McAfee Knob

McAfee Knob is a geological feature, located on Catawba mountain in Catawba, Virginia, United States. It is named for a Scotch-Irish 18th-century settler. McAfee Knob is considered to be one of the most scenic points along the Appalachian Trail. The vista offers panoramic views of the Catawba Valley, 3400 feet below.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,175-mile hiking trail following the Appalachian Mountains between Georgia and Maine, and is a unit of the National Park Service. The McAfee Knob hiking trail is along the Appalachian Trail and is managed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. This is a part of over 120 miles of hiking trails in the Roanoke region, which are maintained by the volunteers of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC).

The hike is moderately difficult with a gradual incline. McAfee Knob hiking trail ends on rocky mountain terrain that sticks out on a diving-like platform into the air. The trail offers a 270-degree panorama view of the Catawba Valley. North Mountain is also viewable to the west, the Tinker Cliffs to the north and the Roanoke Valley to the east. The hike is a climb of around 1,700 feet and about 4.4 miles to the top of the Knob from the VA311 parking area.

As the altitude changes during the uphill part of the 4.4 mile hike, it is advised to bring an additional layer of clothing, as it is colder at the summit. The average time it takes to get up and down the mountain is from 4 to 4.5 hours, so it is important to bring plenty of fluids and snacks. The trail offers picnic tables and resting spots throughout. The McAfee Knob trail is most popular in the spring and fall seasons, and there has been an average of around 100 hikers on the trail at once.

When hiking the trail in the winter, there will most likely be no one else there. Among other things to encounter are the spikes of frost from the icy moisture that form on objects such as rocks, leaves and frozen soil. The terms used to describe these coverings are "rime ice" and "hoarfrost". Rime ice is formed when wind-driven droplets of water collide and freeze on an object like a tree branch on the trail. Hiking in the winter and in the spring are completely different experiences.

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Wikipedia