At Swift Run Gap hike leader Mike Seth met the Kelly O’Rouke
who rounded up Jeanne Densore, Dan Ralston, Seviere Freny, Susanne Williams, John Brandt, and Leon Gorman.
They then drove to the Fridley Gap Trailhead on Cub Run Road in
Massanutten where they Mike Smith and Dave Borszich were waiting.
The ten hikers then made the first of the three ascents.
The weather cooperated, clear skies, temperatures in the 50s climbing to around 60.
It was a little windy but most of the hike was out of the wind. Even though a winter storm was coming the next day there were many signs of spring. At the trailhead we were entertained by a chorus of tree frogs.
Later Mike Smith spotted the season’s first butterfly an angle wing.
We ate lunch at our high point, on the top of Grubbs Knob we from rock cliffs were had a great panoramic view to the west. We descended Fourth Mountain and everyone managed to cross Fridley Run with dry feet. We paused a bit and while the hike leader was lecturing on the history of China, John Brandt kept trying to interrupt to explain that there was an unattended camp fire. John, Mike Smith, and Dave re-crossed the stream and put the smoldering campfire out- an important deed since the fire level in the forest was on high. Dan and Jeanne continued on alone not realizing that they had passed the rest of the group preoccupied with the campfire, climb up Third Mountain when they didn’t see anyone they backtrack and went a different route and then decided to go back up Third Mountain for the second time where time they found the rest of the us making their way up the steep climb. Thus so we finished with the group intact.
Afterward we drove to Elkton to see one of the Remarkable Trees of Virginia, an ancient burr oak - it took five of us to wrap our arms around it. After a brief stop at Dairy Queen we all headed home.
We ate lunch at our high point, on the top of Grubbs Knob we from rock cliffs were had a great panoramic view to the west. We descended Fourth Mountain and everyone managed to cross Fridley Run with dry feet. We paused a bit and while the hike leader was lecturing on the history of China, John Brandt kept trying to interrupt to explain that there was an unattended camp fire. John, Mike Smith, and Dave re-crossed the stream and put the smoldering campfire out- an important deed since the fire level in the forest was on high. Dan and Jeanne continued on alone not realizing that they had passed the rest of the group preoccupied with the campfire, climb up Third Mountain when they didn’t see anyone they backtrack and went a different route and then decided to go back up Third Mountain for the second time where time they found the rest of the us making their way up the steep climb. Thus so we finished with the group intact.
Afterward we drove to Elkton to see one of the Remarkable Trees of Virginia, an ancient burr oak - it took five of us to wrap our arms around it. After a brief stop at Dairy Queen we all headed home.
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