After about two miles, we passed the Lewis Fork Spur Trail, and roughly two miles later reached the junction with the Appalachian Trail.
We followed the AT for another two miles before turning onto the Mount Rogers Spur Trail for the final climb to the summit.
The hike through the enchanted forest was especially beautiful in the fog and drizzle. Fraser fir saplings were sprouting from decaying logs across the forest floor, creating scenes that reminded me of the Olympic Peninsula.
Reaching the summit was somewhat anticlimactic, as Mount Rogers is completely forested and offers no views from the top.
Even if there had been overlooks, the rain and low clouds would have obscured them. We stopped for a short lunch break before beginning our descent. On the way down, we turned onto the Appalachian Trail and followed it to Rhododendron Gap.
The rhododendrons were just beginning to bloom, although the fog prevented any distant views.
From there, we took the Pine Mountain Trail for about a mile before connecting with the Lewis Fork Trail. Most of the normally scenic vistas along this section were hidden behind the clouds. Near the trail junction, we came across a group of wild ponies grazing in the meadow, which immediately caught Amaroq's attention.
We then turned onto the Lewis Fork Trail and continued our descent.
The downhill grade was gentle, and the trail was lined with an abundance of wildflowers.
In places, the vegetation had grown thick enough to encroach on the trail, and we ended up getting wetter from brushing against the foliage than from the rain itself. About halfway down, we took the spur trail back to the Mount Rogers Trail and returned to the trailhead.
From there, we drove into Marion for dinner and a couple of beers at 36 Fifty Brewing. Amaroq was a hit at the brewery, making friends with both the people and the other dogs. He received plenty of treats and even more attention. Afterward, we headed to Wytheville and checked in for the evening.
