12/19/20 McAfee Knob is one of the reasons I wanted to go to Roanoke. This hike has been on my list for a long time, as it should be being one of the most photographed hikes on the AT. I recorded 8.7 mi and 1,670 ft of elevation gain on my GPS.
We started our morning getting coffee from Sweet Donkey Coffee (highly recommend btw). It is a running joke, but I was worried about parking so we made sure to get there early enough to do our hike. I guess I’m used to Annapolis Rock parking lot. There were plenty of places to park, but it is a really popular hike so I wouldn’t underestimate it during peak season.
It was a clear, cool sunny day. At the beginning of the trail, you cross the road and head up the mountain. There is an option to continue on AT North or go on the Fire Road. The Fire Road is easier, but I thought the AT was prettier with the stream crossings and views. There is also a shelter and privy on the AT.
We took the AT on the way there thinking that it was going to be a lot more difficult than it was. It was a series of rolling hills and gradual incline. The beginning of the hike felt like fall. Eventually, we hit a muddier patch of trail with the stream crossings. I was surprised to see so much water on the trail as my hikes on the MD AT have been pretty dry.
As we were going up in elevation, the plants and trees were coated with ice. I felt like I was in a painting as the sun hit the icy shrubs and trees. It was so silent, which reminded me of the beauty of winter hiking. The plants were like wind chimes as we hiked through. We were getting closer, we could just feel it.
Finally, we saw the blue blaze for McAfee Knob. We walked by giant boulders and finally an opening. It was surreal. The top of the cliff was like an ice rink. We were thankful for our poles. It was only us and two others at the top. Of course we stopped for awhile to take it all in and take some pictures.
The cold air takes your breath away. I cringed watching people walk up to the edge of the knob. We walked further down the cliffs to another viewpoint. A bird visited us for awhile, allowing us to get so close. Some hiker was asking around to borrow a lighter. He said, “The trail always provides,” as everyone else laughed.
We made our journey down the mountain, taking the Fire Road on the way back. It wasn’t as beautiful as the AT, but it provided another perspective. As we stepped around mud puddles, we talked about the future of The Mandolorian.
Eventually, we made it back to the car with enough time to decide on another hike. Stay tuned for that story.
