South River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park

We took Helen the ancient Pomeranian and my three similarly-ancient felines to a lovely farmhouse in Stanardsville, VA, near Shenandoah National Park. Elvira promptly claimed Helen’s bed and all the windowsills.

We only managed one trail: South River Falls. How do I know which trail? PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE. A habit I need to develop more fully.

Photographing trailheads .. I am not good at remembering to do this.

The descent commences in woods.

Tall, tall trees and a Camelbak of tea, I’m a fool fool fool for woods.

Eventually, the falls are visible, faaaaaar below.

Once reached at the bottom of the trail, they are rewarding.

I’ll spare you the many videos I took of the water splashing down.

There was basking.

A Turquoise Crowned Rock Lizard suns itself.

The downside of a hike from a ridge to a waterfall is that the downside comes first, and then you have to drag yourself back up to your vehicle.

At least I’m consistent in my blinding color choices. I owned both of these hiking items for several years before getting the vehicle wrap, and I did not consciously have them in mind when I picked the color scheme.

Equipment

Backpack	Camelbak Rim Runner hydration pack
Navigation	It’s a short out-and-back trail, you really can’t go astray.
Shoes	Salomon Speedcross 4 GTX Trail-Running Shoes This might have been the last hike I wore these on. They’re narrow and destroyed my toes.
Socks	Injinji Trail Midweight Mini Crew Toesocks
Poles	Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles You definitely want these on the way back up.