View from the summit to the south
This trail is a bit underrated, which I think is because the photos online of this place do not do a justice. When you get to the summit, there is a 360 degree view, which is not captured in any of the photos as of now online. I did capture a 360 degree shot, but unfortunately this LG (V30) phone does not take the best panoramic shots. There also isn’t a great way to share 360 degree shots unless you’re on Google Maps. This underrated trail was picked not only as a place close to most of the peeps on my invite list who live in Virginia, but as well as a place I have never been before.
On a previous hike with Conor, there was a conversation topic that came up that had to do with how I plan my group hikes around places I have never been to before. I told him that I generally like to avoid hiking the same location that I have hiked before when I plan those trips unless it’s a cool view I’d like to share with the group. When I am in the same place another time, I feel like I’m wasting my time. Conor looked at me almost in disgust (I should mention he was tired from the work week as he mentioned more than once on our hike) and said, when you are with another person, opportunity cost should not be on your mind. For a second my mind went blank, surprised from the change of tone and I asked him what that meant. Opportunity cost is the the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen. I thought for a minute and said, time is short. I now only have weekends and limited vacation time. In response he said, opportunity cost on your mind is inherently bad. From there to loosen the tension I think Conor switched conversation topics, though obviously as you’re reading here, I still think about his point and reflect on often. I even remember the exact spot where we were on that trail during that conversation vividly, which ironically correlates with his point.
I am not 100% certain, but I have a feeling that the reason Conor may have skipped out on this hike with the reason that the destination was too far way because of our previous engagement on our last hike, where I was unable to deny or discuss further the opportunity cost thought. For instance, we have gone out much further for day hikes in the past. I would say his distance and reasoning is proof of a loss in confidence in me. As a reply, after much thought, I would say that an engagement in a familiar place does bring of the thought of opportunity cost, but it is not a binary feeling. Now, if I make an initiative for a hike in a familiar place, you can be sure that the initiative started with you. On the flip side, if I’m with you to a place we have both never been to before, we are living in that excitement and experience together, which is a magical feeling that I infrequently get to share with other people.
On this hike it was just Dan and I, who is the same guy that attempted the thru-hike of the Uinta Highline trail with me in late August last year. I plan to post that story sometime this year, but since it is a longer trip, it has been taking me a bit more time to put together. This was a good hike to catch up and talk. I think the last time we spoke face to face was when we were on that roof top bar in Georgetown with Conor, Hope, and Ryan.
Second half of the trail close to the summit
I didn’t take too many photos while hiking likely from Dan’s very engaging conversation, but take my word for it that this trail was difficult. I personally would not attempt this again when wet. Both of us fell. When Dan fell, it sounded like a tree fell, though he was somehow fine. When I fell, I hurt my shoulder and scraped up my arm. I have been unable to lift with that shoulder for now two weeks.
Anyway, despite the difficulty and fall on the hike, which you should allocate maybe another hour or two for, this is a must hike with one of the best views in the entire area! 😁😎😍
View from the summit to the north
| Name | Strickler Knob Vista |
| Location | Luray, VA |
| Trailhead/Parking | 38.691652, -78.580030 |
| Trail Name | Strickler Knob Trail |
| Hike Length | 5.4 Miles (Out & Back) |
| AllTrails Link | Strickler Knob Trail |
Side Notes:
- I do not recommend you hike this particular trail when wet.
- The second half of this trail is very rocky and reminds me of the northern half of Pennsylvania on the Appalachian Trail.
- I meant to take shots on the camera I recently purchased last year, but when I went to turn it on, while on trail, I realized I had left it on and the battery was dead. I didn’t think to charge before because the battery on this camera will last me months at a time on a single charge for me, granted I only use this for shooting single shots. Though it was probably better it was dead, with how difficult the trail was and my fall.
