Blog #14: Personal Topic

Courtney Botkin

Blog #4

12-1-16

Personal Topic

            On January 2, 2016, I went on a hike with my friends at the Devil’s Marble Yard in Natural Bridge, Virginia. I had never been to the Devil’s Marble yard before, but have been hiking a lot, because I live in the Shenandoah Valley very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is also not much else do to around that area so we just go hiking, because it is free. My friend who wanted to go the Devil’s Marble Yard is currently training to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail this summer. She normally texts me and a few other people and asks us if we will go visit different places around us to hike. Not knowing anything about the Devil’s Marble Yard, Jenna and I agreed, but much to our disbelief it was one of the most difficult hikes I have ever been on. The trail starts out very flat and wide, but soon comes to a bunch of hills and rocky terrain. The hike is only about 3 miles one way, but once you reach the marble yard, it feels like it takes you 3 hours to get to the top. The reason so many people enjoy this hike is because the trail ends in a shaded woody area, however, this is not the end of the hike. Once the trail stops, it leaves you at a huge hill of boulders. The sizes of these rocks range from the size of a table to the sizes of cars. Therefore, there is no path and one must “find their way to the top.” When I heard this, I was mortified because it seemed like it was going to be a while until we actually reached the top and I was a little afraid of climbing up these rocks. As we began to climb up, some of the rocks were tippy and I lost my footing a few times and almost fell. I was really scared and began worrying that I would literally fall off the side of this mountain. I kept going and tested each rocks mobility before I stepped on it. I eventually made it to the top and once I turned around to look at the few, I was amazed. It had one of the prettiest overlooks I have ever seen. The sky was bright blue and it framed the mountains perfectly. Although I was nervous after climbing the rocks and finishing this hike, I am beyond glad that I had my friends there to push me, because it was one of the prettiest things I have ever seen.

Courtney Botkin

Blog #4

12-1-16

Personal Topic

            On January 2, 2016, I went on a hike with my friends at the Devil’s Marble Yard in Natural Bridge, Virginia. I had never been to the Devil’s Marble yard before, but have been hiking a lot, because I live in the Shenandoah Valley very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is also not much else do to around that area so we just go hiking, because it is free. My friend who wanted to go the Devil’s Marble Yard is currently training to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail this summer. She normally texts me and a few other people and asks us if we will go visit different places around us to hike. Not knowing anything about the Devil’s Marble Yard, Jenna and I agreed, but much to our disbelief it was one of the most difficult hikes I have ever been on. The trail starts out very flat and wide, but soon comes to a bunch of hills and rocky terrain. The hike is only about 3 miles one way, but once you reach the marble yard, it feels like it takes you 3 hours to get to the top. The reason so many people enjoy this hike is because the trail ends in a shaded woody area, however, this is not the end of the hike. Once the trail stops, it leaves you at a huge hill of boulders. The sizes of these rocks range from the size of a table to the sizes of cars. Therefore, there is no path and one must “find their way to the top.” When I heard this, I was mortified because it seemed like it was going to be a while until we actually reached the top and I was a little afraid of climbing up these rocks. As we began to climb up, some of the rocks were tippy and I lost my footing a few times and almost fell. I was really scared and began worrying that I would literally fall off the side of this mountain. I kept going and tested each rocks mobility before I stepped on it. I eventually made it to the top and once I turned around to look at the few, I was amazed. It had one of the prettiest overlooks I have ever seen. The sky was bright blue and it framed the mountains perfectly. Although I was nervous after climbing the rocks and finishing this hike, I am beyond glad that I had my friends there to push me, because it was one of the prettiest things I have ever seen.