This year I talked my wife into spending her birthday with me up on Wilburn Ridge! (plus we got to finally try out our new tent from Big Agnes!)

Click here for my entire Grayson Highlands State Park and Mount Rogers Gallery

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

  I really like getting up here during early June for the Rhododendron bloom every year.  This particular area is pretty incredible.  Many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers claim that this is one of their favorite sections of the trail.   

This year, the rainy weather has really held back the bloom.  I think the bloom will probably peak about a week after our visit.  That said we still got to take in a nice view of trailside rhododendrons.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. On our way up to Wilburn Ridge we crossed paths with a group of local ponies and a few playful foals. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. We set up camp on the first peak of Wilburn Ridge.  There is a nice view all around and a small dip in the center protects the tent from most of the wind.  I snapped this photo as dinner was cooking.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

The sunset that night was as good as it gets pretty much.  Lots of great light, beautiful blues and pinks... and I got to hang out with the wife!

Below, you can see the ponies milling about below our campsite.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

Watching a lone pony make its way across the meadow... hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. Ashley watched the sunset from the Wilburn Ridge spur trail while I ran around taking photos. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

A few AT hikers hike by a tent on the Appalachian Trail below where we camped. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

A panorama of our tent in the Appalachian Mountains. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

Looking up at the second peak of Wilburn Ridge(the highest peak with the hugest views) hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. After soaking in as much 'red light' as a guy could handle, we hunkered down for a fairly windy night up on the ridge.  My wife got to turn the big 3-0 in a tent and I got to tag along.  Pretty good day in my book.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail. We were even nice enough to let our fearless yorkie stay in the tent:)  Thanks for looking.

hiking mount rogersImages of Grayson Highlands State Park,Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and the Appalachian Trail.