All my research had led me to plan to sleep in the car in an NPS campground (for which I had a reservation) before doing a super quick hike in the morning. Traffic was lighter than expected, though, so I arrived at the trailhead enough before dark to head out.

Blackrock Summit is a short, easy hike to a spectacular rocky summit. I immediately felt at home scrambling through the broken blocks and looking out to the horizon. Of course, this wasn't enough for me so I hopped back on the trail toward Trayfoot Mountain with Furnace Mountain in my sights.

Being in a national park, the trail was very well maintained. There was a little down and a little up to a junction with the Trayfoot Mountain trail that I should followed to tag that summit, but I was focused more on Furnace for some reason. And the Furnace Mountain trail along Abbott Ridge punished me for it.

The trail dropped significantly before finally, finally starting to climb up to Furnace Mountain's summit. I made it there as the sun was setting and didn't stay long. Not that there's a big view given it's all treed, but it was neat to look out over the rolling hills of green from the one viewpoint just beyond the summit.

No time to dilly dally, though. I hoofed it back down the slope and then started the long trudge up to Trayfoot where I again failed to detour for a third summit. What is happening to me?

My the time I was back on Blackrock Summit there was only a slice of sunset on the horizon and when I got to the Appalachian Trail it was fully dark. People talk about the AT being a green tunnel, but it was mostly black for me.

Back in the car at the campground, I looked at the map and realized Trayfoot Mountain was right there. Dang. And I realized I should have tagged Blackrock Summit, Trayfoot, and then focused on another hike like Old Rag rather than spending time going to Furnace. Nonetheless, it was a good adventure and a great way to start a multi-state blitz.