AT From Dragon's Tooth Parking SB to Trout Creek

 This is a hike that went from 14 participants on Monday to 5 participants by Friday.  And it probably would have been canceled on Friday night except that three hikers were already in Blacksburg. spending the night before in a motel.  The hike leader had a friend from the RATC check the trails, and the report back was that everything would be very icy over the weekend - even the roads to the trailhead!  Virginia State Route 311 passing by McAfee Knob parking was especially at risk, as Thursday/Friday rains in advance of the overnight cold front meant that 311 could be icy and impassible.  

Instead, two Charlottesville hikers left at 6:20 AM and met the three other hikers at the Christiansburg motel before heading to the trailhead. 

Even the Saturday hike changed!  Originally, they planned to hike the AT's Keffer Oak section, but ice worries on the side road to the southern parking area created a reassessment. Several hikers who did not come had already done the Dragon's Tooth section and did not wish to re-hike that.  When they decided not to come, the only person who had done the hike before was the hike leader.  So the group traveled from Blacksburg to the trailhead on sometimes icy backroads and ascended to Dragon's Tooth.

What a great hike - there is no doubt why this is such a popular hike in the Roanoke area, as the Dragon's Tooth ascent had spectacular views, fun rock climbs, and a good workout.  The group took the Boy Scout Trail to the AT, which is not as popular as the direct ascent via the Dragon's Tooth Trail.  But the hikers were not going to leave AT miles on the table, and the AT ascent is arguably more spectacular.

The hike was 8.4 miles long and took just under 6 hours to complete, including lunch at Dragon's Tooth.