9/9/14

Second Mountain Trail in Massanutten - August 30, 2014

       John Shannon, John Brandt, Marian Styles, Rich Bard, Bill Holman, C.J. Woodburn, Iva Gillet, and Emily Berry from Charlottesville joined Michael Seth who led this short hike/worktrip on a sunny hot late August day.  At the trailhead they were joined by Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, Mike and Karen Waterman, from the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter.  

         We parked our cars along Cub Run Road walked about a quarter mile to the start of the orange blazed Massanutten Trail.  Then after .7 of a mile we turned on the 1.9 mile Second Mountain Trail to Kaylor Knob about a 1100 elevation gain.  As we ascended Second Mountain we cut back on blueberry bushes and scrub oaks that were closing in on the trail with our loppers and clippers.  With many hands we made considerable progress. We quit half way up, having tackled the worst sections and had lunch at the top.  Although the hike leader promised good views to the east they were obscured by the newly grown chestnuts trees.   Michael Seth shared peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies his wife baked and John Shannon shared delicious pumpkin cake. But at least it was a little cooler at the top.  

        After our descent we stopped at a watering hole near where we parked our cars.  Although the water level was low it was deep enough to soak in and all but Emily, Mike Waterman and Bill did so. Afterwards some of us stopped at Hank's Smokehouse for beer and food.

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