Solo. Well worth the 3 hour drive & $7 parking fee.

Started out at Massie Gap at 0845, crossed the field and entered a pony-proof gate to start up the Rhododendron Trail. This was solid packed dirt and probably is a slippery mess when it's wet. It was crisp and cool out, perfect hiking temperatures. The Rhododendron Trail quickly meets up with the Appalachian Trail, southbound, and here it got much more rocky in a real hurry. This is also where I spotted my first wild ponies! A group of 3, and then a solo brown one. So cute. I almost cried with joy at how adorable and peaceful they were.
I then opted to take the Wilburn Trail on the way up and didn't regret it. Excellent rock scrambles! This meets back up with the AT and I continued on that. All junctions were clearly labeled and the trails were very easy to follow, though there should be a warning that you're liable to break an ankle searching for ponies rather than watching your footing, lol.

I passed Thomas Knob Shelter & then spoke to a teenage long section hiker who I trail-magicked with some of the food items from my pack. (Poptarts were a big hit!)

Shortly after our moving on, the Mount Rogers Spur Trail appeared and we parted ways as I followed the blue blazes. All of a sudden I felt like I was in a jungle. Lush, green moss covered everything around me and the dampness was sudden and remarkable. It was absolutely gorgeous. Overall, the trails were a good climb, but nothing too crazy. A challenge but not an annoyance.

I had the summit to myself and snapped a few photos, drank a celebratory beer and headed on my way back down. I was lamenting the lack of pony sightings as I was telling another hiker how far the summit was, when I heard a snort and saw a few ponies dash across the trail. I immediately abandoned my conversation to go check out if they were going to stick around. I found them eagerly ripping and eating grass in a clearing just off trail and got some great photos, though I didn't approach them too closely.

I decided to save my knees and skip the Wilburn Trail on the way back, instead opting for the AT alone. Just as I was about to get back on the Rhododendron Trail, I spotted a few more ponies plodding along just ahead of me, so I hurried to catch a few photos of their passing. Gorgeous little things. The annual pony sale is this weekend which I believe accounts for the lack of ponies I saw as many of them have been rounded up.

This hike was a total slam dunk. Little pops of fall color are out, the trails were gorgeous and in good shape, I had awesome weather and views. A perfect cap to a great vacation down south.