Rocky Top/Lewis Peak/Big Run Portal Loop

On Tuesday, Sept. 25 I parked at Brown Gap (MP 83) and hiked down the Rockytop Trail (ROCKY is right!), took a side trip over the Lewis Peak Trail to the Park boundary and up to Lewis Peak, then descended to Big Run Portal.  I then ascended on the Big Run Portal Trail up to the Big Run Loop Trail and returned to the car.  Lots of miles and some terrific views.

From the parking lot I descended via the Madison Run Trail to the Madison Run Spur Trail to the junction between Big Run Loop, Rockytop, and Madison Run Spur trails.  Taking the Rockytop Trail, I descended right along or right next to the ridge top, along lots of rocks.  This allowed for great views right and left. 

Then I turned onto the Lewis Peak Trail which was fabulous.  The trail first went up a little, then down into the gap, then finally slabbed up the side of Lewis Peak.  Between the Rockytop Trail and the summit (including some bare ledges on the western side) the views were fabulous.

The rocks there apparently have prehistoric worm holes in them

I continued down the Lewis Peak Trail beyond the summit (even though it only goes to the boundary of the Park where there is no public access) and it turned out to be a delightful trail.  Lots of walking along rocks with blueberries and pines next to the trail.  It reminded me a lot of Maine.  Also there were great wildflowers.

Then I turned around and hiked back to the Rockytop Trail, seeing the actual Rockytop.

It looked like the trail was going to go to the top but in fact it only went over the left shoulder.  Then I thought maybe the next "rocky top" was the peak.

But that too proved illusory.  It seemed that a fire had swept through the area and cleared out all the tall trees, leaving lots of interesting rocks protruding.  But the trail skirted that peak too.  Then it descended with continuous and dazzling views to the West.

Absolutely stunning trail.  At the bottom there was a very forbidding sign saying the Big Run Portal Trail was closed at the boundary and there were all kinds of obstacles put in the way.

But since the guidebook includes that 0.2 miles, I hiked it.  Then I hiked up the Big Run Portal Trail looking eagerly for the famous "portal".  I only got glimpses through the leaves.  Perhaps the portal is best seen in winter.

I reached the bridge where I had lunched the last time I was on the trail and ascending along wonderful pools, stopping for a swim when I could resist it no longer.

Finally, at the end of a very long day, I reach the Big Run Loop Trail which ascended steeply to the Rockytop Trail and took the Madison Run Loop and FR back to the car.  Thus ended an almost perfect day of hiking:  lots of views, lots of water, lots of miles.  Total for the day 19.4 miles.

Total miles hiked so far:  421.2.  Total unique side trail miles:  274.6  Total trails:  109.  I discovered yet more errors in my excel table (double counting Moormans River trails and double counting overlap distance with Discovery Trail).  Making total side trails 170 and total sidetrail miles 406.2.  Here are new thermometers. 

Three Turks and a Moormans plus a Discovery

Monday, Sept. 24, I had a thoroughly delightful set of hikes in the South District.  I parked in Turk Gap (after MP 94) and hiked out and back the Turk Gap Trail, up and back Turk Mountain Trail, and down the AT to Jarman Gap where I picked up the South Fork of the Moorman River Fire Road and returned to my car by way of my old friend the Turk Run Trail.

Turk Gap Trail, being an old woods road, was uneventful.  I saw no signs of the pools of the Crimora Mine just beyond the end of the trail.  Although public access is disallowed on the bottom end, there are roads just beyond the Park boundary and somebody gets to take their horses on this trail (as evidenced by horse dung).

Turk Mountain was a joy.  Here's a picture of Turk Mt. from the Skyline Drive pullout.

From the Turk Gap parking lot, the summit is only 1.1 miles.  First you go up the AT a bit in a southbound direction, then the Turk Mountain Trail takes off to the right.  It slopes down then up, going across lots of rockslides with terrific views to the left back toward the main range of the Shenandoahs. 

After slabbing up the mountain, you reach the rocky top of Turk Mountain with fantastic views west and north as well as east back to the main body of the Shenandoahs.

View from Turk Mt.

View from Turk Mt.

View back toward Shenandoahs from Turk Mt.

Because I had gotten a late start, I ate my lunch there admiring the view.

After descending via the same trail back to the AT, I turned southbound and hiked as far as Jarman Gap.  For quite a while before the Gap, the trail parallels the South Fork of the Moorman River, gradually descending to the junction with the Fire Road (S. Fk. Moormans River).  To complete the Fire Road I hiked the 0.2 mi. up to Jarman Gap and back othen hiked down the trail as far as the Turk Run Trail.  Although it is called a fire road, there are many downed trees in this section that would undoubtedly impair any emergency vehicles.  The sections close to the stream were just as enchanting as the rest of the Moormans River trails I hiked last week.

Once again, I hiked up the Turk Run Trail to return to my car.

Then I drove over the Loft Mountain Campground to spend the night.  After setting up my tent, I decided that I had some energy to burn so I hiked the Frazier Discovery Trail from the Loft Mt. Wayside.  I'm used to flat boring nature trails and was surprised and delighted to find that the FDT goes up really steeply, by some really cool rock formations

Rock formations on Frazier Discovery Trail

to an absolutely incredible view from the rocky outcropping where the trail joins the AT.

Overlook from Frazier Discovery Trail

Overlook from Frazier Discovery Trail

Overlook from Frazier Discovery Trail

Overlook from Frazier Discovery Trail

Then I took the steep descent back to the wayside and returned to my tent for the night.

Total miles for the day:  13.9
Total miles that count toward the 500:  5.6
New or completed trails:  4

I realized there is 0.1 mile of double counting on the 1.3 mile Frazier Discovery Trail and will change my database accordingl.  I also found there was confusion between the map and the guidebook about the Moormans River trails/road/fire road.  I've changed it to one "trail" of 9.5 miles as indicated in the guidebook instead of 3 trails.  

Fabulous circuit hike in Southern District

Today's hike was pretty much the perfect hike:  scenic vistas, streamside walking, great pools for dips, and good exercise.  I started at Skyline Drive at the Brown Mt. Overlook.  Hiked down (up) the Brown Mt. Trail which has lots of wonderful rocky outcroppings with views.

As you can see it was a spectacular day and fall is arriving fast.  Although it was misty and cool when I started out, the clouds burned off and it was warm by late morning.  Then I got down to Big Run and the Big Run Portal Trail.  I practically knocked a wasp nest out of a tree as I made my way down to the stream for lunch.

The river was lovely!

I would have taken a dip right there but there were two other people picnicking on the other side of the bridge.  The Big Run Portal itself was supposed to be just beyond the bridge (according to the guidebook) but I didn't find it within a "just" distance.  I took an overgrown side trail down to the water's edge but it wasn't worth the effort.  Perhaps the portal, which I could barely make out through the trees, is best viewed in winter.

Returning to the bridge and heading up the Big Run Portal Trail, I was dazzled by all the wonderful pools.  Most of them were inaccessible from the trail but I finally found a good one just before the junction with the Rocky Mountain Run Trail.

Wonderful and unusual flowers

I was taken with the bright red flowers nearby which didn't look like either cardinal flowers or bee balm.  I wonder what they are.  The pool itself had a deep spot and lots of fish about 5 inches long.  Excellent dip!

Then I turned up the Rocky Mt. Run trail to return to the car.  It too had some nice pools but the water ran out half way up.  The final pull up to the Brown Mt. Trail junction was fairly steep but well graded.  This hike I'll return to.

Mileage for day:  10 miles, 2 new trails, 8 miles of new side trails.

So far I've hiked 100 side trails!