Progress to date

After one month of the 2012 SNAP 500 I've hiked 69.3 total miles and progressed this far on side trails.  The AT miles (about 100) will be finished in one long hike at the end. 

Progress on Side Trails up to 2/1/2012

Side trail miles up to Feb. 1, 2012

Back to Hazel Country - Feb. 1 in the 60s

For my last day of serial hiking out of my wonderful B&B in Sperryville (House on Water Street ... it's superb) I chose to go back to Hazel Country.  this time I did a figure-8 hike, hiking one section twice so I could do two loops.

Parking on the side of Route 600 I walked up the private road to the sign indicating the Hazel River Trail.  Only I didn't pay attention.

Instead of following the arrow, I forded the stream to its right.  Then, realizing my mistake, I had to recross the river.  This time I got my feet wet.

As I proceeded up the Hazel River I had to cross it four more times.  The water was high and I didn't want to slip and fall so I just walked through the river.  Luckily my feet were already wet.  The trail then ascended on an old forest road up to a shoulder of Hazel Mt. where I met, yet again, the Hazel Mt. Trail (I had hiked here on Monday only today the snow was gone).  I retraced my steps from Monday to the northwest and turned onto the White Rocks Trail.  The White Rocks Trail is a wonderful trail I never would have discovered unless I had decided to walk all the trails in the park.  It is a gem and well worth the extra effort to get there. 

There must have been a major fire there in recent years because many trees were scorched.  This was another delightful trail that wended its way along the ridge.  Much to my surprise I encountered a side trail to Cave Falls.  This steep side trail was an engineering feat.  What incredible rock work!  The falls were well worth the trip and the cave was interesting too.

There was also a nice pool a little further down that would make a great place for a dip in the summer.

After returning to the trail, I loped along the ridge admiring the panoramic views to the north and wondering where exactly were these "white rocks" for which the trail was named.

Eventually I found the White Rocks, which had a great view, but the side trail was not marked

I took in the view and then descended steeply to the final crossing of the Hazel River that day.  This time I managed not to get my feet wet again.  I sat down by the river to eat my lunch and noticed lots of damage and devastation to the area.  It must have been a wind storm or something that knocked down all the trees.  Then I returned to the Hazel River Trail and climbed up to the shoulder of Hazel Mt. again.  Turning left I soon reached the intersection with the Broad Hollow trail I had hiked on Monday.  Because it was still early I decided to hike another trail orphan so I hiked to the southeastern end of the Hazel Mt. Trail where it meets the Hot-Short Trail, adding an extra 2 miles to my day.  I did it quite quickly because the trail was flat and well cushioned.  I STILL did not spy the old schoolhouse at the Broad Hollow/Hazel Mt. trail junction.  Then I hiked back to the car by way of the Sam's Ridge Trail which was another treat, although quite steep as it descended to the Hazel River at the end.

A great circuit hike would be to go up Sam's Ridge, over Hazel Mt. Trail to the White Rocks Trail, then down White Rocks and Hazel River Trails.  I suggest leaving the Hazel River until the end because it offers great dunking options and, if you have to get your feet wet with stream crossings, at least your feet aren't wet all day.


Total miles for the day:  15.7 trails plus 0.8 road
New sidetrails completed:  3

Pictures from Jan. 31 circuit hike

Here are some more pictures from the hike from A.T., along Passamaquoddy, and down Old Rag Fire Road.  I think blogspot doesn't want a lot of pictures in any posting.

All these are from the Nicholson Hollow/AT/Passamaquoddy/Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail/Old Rag Fire Road/Weakley Hollow Fire Road Circuit.  Although the weather was balmy on the east side of the ridge, once I got to the west side (along the AT and Passamaquoddy Trail) it got cold and windy.  At one point ice completely blocked the trail and I had to climb over rocks to continue.  The Passamaquoddy Trail provided an outstanding view from a rock outcropping.  That was a wonderful surprise. 

Summer in January

This has been absolutely the best year to start a local hiking challenge.  Who'd have guessed I'd be hiking in 60 degree weather on the last day of January!

The day started out chilly -- at 8 am I was dressed in t shirt, long sleeved cool max, rain/wind jacket and mittens.  I started up the Nicholson Hollow Trail.  The two stream crossings at the beginning are pretty easy but give me some anxiety because falling off the big boulder would undoubtedly hurt.

Just as I had a week before, though at a much more comfortable pace, I made my way up this delightful trail next to the loud and lively Hughes River.  By 9 AM a warm breeze blew in and I was down to t-shirt and considering unzipping my convertible pants.  Along the way I spied some cool rock outcroppings on the ridge just south of there (Thorofare Mountain?) and some giant boulders by the side of the trail.

By 10 I was back at Corbin Cabin and found a sleeping camper in his hammock.  Between the cabin and Skyline Drive the trail was delightful -- gently uphill (great trail work!) and gradually allowing for peekaboo views into the valley below.

By 11 I was up at Skyline Drive.  I then connected to the Appalachian Trail going south.  Once I got over to the western side of the ridge, the weather changed dramatically and I put my long sleeves and mittens back on.  There was ice on the trail and a chilly wind was blowing.


As I passed the Little Stony Man parking lot, a family was getting out of their car to take a hike but I never actually spoke to them.  Just up from the parking lot I took the Passamaquoddy Trail.  Another first for me.  Before the AT was routed close to the top of Stony Man, it used to be the A.T. and the trailwork shows it.  Those old CCC stone walls holding up the trail are still in great shape.  Just around the corner from the AT junction, the Passamaquoddy passes a gorgeous rocky outcropping with expansive views to the west.  Looking above you can see the steep stone cliffs of Little Stony Man.  The trail first descends, by some pretty interesting ice formations, then it ascends to Skyland. 

Here ice blocks the breadth of the Passamaquoddy Trail.
 
Although the book and map say the trail is 1.2 miles, the stone marker says 1.8.  I think there might have been an extension/relocation in Skyland.  The map is a bit confused.  I had hoped to add on the Furnace Spring Trail to my portfolio but the Passamaquoddy went way beyond the trail junction.  I believe it has been turned into the Skyland Nature Trail, or so the signs would suggest.  I have many more trails to hike in the Skyland area so I'll be back.

When I got to the Dining Hall I sat down on a rock for lunch enjoying the incredible views and the warm sunshine.  After lunch I walked up the various park roads to Skyline Drive and the Stony Man parking lot and took the Skyland/Big Meadows Horse Trail for a mile until it intersected with the Old Rag Fire Road, which I followed downhill for miles and miles and miles.  Walking on fire road can be fast and convenient but it's boring and hard on the legs and feet.  After about a mile, I took a quick out and back detour on the Corbin Mountain Trail to finish off the orphan trail I had left a week before.  Then down to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road, an old friend from the umpteen times I have climbed Old Rag.  Then the extra mile back to the parking lot.  I was quite concerned to see clearcutting on a property next to the road, quite close to what used to the the upper parking lot for Old Rag.  With all that fire road walking I was ready to drop.  As I approached the parking lot I was delighted to hear someone playing the mandolin.  Some guy in a trailer was playing to his own recorded accompaniment.  We chatted a bit before I left.

Total miles for the day:     17.5
New side trails completed:  4
Partial side trails:  2

Hazel Country

 
I had heard about Hazel Country for years but never been there.  So on Jan. 30 I went there.  I got a late start from home and was further delayed by an accident so I didn't get on the trail until 10:20 and thought I needed a relatively short hike for the day.

Having parked at a miniscule parking space on Rt. 681 I proceeded up the Broad Hollow Trail.  What a delightful walk gently uphill next to a chatty stream for the first mile or so. 

It was a bit chilly -- upper 30s I'd say -- so I kept on my mittens and long sleeved coolmax shirt all the way to the top. 

At the trail junction between Broad Hollow and Hazel Mountain there used to be a school, according to the PATC Trail Guide.  I saw no trace of it, however.  There I took the Hazel Mountain Trail south to the Catlett Mountain Trail to the Catlett Spur Trail.  Although the day was warming quickly, there was a light dusting of snow on the Hazel Mt. Trail.

In case you're wondering, yes I did walk the extra 70 yards to meet up with the Hannah Run Trail, thereby not leaving a trail orphan.  The trails on the top of the ridge were broad with good even tread.  There used to be apple orchards and wheat farms up there, according to Shenandoah Secrets by Carolyn and Jack Reeder and Hazel Country was known to be "a stronghold of the mountain moonshiners" (ibid.).  I continued down the Catlett Spur Trail to rejoin the Hazel Mountain Trail, where I ate lunch next to a jolly stream.  At that point I realized I could knock off another trail orphan (Hazel Mountain Trail up to the Buck Ridge Trail (1.8 miles each way)) so I quickly hiked up and back on the old forest road.  By this time the sun was warm and bright.  After returning to the Catlett Spur Junction I continued on the Hazel Mountain Trail back to the junction with the Broad Hollow Trail.  Then I made an error.  Although I had (just the day before) plotted a route that continued further on the Hazel Mt. Trail and descended via the Pine Hill Gap Trail, which would return me to my car via a short road walk, I failed to consult my notes.  I descended via Broad Hollow.  En route I passed an interesting collapsed building and next door appeared to be another stone foundation.  I wonder who lived there?

It wasn't until later in the evening that I realized my error.  Luckily, the Pine Hill Gap Trail can be paired up with the Hot-Short Mountain Trail to make a circuit  (as long as I can find the vestigial road back to Nethers).  I may have to go out and get a USGS topo map for that trek since the PATC map does not even have a dotted line to show how to get from Pine Hill Gap to VA 707. 

Total miles for day:  11.2
New side trails:  3 (Broad Hollow, Catlett Mt., Catlett Spur)