Thursday, April 23, 2026, delivered one of those rare double adventures in the Blue Ridge of which hikers dare to dream. Joined by Friends of Badger – fellow photographers Cathy Anderson Lee and Serge Skiba – we made the most of a beautiful spring day in the Linville Gorge Wilderness by tackling not one but two standout hikes: an afternoon trek to Sitting Bear Overlook followed by a golden hour climb up Hawksbill Mountain.

The hike to Sitting Bear Overlook offered a lesser-traveled gem featuring dramatic, rugged views into the heart of the gorge and along Jonas Ridge. The trail provided a quieter, more solitary feel compared to some of the area’s busier paths, with rocky outcrops and sweeping vistas that set the tone for the day. It was the perfect way to wake up the legs, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and catch that early evening light filtering through the emerging spring foliage.

A real treat came when Cathy spotted a beautiful Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule) blooming trailside. We predictably paused for photos and a quiet appreciation of this delicate spring treasure.

Cathy Anderson Lee admiring her Lady’s Slipper along the Jonas Ridge Trail (photo by Thomas Mabry)

After a break and some regrouping, we shifted focus to the evening highlight: the Hawksbill Mountain Trail. This short but steep out-and-back (roughly 1.5–2 miles round trip with about 600 feet of elevation gain) leads to the 4,009-foot summit and its iconic “hawk’s bill” rocky formation. The path winds through thickets of rhododendron just starting to bloom, past rock ledges, and alongside early wildflowers like the white trillium we spotted along the way.

Cathy Anderson Lee descending the Hawksbill Trail in Darkness (photo by Thomas Mabry)

The summit at Hawksbill was pure magic as the sun began its descent. We were treated to rich, warm sunset colors – golds, oranges, and soft pinks – painting the deep gorge below and the surrounding peaks. The three of us, with our cameras and adventure poses, soaked in one of those unforgettable Southern Appalachian evenings.

Cathy Anderson Lee and Serge Skiba arrive on Hawksbill Mountain in the setting Sun (photo by Thomas Mabry)

As darkness fell, headlamps came on for the careful descent down the Hawksbill Trail, turning the hike back into its own expedition through the quiet woods that sparked tales of epicity past and present among us by donning our trail names Badger, Neon Gnome Cathy and Firefly Serge.

From the afternoon solitude at Sitting Bear to the shared summit glow at Hawksbill, the day was about more than just the views. It was about friendship born in shared experiences like Cathy’s wedding to Kennedy Lee, where Badger and Serge played unforgettable roles, the joy of chasing light, and the satisfaction of friends putting in miles and experiences together.

Linville Gorge in spring never fails to impress, with rhododendrons lining the trails, wild orchids in the understory, and those dramatic skies over one of North Carolina’s wildest places.

Badger, Neon Gnome and Firefly at Sitting Bear Overlook (photo by Thomas Mabry)

A big thank you to Cathy Anderson Lee and Serge Skiba for sharing the trail and their lens. Their images (along with mine) from both hikes are now featured on my Honey Badger Hiking Facebook page. Be sure to check out the images here and there for the full visual story, including the orchid find, summit scenes, and headlamp hike-out!

Follow Honey Badger Hiking at https://www.facebook.com/honeybadgerhiking/.

Many of the HoneyBadgerImages are on display at instagram.com/honeybadgerimages.

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