{"id":5691,"date":"2021-05-30T22:59:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T14:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=5691"},"modified":"2021-10-17T02:22:06","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T18:22:06","slug":"20210530mcafee-knob","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/30\/20210530mcafee-knob\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 2 of 2021 Memorial Day Weekend, McAfee Knob"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Second day of 2021 Memorial Day weekend. We hiked to McAfee Knob, a piece of rock sticking out of a cliff with stunning views, dubbed \u201cmost photographed point of the Appalachian Trail\u201d. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8270.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8270.jpg\" alt=\"Observer\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Observer<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Me at McAfee Knob.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:96,height:144,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:50,height:75,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s the highlight of our trip to Roanoke as we would be hiking to McAfee Knob, a popular spot along Appalachian Trail with stunning 270-degree panoramic views.<br \/>\nFor its importance, it&#8217;s imperative that we visit it during good weather with clear views. The last thing we wanted was to hike all the way and find it covered in clouds, just like our previous day at Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory. McAfee Knob was actually visible from our hotel room, so we were quite worried as we found it concealed in clouds (from yesterday&#8217;s storm) while departing hotel at 11am. Luckily, weather forecast indicated that cloud ceilings would rise and scatter for the coming afternoon, which hopefully would result in great views at McAfee Knob. Fortunately, it did.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"McAfee_Knob_Trail\">McAfee Knob Trail<\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span id=\"Parking\">Parking<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>With its popularity, parking was always an issue at McAfee Knob. The small parking lot at its trailhead held about 50-60 cars, which was far from enough. (There was a plan to build a pedestrian bridge across VA311, which would encroach the parking lot even more.) We saw a few cars parked along the nearby VA864, which was technically \u201cno parking\u201d. There was a park-and-ride down the mountain at \u201c1240 N Electric Rd Parking\u201d, but that\u2019s 5.5 miles away and required roundtrip Uber rides.<br \/>\nIn the end, we circled and waited at the parking lot for 15 minutes, until a spot became available.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Hiking\">Hiking<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>We tracked 12.6km for the roundtrip hike to McAfee Knob, with 400m of elevation gain evenly distributed throughout the hike. From parking lot, the trail followed Appalachian Trail for 400m, after which one could either choose to take 3.6km of Appalachian Trail deep in the woods for a classical hiking experience, or 3.4km of fire road which was a lot easier. After the two trails converge, it&#8217;s another 2km to the stunning views of McAfee Knob.<br \/>\nWe opted to take the Appalachian Trail uphill, and the fireroad downhill. Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=85514211&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"600\" height=\"500\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Overall, I would say the Appalachian Trail was in great condition that didn\u2019t present any challenges at all. Here were its typical trail conditions:<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_124806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_124806.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_124927.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_124927.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8196.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8196.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A short rocky section of Appalachian Trail, towards the start. Remaining trail was much easier to navigate than this.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8197.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8197.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8198.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8198.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8199.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8199.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8203.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8203.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8204.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8204.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8207.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8207.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8208.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8209.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8209.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8213.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8213.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8215.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8215.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8216.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8216.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8217.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8218.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8218.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8219.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8219.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8282.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8282.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20210530_124806.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/IMG_20210530_124927.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8196.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8197.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8198.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8199.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8203.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8204.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8207.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8208.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8209.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8213.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8215.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8216.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8217.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8218.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8219.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8282.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_124806.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_124806.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_124927.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_124927.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8196.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8196.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A short rocky section of Appalachian Trail, towards the start. Remaining trail was much easier to navigate than this.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8197.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8197.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8198.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8198.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8199.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8199.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8203.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8203.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8204.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8204.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8206.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8206.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8207.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8207.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8208.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8209.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8209.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8211.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8213.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8213.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8215.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8215.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8216.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8216.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8217.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8218.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8218.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8219.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8219.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8282.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8282.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8200.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8200.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Forests\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8205.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8205.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Forests\" \/><\/a><\/br>Forests<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_143519.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_143519.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_125041.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/IMG_20210530_125041.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_143710.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/IMG_20210530_143710.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain Laurel<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A constant decoration along the trail. The flowers were in different stages of bloom at difference places on the mountain, but overall I thought full bloom was still some time away.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Along the way, it&#8217;s mostly cloudy, which saved me the need to apply sunscreen. Towards the end, I was elated to see rays of sun penetrating through the clouds and high trees, meaning we wouldn\u2019t arrive at a cloud-covered McAfee Knob with no views. Finally, less than 2 hours after we started, we were at McAfee Knob.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"McAfee_Knob\">McAfee Knob<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>While the boulders at the summit form a crescent-shaped semicircle, the most photographed part was the rocky outcrop displayed at the top of this post. We stayed for about an hour at the summit, most (but not all) of the time there was a line for photographs and selfies.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s interesting that if one searched McAfee Knob on Google, most of the photos were people staying a safe distance away from the cliff; if one searched Instagram, most photos were like me sitting at the edge with feet in the air, among other stunts. It just shows the different mentalities of the two internet giants.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8223.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8223.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8224.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8224.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Apart from the particular piece of rock that\u2019s most photographed, other areas of McAfee Knob were made up of a few less conspicuous rocks. Farther east, one may find these detached boulders marking the end of trail. While it&#8217;s dubbed &#8220;270-degree panoramic view&#8221;, most visitors didn&#8217;t reach these rocks for views of the southeast.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8236_DSC_8255-20.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8236_DSC_8255-20.jpg\" alt=\"View from McAfee Knob\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from McAfee Knob<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">View towards the north, for most visitors this was the view they got from McAfee Knob.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s a bliss to enjoy this view in a gentle soothing breeze. Best of all, I didn&#8217;t run into any bugs for the day.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8220.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8220.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8221.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8222.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8222.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<p>While soaking in the views, we also had our lunch at the top. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8231Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8231Q10.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bird\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8234Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8234Q10.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Bird\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8235Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8235Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Bird\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bird<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">It picked up some food left behind by some tourists, quickly retreated to a hideout, then devoured the food.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8258.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8258.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain Laurel<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Rooted between rocks and growing out of the cliff.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>And here were the other views from McAfee Knob, particularly towards the east, where downtown Roanoke was clearly visible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8229Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8229Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tinker Cliffs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Tinker Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Also part of Virginia Triple Crown, towards the north from McAfee Knob.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8259.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8259.jpg\" alt=\"Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/a><\/br>Roanoke Airport<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Our hotel was also visible in this photo.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8260Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8260Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8262.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8262.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rolling Mountains<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I liked how the shadows of the clouds were cast on the mountains, yielding patches of varying colors.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8256.jpg\" alt=\"Break of Clouds\" \/><\/a><\/br>Break of Clouds<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8263.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8263.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Ranges\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain Ranges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8229Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tinker Cliffs\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8259.jpg\" alt=\"Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8260Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8262.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8256.jpg\" alt=\"Break of Clouds\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8263.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Ranges\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8229Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8229Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Tinker Cliffs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Tinker Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Also part of Virginia Triple Crown, towards the north from McAfee Knob.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8259.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8259.jpg\" alt=\"Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Roanoke Airport<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Our hotel was also visible in this photo.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8260Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8260Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8262.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8262.jpg\" alt=\"Rolling Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rolling Mountains<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I liked how the shadows of the clouds were cast on the mountains, yielding patches of varying colors.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8256.jpg\" alt=\"Break of Clouds\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Break of Clouds<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8263.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8263.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain Ranges\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain Ranges<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After staying for about an hour at the summit, we started our descent at around 3:40pm.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8283.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8283.jpg\" alt=\"Field of Mountain Laurel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Field of Mountain Laurel<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Underneath the powerlines where forests were chopped down, these flowers abounded.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>We picked the fire road for descent. Overall, it\u2019s a pretty care-free experience going down this thoroughfare. Probably due to the storm the previous day, there were a few muddy spots, though they could be easily circumvented.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8284.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8284.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8285.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8285.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8286.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8286.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8287.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8287.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Road<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8289.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8289.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Road<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8284.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8285.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8286.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8287.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8289.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the fire road.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8284.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8284.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Road<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8285.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8285.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Road<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8286.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8286.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Road<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8287.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8287.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Road<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8289.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8289.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Road<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At about 5:10pm, we got back to the trailhead. After that, we drove back to the hotel, took some rest, before deciding on a Korean restaurant for dinner.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_192933.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_192933.jpg\" alt=\"Dinner\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Dinner<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">With all the bright red colors, Korean food looked spicier than it tasted.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Mill_Mountain_Star\">Mill Mountain Star<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After dinner, it&#8217;s about sunset time, and we thought &#8220;Mill Mountain Star&#8221; would be a great place to watch sunset. Situated on a hill just outside downtown Roanoke, it should also be a great place for views of the city of Roanoke.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/IMG_20210530_203713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/IMG_20210530_203713.jpg\" alt=\"Mill Mountain Star\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mill Mountain Star<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The world&#8217;s largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. It\u2019s interesting that the star was set up in 1949 by merchants of the city as a symbol for the Christmas shopping season. The merchants must be rather wealthy back then I guess.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Parking was limited at the small lot on top of mountain, luckily we pulled into the last open spot as we arrived, which was literally steps away from the star. (Otherwise, there\u2019s a larger parking lot at Mill Mountain Discovery Center a short walking distance away.)<\/p>\n<p>While the star was remarkable, unfortunately there were clouds over the distant Appalachian Mountains, so there&#8217;s no sunset to watch. There was a small observation deck at the star, but too many people were trying to take photos that it felt rather crowded. But the worst was that trees were growing too well beneath the observation deck, that view of downtown was partially blocked by them (photos below).<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8300.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8301.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8302Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8302Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">McAfee Knob at the high point of the mountain in the center.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8304.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8307.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8307.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8308Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8308Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Roanoke Airport<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8300.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8302Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8304.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8307.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8308Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8300.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8301.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8301.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8302Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8302Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">McAfee Knob at the high point of the mountain in the center.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8304.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8307.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8307.jpg\" alt=\"Downtown Roanoke\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Downtown Roanoke<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/DSC_8308Q10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/202105\/30\/thumbnails\/DSC_8308Q10.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Roanoke Airport\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Roanoke Airport<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Combining all these disappointments, we didn\u2019t stay long at Mill Mountain Star, before heading back to the hotel and calling it a day.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Second day of 2021 Memorial Day weekend. We hiked to McAfee Knob, a piece of rock sticking out of a cliff with stunning views, dubbed \u201cmost photographed point of the Appalachian Trail\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,541,2],"tags":[545],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5691"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5691"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5817,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5691\/revisions\/5817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}