Jan. 1: 2 sidetrail miles, 2 complete trails

First few miles of the SNAP 500. Since today is the first day of 2012 Artunus and I knocked off a few miles in the Shenandoahs. It was a clear crisp day with a stiff wind. We started at Crescent Rock Overlook. CHEAP THRILL: Betty's Rock. Although not described in the PATC guidebook on the Shenandoahs, Betty's Rock (which is a 600 yard (0.3 mi) walk from the overlook) is well worth the short trip. Fabulous western views, well graded gravel trail.

From there we went to Hawksbill Gap and hiked up the Lower Hawksbill Trail to Byrds Nest 2 and the wide open summit. Two older folks tried to talk us out of taking the steep way up (thinking we didn't know what we were doing) but we prefer steep up and gentle down.

Up at Byrds Nest 2 there were 8 or 9 overnight campers in the shelter, right next to the sign that says "no overnight camping." Oh well. The views to the west from the front of the shelter and the 360 degree views from the top were fabulous. We were in the sun and had put on hats, wind jackets and mittens, so it wasn't too chilly.

Because of the wind, we decided to wait to eat lunch at the Rock Spring Hut. So we descended on the Salamander Trail, a pleasant well graded trail, jogged south on the A.T. for 0.4 miles, and took the cutoff to the Rock Spring Cabin and Hut. People were occupying the Cabin so we couldn't get a good look inside, but it looked lovely from a short distance away. A "porch" with open views to the west and (apparently) a fireplace burning away merrily. What a great place to spend New Year's Eve!

A trail maintainer was at the hut with his dog. We also met him later in the parking lot picking up litter. Thanks to him, the local A.T. and the Lower Hawksbill Trail are in tiptop condition.

After he headed off, we ate lunch, retreating to the hut overhang when the light spitting drizzle started.

After lunch, we went back to the car. Great waterfalls of ice and beautiful fern/moss displays greeted us on the A.T. back to the parking lot. I picked up a discarded Kleenex and a hiking pole basket on the trail. The trail maintainer had a trash bag, so I could off load my cargo with him.

We left Hawksbill Parking Lot at around 2 PM, thinking we'd like to do another short hike, possibly taking in another PATC Cabin. We parked at Hogback parking lot and ascended to the radio tower but that wasn't the viewpoint I remembered from my thru hike. As we descended the rain started. Feh. Raced back to the car and headed home around 3 pm.

But the Shenandoahs had one more treat in store for us: a momma bear and three cubs were rooting around in the woods off the Skyline Drive, just north of Compton Gap. We might not have noticed them except for the traffic jam.

It poured all the way home.

Mileage: 0.6 miles on the Betty's Rock Trail; 1.0 mile Lower Hawksbill Trail (according to the post), 0.7 miles on the Salamander Trail, and 1.8 miles (or maybe 2.0 depending on which source you use)on the A.T., plus 0.2 miles along side trail to the Rock Spring Hut.