Wilburn Ridge Sunrise

These photos were taken in the early morning of June 16, 2005, on Wilburn Ridge in the
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Southwest Virginia. All photos are shown just
as they came from the camera in a 1024 pixel width, with no enhancements,
with the exception of the first "campsite" photo.
Due to the wind velocitity with gusts up to 60 mph, some photos are slightly blurry.
This page will be a very slow download on a phone line connection.

Sunrise on the slopes of Wilburn Ridge, after a night of high wind and a flapping tent.

This view looks down on Grayson Highlands State Park, with the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail (left) and the Appalachian Trail
(right) seen close together in the center of the photo.

Wind flattens the high grass of a saddle between two peaks.

A blue blaze marks the ridge trail, with the horse trail crossing the saddle below.

White Top Mountain (far distance) and Mt. Rogers (right) generate their own weather systems.

The shadow of Wilburn Ridge falls across the slopes of Mt. Rogers, Virginia's highest mountain.

The "balds" on these high mountains are caused by fire and grazing.

A rhododendren thicket in full bloom in mid-June.

The Mount Rogers Ridge Trail follows the crest of the ridge and crosses several peaks.

Standing at the highest point on Wilburn Ridge, actually the second highest point in Virginia. White Top Mountain,
generally considered the state's second highest after Mr. Rogers, is a few feet lower than the top of Wilburn Ridge.
The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee are seen hazily in the distance.

Down from the ridge, the wild ponies graze in the early morning.

All photos by Richard Smith. Personal use with attribution and permission is permitted.
rswebsites @ gmail.com
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