The weather was unseasonably warm, typical of March which tends to show off its extreme ranges depending on the particular mood of the wind and the sun. I hadn’t laced up my hiking boots so tightly in quite some time. The past few months had involved staying local, yearning for more sunlight, and spending dreary weekends indoors working on oh-so-tiring grad school work.

But today was special! It was Spring Break – the time where adventures come back to play and the outdoors seems way more accessible. Winter had waved its final farewell, and I couldn’t wait to check off some hikes from my never-ending bucket list.

Enter: Dragon’s Tooth Hike

Dragon’s Tooth is considered one of Virginia’s triple crowns, the general consensus of the state’s best hiking destinations. You may remember McAfee Knob back in November, one of the most-photographed sites on the Appalachian Trail. Although perhaps less well-known than McAfee, Dragon’s Tooth hike is nevertheless a true gem within Old Dominion.

There were three cars in the parking lot, always a good sign for popular hikes. I pulled out my hiking poles, trying to remember the length settings I last used while hiking the Sierra’s last summer. After becoming accustomed to these simple aluminum poles, I couldn’t go back to hands-free inclines. Hiking poles are the fairy godmother of up-and-down trails. My knees consistently express their gratitude at this relatively new-found implement.

Like my cursory Google promised, the first mile and a half were a steady but easy climb across and through gullies within the Jefferson National Forest.

And then the fun began.

I was a an Old Rag expert, so I was quite confident that the rock scramble and steep incline would be well within my capabilities. At times, I had to grasp my poles in one hand as I hauled myself up and across rock that was quite exposed for a simple, east coast hike. This was the part of the hike when I ran into some other parties, exchanging pleasantries while we carefully skirted each other alongside the steep rock steps that gripped the mountain. Yes, it was shorter than McAfee Knob, but Dragon’s Tooth definitely earned its badge as a legitimate trek within Appalachia.

The top was evident, with various overlooks that confirmed Dragon’s Tooth’s place within the chronicles of Virginia hiking. I was grateful that I only carried a 5 lb daypack rather than 30+ lbs that is typical of Appalachian thru-hikers. I spotted a few off in the distance, sending a silent salute through the fresh, spring air.

Ditching my poles and measly 5 lb pack, I scrambled up the Tooth itself, reveling in the feeling of freedom and the sprawling views it afforded.

The sun kissed me with its spring shine, and the wind reminded me that seasons were shifting. My Dragon’s Tooth experience left a smile on my face and a pleasant burn in my hamstrings.

Thanks, Virginia.