herbiepear3: Drive up the mountain in my new Subaru Outback
herbiepear3: Winter beauty everywhere once we got above 4000 ft
herbiepear3: We parked at an AT trailhead at about 4500 ft and stopped at this crest where the ponies were
herbiepear3: Ian meeting one of the yearling ponies
herbiepear3: Danny meeting one of the yearling ponies
herbiepear3: This pony was especially friendly - had a hoof problem
herbiepear3: Ian on the first evening near sundown
herbiepear3: Sundown - you can tell the winds were whipping up 60 mph gusts
herbiepear3: In the morning, the ponies gathered just outside the evergreens we made camp in
herbiepear3: "Ginger" greeted us when we stepped outside camp
herbiepear3: Ian awaiting breakfast (we made biscuits and gravy old-school style) and the ponies in the background
herbiepear3: We decided to head for the peak of Mt. Rogers along the horse trail
herbiepear3: Luke stayed hydrated with his nalgene, Danny - with snow
herbiepear3: Packs on break along the trail
herbiepear3: Waiting for Ian to return from his bio-break
herbiepear3: We found the spring and watered up, breakfast was cooked with snow
herbiepear3: Herbie needed evidence he was there too
herbiepear3: The Pear3's loving the trek
herbiepear3: On the crest, this moss formed a round bowl where a small spring kept it thawed
herbiepear3: The ponies raided our camp the second night and snagged the tortillas which we hung too low
herbiepear3: Beautiful but cold morning. These yearlings were soaking up the sun
herbiepear3: This yearling loved the taste of Danny's hands for some reason
herbiepear3: The boys saying goodbye to our friend
herbiepear3: Curious eh?