trail in many years.  What a delight.  With the recent rains and melting snow, the stream was high and the waterfalls spectacular. 

White Oak Canyon just above upper falls

Upper Falls White Oak Canyon

Rattlesnake Weed

Hanging Wildflower Garden

We saw several wildflowers and a hanging wildflower garden. 

Lower White Oak Falls

Close to the bottom of the trail, Melanie and I parted company.  I was to complete the bottom 0.4 miles of the Cedar Run Trail while she headed for the parking lot.  I had intended as well to hike the Berry Hollow Fire Road but Melanie convinced me it would make more sense to do it as part of an Old Rag circuit. 

Total miles for the day:  13.1
Total miles of sidetrails to date:  124.1
Total trails to date:  50!