Shenandoah National Park

One of my favorite memories with my dog, Ellie, was a trip to Shenandoah National Park.Just one of a handful of dog-friendly national parks, it is a treasure and easy drive from Washington, DC. Ellie is always game for a hike, though has never been one for car rides, and I love the way this photo captured her constant look of worry.  She willingly jumps right in the car and then will look preoccupied for hours. She is an extraordinarily expressive canine. 

I was armed with a new lens and a tripod, and I was hoping to capture a stunning sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains, however as we ascended up Skyline drive, this plan came into question. 

The fog was beautiful, and brought out the lush green grass by the side of the road. The poor visibility slowed our ascent considerably, which was fine with Ellie. Eventually, we came upon a trail. It was the middle of the week, and so far, we had seen only a few other cars on the road. The parking area for this particular trail had one other car.  After hiking in for a mile or so, the misty stillness took on an eerie characteristic. We seemed far removed from any human activity, and the thick fog prevented us from seeing very far in the woods around us or the trail ahead. I began to feel the sensation that I compare to the moment you turn the lights off in the basement and have to make it to the stairs. The feeling that defies all rational thought, but insists that grotesque horrors lie just beyond our vision.

Our hackles raised, we turned around and quickened our pace back to the trail head. The silence persisted around us - in other circumstances, it would be peaceful. We of course made it back to the car without falling prey to any evils in the fog, and continued along Skyline Drive. Eventually, we broke out of the haze and to our right, facing westward, the sun began to break through and shine the North River. The light had a unique, silver quality to it, and the reflection off the blacktop road gave the appearance of   lake being fed by the river. 

The scattered cloud cover over the horizon obscured the striking sunset replete with bright, fiery colors I was looking for, but instead I got lovely soft-orange sky which elegantly complemented the lazy mist rising off of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

With that, Ellie began her second worry-filled journey home. 

All photos are original content and should not be used without written permission.