Stony Man: A Summit That's More Than Just a View

One of the popular "romps" for Skyland Resort guests was up to the peak of Stony Man

“Climb, climb and climb: up, up and up, as though we were going into the sky. Was I thrilled! The wind blew and it was cold, but I did not feel it…a veritable paradise on earth!” – George Freeman Pollock

As you walk out onto the rocky outcrop, you are standing at the top of Stony Man’s “forehead.” If you were to view this mountain from Stony Man Overlook, north of Skyland, you would see a space for his eyes, his long rock nose, and his tree-covered beard. Stony Man looks to the west and slightly upward into the high mountain sky.

There is so much to see from this spectacular viewpoint at the summit of Stony Man. Looking west into the Shenandoah Valley notice the charming town of Luray, and recreational Lake Arrowhead. To the north, other tall mountains in the Park such as Mary's Rock and Hogback are visible. Trekking past the many building blocks of Stony Man--of geology, biology, and history--we are able to take in the mountain as he stands in this very moment, and each mountain has its own story. Think about all the different stories, past and present, that this one viewpoint can tell.

Wind, water, weather, freezing, and thawing will continue to chip away at Stony Man’s face, but these changes come slowly to the resistant rocks, and Stony Man himself will not change significantly in our lifetimes--a blur in time compared to Stony Man’s age. To prepare for the future, we should study the past. Wisdom comes only from close observation of the earth. Few of us live much more than 100 years in this world that counts its age in billions of years. Significant changes in earth’s delicate web of life can occur in an incredibly short period of time. It is difficult to predict the consequences of our actions, but we can see trends and we can change our lifestyles to live more harmoniously with this earth.
 

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir