This has always been a popular hike for club members, but weather has conspired against us for the past couple of years. Thus it was with relief to show up at Albemarle High School on Saturday morning with near perfect conditions forecast for the day. Hike leader Ken Moss met six other hikers and quickly organized the carpool for the long ride to the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area of George Washington National Forest in Amherst County.
Upon reaching the upper heights of the Blue Ridge on Route 60 just west of Long Mountain Wayside, we turned right onto Coffeytown Road and pulled over to await a planned link-up with Bill Holman, who had dropped off Iva Gillet, Dan Ralston and John Brandt at the Montebello Fish Hatchery for a 12-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail to Hog Camp Gap. Bill wasn't there at the appointed hour, so we waited while listening to the excitement of an adjacent auction which had brought many people and cars to this normally isolated spot. Alas, no Bill after a half hour wait, and with no cell service we decided to proceed.
While driving the dirt road to Hog Camp Gap, Ken finally got enough of a cellular signal to allow a text message from Bill to pop up on his phone (it was Bill saying he was late and not to wait for him), so he stopped to tell the trailing cars of Bill's status...but upon exiting his car, he was surprised to see Bill at the rear of the convoy, waiving! The group was finally whole and we proceeded to the trailhead without further incident.
We soon started our walk along the Old Hotel Trail, taking us through easy grades in former orchards and farmland. After about a mile we came to the famous open camp area along the trail under a huge old oak tree, where we discovered that overnight campers had failed to completely put out their campfire. With abundant dried dried leaves about and breezy conditions, Brad Young and Rita Kieffer got to work trying to extinguish the smoldering embers with what was at hand...finally deciding with Ken that burying the smoldering coals would be the only possibility. Having done our good deed for the day, the group continued up the trail.
Lunch time arrived at the same time as we did at Cow Camp Gap Shelter, which boasted a large picnic table and even an outhouse. A pleasant meal followed, with the conversation wandering, as often happens, to oddball topics that caused many chuckles...including some of the men, including Brian Muszynski (who was supposed to be with Iva's group, but had arrived too late after stopping at Bodo's Bagles while riding his bike to AHS!), Bill and Ken getting in touch with their feminine side! Bill also managed to perk everyone up with his customary offering of chocolate, which just added more fuel to the fire concerning the feminine side discussions!
We were soon back on the trail, climbing toward the ridgeline, crossing at least one shallow stream which still allowed for Leon Gorman's best friend, Bailey, to enjoy a brief moment splashing around. Soon we intersected the AT and headed north, climbing steadily and passing a couple of nice rock outcroppings which allowed fine views to the west. The autumn colors were in full display, if perhaps a bit subdued...there is a predominance of oaks in the area, so not as vibrant as we may have wished. After identifying some terrain features far to the west thanks to the clear conditions (such as Interstate 64 west of Lexington and even the VMI campus), we finished the last section before reaching the wide open summit of Cold (Cole) Mountain.
The summit here is special, as it is a rare maintained bald (obviously mowed) in a region famous for tree covered mountains. On previous hikes, due to the unobstructed panorama and it's resemblance to the opening scene from
The Sound of Music, club members Debra Fisher and Marian Styles have led the group in the singing of that movie's theme song,
The Hills Are Alive...but last minute obligations apparently kept them away from this trip, even as several hikers regretted their absence and made modest attempts to sing both the theme song as well as
Do-Re-Mi. Joanne Davis marveled at the location, knowing of what she spoke considering that she lived in Switzerland for many years before recently moving to Crozet. Liz Lyons recalled memories of her first trip to the summit. After absorbing the views and taking lots of photos, the group continued along the open ridgeline, basking in the sunshine and enjoying the expansive views as we walked. We soon reentered the wood-line and descended the AT to Hog Camp Gap for a short walk down the road to our cars.
With the hike over, it was time for phase two of the day's activities...a stop at Wild Wolf Brewery in Nellysford. for refreshments and a planned link-up with Iva's group. With such a beautiful fall day, all of the brewerys along Rte-151 were busy and we had to wait awhile for a table and finally confiscated one just as our waitress arrived to take our orders. Most people decided to do dinner, and Iva's arrival with Dan and John briefly completed the circle before people began to drift off to the four corners of the world. A hardy nucleus remained until the sun and temperature dropped enough to cause us to look forward to car heaters for the drive home...but, as always, socializing with friends was a wonderful way to end a day on the trail.
Upon reaching the upper heights of the Blue Ridge on Route 60 just west of Long Mountain Wayside, we turned right onto Coffeytown Road and pulled over to await a planned link-up with Bill Holman, who had dropped off Iva Gillet, Dan Ralston and John Brandt at the Montebello Fish Hatchery for a 12-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail to Hog Camp Gap. Bill wasn't there at the appointed hour, so we waited while listening to the excitement of an adjacent auction which had brought many people and cars to this normally isolated spot. Alas, no Bill after a half hour wait, and with no cell service we decided to proceed.
While driving the dirt road to Hog Camp Gap, Ken finally got enough of a cellular signal to allow a text message from Bill to pop up on his phone (it was Bill saying he was late and not to wait for him), so he stopped to tell the trailing cars of Bill's status...but upon exiting his car, he was surprised to see Bill at the rear of the convoy, waiving! The group was finally whole and we proceeded to the trailhead without further incident.
We were soon back on the trail, climbing toward the ridgeline, crossing at least one shallow stream which still allowed for Leon Gorman's best friend, Bailey, to enjoy a brief moment splashing around. Soon we intersected the AT and headed north, climbing steadily and passing a couple of nice rock outcroppings which allowed fine views to the west. The autumn colors were in full display, if perhaps a bit subdued...there is a predominance of oaks in the area, so not as vibrant as we may have wished. After identifying some terrain features far to the west thanks to the clear conditions (such as Interstate 64 west of Lexington and even the VMI campus), we finished the last section before reaching the wide open summit of Cold (Cole) Mountain.
The summit here is special, as it is a rare maintained bald (obviously mowed) in a region famous for tree covered mountains. On previous hikes, due to the unobstructed panorama and it's resemblance to the opening scene from The Sound of Music, club members Debra Fisher and Marian Styles have led the group in the singing of that movie's theme song, The Hills Are Alive...but last minute obligations apparently kept them away from this trip, even as several hikers regretted their absence and made modest attempts to sing both the theme song as well as Do-Re-Mi. Joanne Davis marveled at the location, knowing of what she spoke considering that she lived in Switzerland for many years before recently moving to Crozet. Liz Lyons recalled memories of her first trip to the summit. After absorbing the views and taking lots of photos, the group continued along the open ridgeline, basking in the sunshine and enjoying the expansive views as we walked. We soon reentered the wood-line and descended the AT to Hog Camp Gap for a short walk down the road to our cars.
With the hike over, it was time for phase two of the day's activities...a stop at Wild Wolf Brewery in Nellysford. for refreshments and a planned link-up with Iva's group. With such a beautiful fall day, all of the brewerys along Rte-151 were busy and we had to wait awhile for a table and finally confiscated one just as our waitress arrived to take our orders. Most people decided to do dinner, and Iva's arrival with Dan and John briefly completed the circle before people began to drift off to the four corners of the world. A hardy nucleus remained until the sun and temperature dropped enough to cause us to look forward to car heaters for the drive home...but, as always, socializing with friends was a wonderful way to end a day on the trail.
Hello Ken,
ReplyDeleteThis is Mal from the TATC. Our group of four met you on this same Cole Mountain hike Oct. 14. We were part of a larger crowd of TATCers, who had camped at Sherando F.S. campground that weekend to do maintenance on the A.T. between Reeds Gap and Route 56, as well as in St. Mary's Wilderness. TATC replaced the roof on the Harpers Creek Shelter that week.
I enjoyed your new account and the photos of Cow Camp Gap Shelter and Cole Mountain. It truly is a beautiful spot. Interestingly, on our hike Oct. 14, we had to pour water on a smoldering campfire at the big old oak tree on the Old Hotel Trail, too.
Best Wishes from TATC. http://tidewateratc.com/
Mal H.