For the second year, a PasstoPass team is at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Trip 18 team is day hiking 1-3 miles per day over three days. Hikers had a choice of car camping at Big Meadows Campground or staying in the Big Meadows Lodge. This is not a llama-supported trip.

Trip leader Ben reported:

“Trip 18 is underway! We enjoyed a lovely stroll through Big Meadows and a wonderful potluck for sunset on Skyline Drive. Looking forward to reaching the park’s high point tomorrow morning (Hawksbill).”

The Trip 18 team’s adventure will include hikes on the Big Meadows Loop, Limberlost, and Upper Hawksbill trails, and a side trip to Luray Caverns.

According to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: “Big Meadows is aptly named since it’s the largest open area in the entire park. The … location directly across from the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center makes it easily accessible. The large grassy plain makes a fresh change from the forest landscape. The meadows host numerous sparrows with chipping, field, and song sparrows all being numerous and easy to spot. Other residents of the meadow include eastern bluebird, indigo bunting, eastern towhee, and American goldfinch. The clear open view of the sky makes raptor watching easy. Look for turkey and black vultures, red-tailed hawk, and American kestrel. During migration, large numbers of broad-winged hawks and the occasional bald or golden eagle can augment these species.

“Big Meadows is incredible for the butterfly enthusiast. The acres of blooming wildflowers support a wide assortment of species including eastern tiger, black, pipevine, and spicebush swallowtails, great spangled and variegated fritillaries, silver spotted skipper, common wood-nymph, orange sulphur and American copper. Dragonflies are less numerous although black saddlebags can often be seen skimming across the meadow.”