3/18/12

Wintergreen / Old Appalachian Trail - March 17, 2012

St. Patrick's Day brought forth a little different hike for the Charlottesville PATC. Marit Gay led 18 hikers on approximately a 7 mile hike following part of the Wintergreen Resort Perimeter Hike. We did a point to point hike beginning at Blue Ridge Overlook and heading down the Old Appalachian Trail.

 We enjoyed beautiful views of the Priest, Three Ridges, and the Shenandoah Valley. The terrain was varied (fairly graded to rock scrambles) and so was the environment from fairly remote to the trail being adjacent to houses and the golf course. The trek followed down the Upper Shamokin Gorge Trail and settled at the Shamokin Falls for a lunch break. The hikers enjoyed their food on rocks aligning the lovely falls. Brownies and peanut butter cookies were provided by the leader, as well as pumpkin bread donated by John Shannon.

After the respite we left the Upper Shamokin Falls Trail and veered upward on the Loggers Alley Trail. This brought us to the Upper Highlands ski slopes crossing Wild Turkey and Cliffhanger runs. The hikers even got to traverse along the remaining snow paths until we got to the main artery of the ski mountain, Dobie run.

 The plan was to continue on the Perimeter Trail on the Cedar Cliffs North Trail and loop back to the cars along the Hemlock Springs Trail, but some of the hikers needed to leave to return to Charlottesville and the majority of the remaining trekkers were ready to enjoy the St. Patrick's festivities at Devils Backbone Brewery at the bottom of the mountain. One carload of drivers was sent to retrieve the remaining cars while the others enjoyed the views at "The Overlook" along the A-Side slopes of Eagle Swoop and the Plunge Tubing Park. Delicious beer and appetizers completed the day of good weather and energetic hiking. The group included Rita Kieffer, John Brandt, Dan Funkhouser, Sue Tansey, Neil McKinney, Joanne Davis, Peter Fink & Bev Maresca, Dave Borszich, John Shannon, Andy Willgruber, Barbara Martin, Marian Styles, Ken & Marie & Doug Moss, David Ledbetter, Brian Muszynski, and Corinne & Marit Gay.
Next Stop: Pacific Crest Trail!

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