11/9/18

Trayfoot-Paynes Run from Harriston - October 27, 2018


submitted by Michael Seth

John Brandt, Ana McAllister, Jill York, Peggy Byrd, Jim Fye, and Pam Heinrich joined hike leader Mike Seth at the Food Lion at Grottoes.  Then we took the short drive to the Paynes Run Trailhead at the end of Horsehead Road.  It was rainy and gloomy early in the morning, but the rain stopped before the hike started and it turned out to be an ok day weatherwise.  Mostly cloudy, but the sun occasionally came out enabling us to see the fall colors which were probably at their peak.  The hike began with a couple tricky stream crossings.  People found various ways of crossing; some took off shoes and socks and waded across, others skillfully managed to jump from rock to rock-all ended with dry feet.  We began our four mile climb to Trayfoot Mountain where he had a snack break before proceeding to Blackrock where we had lunch. 
The morning rain must of scared off the leaf-peeping crowds as it was surprising quiet in SNP, we saw no one until we got to Blackrock and only a few people at that usually popular spot.  We made a little detour to walk around the rocks and another side trip to visit Blackrock Hut. Pam is doing the Shenandoah 500 and needed the side trail.  No one objected to adding this short, but steep side trail. After that it was all downhill with a stop to wander around the former Blackrock Springs hotel site.  Toward the end of the hike we encountered another stream crossing.  This time everyone had to wade across.  After two more crossings we were at our cars a little after five.  The hike was advertised as 9.9 miles but with side trips we hiked 11.4 miles with a total 2700’ elevation gain.  The extra hiking was no problem for this hardy group.  Jim has done the rim-to-rim Grand Canyon, Jill recently has been hiking in the Himalayas, Ana and Pam are tireless, as is John and Peggy proved that she could keep up with everyone. 




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