This is the flatlander formerly known as Ranger Bob, now known simply as Bob, because my seasonal job has ended.  Sunday morning, after I had crammed all my remaining goods into my Ford Explorer, my good friend Cass asked me if I would bring so much stuff next time.  He had commented long ago that I had a lot of stuff in my quarters.  I shrugged it off as not that much then, but now after my family members had already taken two carloads home on recent visits, and I really had trouble fitting it all into the car, I may rethink it all.  There was enough stuff on this last trip home to make the car handle differently.  Yikes! 

 

However, I am not sure what I would do without. During my mad session of packing and cleaning on Saturday night and Sunday morning, I am really wondering why I did not make a list of things to leave home next time.  Especially since the real value of being "on the mountain" for seven months was not the things I had there, but the friends I gained and the experiences I had in Shenandoah National Park. 

 

Yes, I saw fifteen bears this year, two of them were within twenty feet of me when we spotted each other.  Yikes!

 

Yes, I saw two bobcats this year, one only twenty feet away when I spotted it.

 

Yes, I saw other wildlife, Sunrises and Sunsets to remember for a lifetime, and beautiful wildflowers changing throughout the seven months.  I experienced snow in April and October.

 

However, the most important experience was the folks who became my friends.  It occurred to me how much those friendships had developed when I mentioned that I planned to have breakfast at Big Meadows Lodge the morning I would leave.  I ask who would like to join me.  This happened with every one planning their own departures on different near term dates.  Nine people sat with me at that Sunday morning breakfast, and even though I could not follow all the conversations that were going on at the table, I could feel the camaraderie that had built through the year and would not end.

 

Too much stuff?  That is not important. 

Monday night, 10/24/05, it began to snow at the higher altitudes in Shenandoah National Park.  I threw my first snowball of the year that evening. 

 

By Tuesday morning, there were three inches of snow on the ground at Big Meadows.  It continued to snow all day.  Skyline Drive had to be closed for safety.  Folks that were stuck up here in the lodges and campgrounds had two choices on Tuesday.  Stay here, or join the ranger-lead caravan out of the park.  No caravan would be provided to bring folks back in.  Wednesday got a little better, with another caravan out, and then the opening of the Central District portion of the drive.  By Friday, all of Skyline Drive was open.

 

But the snow is still here on the meadow, in the woods, and on the trails.

It has been great fun, and beautiful to see.

 

 

Yes, I have known since I hired on that my Seasonal Ranger position was, well, seasonal.  The job terminates on October 29th.  The love of my life, Ann, has been warning me for weeks to start packing up all my stuff.  I have to have my in-park quarters ready for inspection by Tuesday.  I can stay there through the rest of my work week, but that's it.  I go back to being a flatlander next Sunday.  Wow!

 

This is busy October time.  Working the Visitor Center Information Desk is like non-stop finals in college.  As soon as you finish with one visitor, the next has their questions ready.  Laurie,  after a short flurry of activity, exclaimed,"Holy October, Batman!"

Yup!  The fall colors are starting late this year. 

Yup! The fog has rolled in just as the colors are getting good.

I hiked the "Appalacian Trail - Laurel Prong Trail - Mill Prong Trail" loop on Wednesday, a beautiful day, and there were a number of very pretty trees along the trail.  Friday and Saturday, there has been much fog at Big Meadows, but there are many more trees showing color than just two days ago.  Perhaps the peak viewing time will be next weekend.

After tropical depressions Rita and Tammy dumped much needed moisture over Shenandoah National Park, we have been in foggy rainy days and nights for what seems like a month.  Now, today, just in time for the celebration of Wilderness Weekend, the Sun has come out.  It is absolutely beautiful.  Fall has begun.  I don't think we are at peak color yet, but it is well worth being here right now. 

 

The meadow is showing multiple colors now with the blueberry leaves glowing a reddish purple, other plants just a perfect green, or bright yellow, and other colors joining the corus for the eye to hear.  Morning dew reflecting the rising sun just amplifies it all.

 

Wow.

Many people want to come up to Shenandoah National Park to see "Peak Fall Colors".  Of course, The colors have already started to show some.  I truely enjoy the occasional spash of neon orange, yellow and red standout against the remaining mostly green trees.  That is not "Peak", but those who wait for "Peak" are missing some wonderful views.  "Peak" is a nebulous term.  Officially, I think it means when 80% of the trees that can show fall colors are doing so concurrently.  That might happen at any one altitude but never at all altitudes at the same instant.  The summits will be completely finished before some of the hollows start.  So who cares when "Peak" happens.  Colors are worth seeing some years from early October through the first week of November.  The trick is to get here when the fog is not so thick that you can't see the trees, much less what color they are.  It is not always foggy up here.  But if it is the day you are here, Oh, Well!

 

This evening the Big Meadow is georgeous, with browns and greens and yellows, and reds... but most folks don't measure the meadow "Peak"... they only look at the trees from the overlooks.  Wake up and smell the... 

 

Well, you know what I mean. 

 

 

Last night, after work I watched the sunlight leave the meadow.  For twenty minutes, I was transfixed by the shanging shadows and colors while the sun went down to my right.   There were a few white-tailed deer out there, but the meadow, now showing more brown in the  leaves and grasses, was the big attraction to me.  I love how the autumn meadow picks up the red light and amplifies it at twilight.

This morning on the ten minute trip to work, I saw a broadwing hawk in my housing area, a groundhog, sixteen white-tailed deer, and the beginings of fall colors.