This Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club hike was led by David Memory on the club's traditional 11 mile loop to an area known as Scales. Oddly enough we hike north on the AT, loop pack on another trail and then end the hike going north on the AT. The day began with a beautiful sky but soon turned overcast. We'd get wet before the hike was over.
Lunch was in a meadow overlooking Scales. A gentle breeze blew warning of weather to come. Pretty patches of Orange Hawkweed or "Devil's Paintbrush" added some color to the meadow.
Following lunch we hiked a fast pace on the trail leading us into Rhododendron Gap. Dark clouds and thunder quickened our pace. Up to this point, rhododendron blooms had disappointed. Even blooms our arrival at the gap underwhelmed. That all changed as we gained a bit of elevation. The rhododendron finally came through with a very nice display to awe us. However, there was no gawking time permitted as the storm approached.
Puzzling to me were the number of folks we saw heading away from the trailhead with the approaching storm. Finally I gave in and quickly donned my rain coat, covered up my pack and changed to my rain hat. The rain came and we heard thunder in several directions. I wasn't happy crossing open meadow in such conditions. So hiking with a 6'6" lightning rod hike leader was my plan. We got a little wet but made it back to the car without any incidents.
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