On March 21, 22 people met at a parking lot off Virginia 311 in Roanoke County and embarked on a four-hour night hike on the Appalachian Trail up Catawba Mountain. The group — members of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and their guests — hiked the 3.4 mile section of the trail to McAfee Knob, a popular overlook.

The hike took advantage of a full moon that rose over the horizon shortly after the group reached the overlook. Hikers then returned to the parking area with flashlights and head lamps along a fire road that runs parallel to the trail. Club members Maya Bohler and Linda King led the hike.

The Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains 113 miles of the Appalachian Trail, including the section through the New River Valley. The club hosts weekly guided hikes in and around the region on the Appalachian Trail, as well as other hiking trails. The club also holds periodic “work hikes” to build and maintain portions of the 2,125-mile long scenic footpath that runs from Georgia to Maine. A list of upcoming hikes can be found on the club Web site.