3 on 211

Today I went out for the second day this week.  I'm trying to complete as many trails as possible before a presentation I'm making on Sept. 25.  Starting next week I hope to spend 2 or even 3 days in the Park at a time, spending the night in campgrounds.

I've always wondered, as I drove up US 211 from Sperryville to Thornton Gap, why all the cars were parked in pullouts along the way.  Now I know because today I hiked all three trails that leave from 211 in the Park.  First I hiked up and back the Pass Mountain Trail.  The trailhead is right at a sharp turn in the road and the parking area is across the street so it seemed a bit dangerous getting from my car to the trail.  Luckily there wasn't much traffic on 211.  The trail was pleasant ... an old forest road that rose gradually from 211 up to Pass Mountain Hut, which is a shelter for AT and other long distance hikers (one night limit).  I believe I stayed there during my thru-hike in 2007.  I continued on another 0.3 mi. to trail's end at the A.T.  Except for a few patches of Japanese stiltgrass which had overgrown the trail, it was very well maintained.  There were a few wild phlox along the way but not many other wildflowers. 

Pass Mountain Hut

I signed the log book in the hut and returned to the car, passing a neat fungus on the way down.

Then I drove down 211 about a mile to park at the trailhead for the Buck Ridge/Buck Hollow trails.  The parking lot looked like a butterfly convention.  At least a dozen swallowtails were congregated around the puddles but they flew off as soon as I got my camera out.   .

I decided to go up the Buck Ridge Trail (which starts 0.3 miles up the Buck Hollow Trail).  Just after the Buck Ridge Trail starts the hiker is presented with an incredible feat of engineering and volunteer labor.

Incredible stairs up Buck Ridge Trail

These stairs go on and on and on and on.  I cannot imagine how many hours of labor went into improving this trail.  About half way up the stairway to heaven, I spied a tiny yellow ringed black snake (the internet suggests it's called a northern ring necked snake).  This one was a few inches long and no more than 1/4 inch thick.  After sweating and panting up the stairs I finally reached the ridge which offered peekaboo vistas to both sides.  I'd imagine the views would be great in winter.  After about an hour, after a little rock scramble, an inconspiruous side trail led to a rocky outcrop with great views to the north and east.

Rocky outcrop on Buck's Ridge Trail

Toward the top of the trail, it went through the woods and finally emerged onto the Hazel Mt. Trail, my old pal from many months ago.  I took that trail up to Skyline Drive (thereby completing the Hazel Mt. Trail at last) and continued on up the Meadow Spring Trail, which always seems way longer and steeper than it should be.  Although it wasn't on my planned itinerary, once I reached the top of Meadow Spring Trail I decided to hop over the Mary's Rock because it's so close and so wonderful.  Mary's Rock has one of the best vistas in the park.

Mary's Rock

Mary's Rock

View from Mary's Rock

Then I retraced my steps to Skyline Drive and took the Buck Hollow Trail back down to the car.  At first the descent was so unrelenting (though not steep) that it was hard on my ancient knees.  But eventually it flattened out and I was treated to the sounds of the stream flowing next to the trail.  Unfortunately I couldn't get to any pools to take a dip (and there were very few large enough to fit me).  It never ceases to amaze me that after a no-snow winter and droughty spring and summer that the streams continue to flow in the Shenandoah National Park.  It started to rain and then thunder so I put my camera in my backpack to keep it dry.  Which meant I didn't get a picture of the huge black snake (4 feet long I'd say) along the trail.  It was gorgeous and didn't seem in any hurry to get away from me.

Got back to the car earlier than expected.  

More changes to the Excel table of SNAP 500 trails to reflect Trail Guide miles. 

Trails completed:  4 new (86 total)
Miles hiked:  15.2
New side trail miles:  9.8 new (213.8 total)
Total miles hiked to date:  320.2