Mutton Hollow Trails cleared by Alternative Spring Break UVa Students - March 9 to 14

submitted by Ben Campbell

Hi PATC members! Some of you may remember us from last year, but we are a group of 9 students from the University of Virginia who are members of a service organization called Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Each year ASB organizes a variety of student-led service learning trips for UVA students to take part in over spring break. We are committed to providing meaningful ways for students to connect to the communities around them and participate in service opportunities. Our particular group is very passionate about environmental conservation and exploring the outdoors, which is why we wanted to come back for a second year working with your PATC chapter in the Shenandoah area.

This year we teamed up with Bill Holman again to work on some of the Mutton Hollow Trails. We had the chance to live in the Mutton Top Cabin for a week and experience all of the fun and unexpected surprises that come along with living without water or electricity. It was an adventure and we all had a great time sitting by the wood stove each night relaxing. Although we started off with some cold nights and icy roads, by the end of the week we had beautiful sunny skies and clear hiking trails.

Our goal for the week was to work on clearing some new trails including a short connecting trail by Conley and Morris cabins and a longer extension of the Cliff trail that approaches Shenandoah National Park. By the end of the week we became pretty skilled at moving logs, using handsaws, and wrestling thorn bushes. Overall we had a great experience and a lot of fun exploring the area and getting our hands dirty! The highlight of our trip was when we finally made it to the top of the Cliff trail extension and saw the Shenandoah National Park boundary line. We were even able to climb to the top of some hidden rocky cliffs that overlooked the Shenandoah Valley.

We all came away from the trip with a new sense of appreciation for all of the work your organization does year-round, and for the beautiful area we have around us. We all hope to continue working in the area and contributing to your mission was also taking time to explore the mountains and relax when outside of the classroom. We admire all of your hard work and dedication to protecting and maintaining this area, and hope that we were able to help out and contribute in a small way.

Special thanks to Bill Holman for helping us out all week and thanks to the PATC for allowing us to have this experience!

Best of luck in the upcoming months!

-Liz Holohan, Ben Campbell, and the rest of the ASB 2015 Shenandoah Crew

Big Run Loop Trail - April 4, 2015

April 4 started out as a cold and windy day as we gathered in the Doyle's River Parking area along Skyline Drive.  The wind did diminish as we descended into the Big Run Basin on the west side of Skyline Drive.  It was still cold as we hiked down about 1600 feet, however as we made the climb up to the "Times Square" intersection we quickly warmed up.  Lunch was in a sunny spot at the intersection of Big Run/Madison Spur/Rocky Top trails.  After a leisurely lunch topped off with a little chocolate from the hike leader, we headed out to Brown's Gap, then onto the AT across Doyle's River Overlook and back to the start point, about 7 miles.  Hikers included Dave Abdallah, Leon Gorman, Kelly O'Rourke, Brad Young, John Sinclair, John Brandt, Tom and Ellen Shields, Tom Cross, Anne Colgate, Dan Ralston, and Jeanne Densmore. 

Reported by Hike Leader Lindsay Brown

Old Rag - March 21, 2015

Michael Seth:
     The first day of spring was celebrated with what is possibly the best known hike in Virginia- Old Rag. This was a joint hike with the Shenandoah Valley Chapter. We had a great view of Old Rag from the road on the way there and could see there was snow on the mountain. It was decided to divide the hike into two groups: one led by Eric Bredo visiting from Toronto who went up the shorter, 3 mile to the top, but more difficult (and more crowded) Ridge Trail and the other group led by Michael Seth went up the longer 4.5 mile to the top but easier (and less crowded) Weakley Hollow fire road and then the northern side of the Ridge Trail. Chad Churchman, Mary Huffer, Bob Eggleston, from the Valley and Susanna Keller, Lindsay Brown, Susanna Williams, John Brandt, John Shannon, Jackie Bradley, Leon Gorman, Kelly O’Rourke and Jeanne Densmore from C’ville met at the trailhead. Tim Hupp from the Valley joined Eric Bredo’s group. It was a near perfect day- clear skies, low sixties. There were more people hiking this mountain than the Michael Seth remembered seeing since he hiked Mount Fuji on a Japanese holiday. However, since about 98 percent were hiking up the Ridge Trail, the people doing the Weakley Hollow road did not actually see many folks until we got near the top and the first human wave of hikers began descending. Most of the way was quite nice with great views although the Ridge Trail was slippery in spots. The crowds of hikers gave way to hordes as we reached the top. Nonetheless, we found a relatively quiet spot for lunch. We long way hikers kept wondering where the shorter hard way group was. After a while they came straggling up. Apparently it was so crowded that at one point they had to wait thirty minutes to get through a narrow passage through the rocks. All of us in the long way group felt relieved we had taken the way up we did. Eventually everyone had time to eat and we headed down. As we got half way it occurred to Michael and some others that no one had seen Mary who made it to the top but did not join the others for lunch and no one had seen Tim. Eric and Susanna K went back up to look for them while Michael, John Brandt and John Shannon waited. Others left. After an hour Tim and Mary materialized in fine shape and the day ended successfully.

Eric Bredo:
     17 stalwart hikers made the hike, including a fair clutch of old time PATCers like John Shannon, Marian Styles, Leon Gorman, Lindsay Brown, Michael, and yours truly, proving that we can all still get up a hill. We decided to "take" the mountain with a pincers movement, on the north, which was not only rocky, a bit wet and snowy, but full of Boy Scouts and others trying it for the first time. We ended up backed up quite a lot at the drip-down crevice but managed to get around them at the muscle-up ledge, while Michael's group cooled their heels waiting for us. Despite the crowds, the somewhat overcast day, and Michael's best effort to get his car deeply stuck in the mud, Old Rag performed it usual magic making us feel terrific and delighted with ourselves as well as with one another. We hope those who just joined us will be coming back for more PATC adventures in the future. 

Soup Hike around Flattop Mountain - March 7, 2015

submitted by Iva Gillet

       After several weeks of snow, the planned hike to Keith Argow's cabin on Flattop Mountain had to be altered since he was unable to access the cabin and 4WD vehicle to get there. Hence, I resorted to my inaugural soup hike route, along the gravel roads of Flattop Mountain. Traveling clockwise, we walked the muddy, flat road along the Lynch River before ascending toward Simmons Gap. Our group of 14 consisted of: Brad Young, Pete and Bev Fink, Sunny Choi, Anne Colgate, Leon Gorman, Susanna Williams, Karen Ramsey, Carlos Espinoza, CJ Woodburn, David Crowe, Michael Seth, and Clai Lange. The 2.5 mile ascent allowed folks to hike at their own pace, with no chance of getting lost. While there were some steeper sections along Shifflett Road with icy patches, generally the roads were in great shape, despite the recent snowfall. We gathered at the pinnacle of today's hike, after an 1700 foot climb, and admired the view while we enjoyed a snack. Brad and Susanna charged ahead, leading us past Stone Mountain Winery, across Wyatt Mountain and in pursuit of soup. We finished the 8 mile loop in about 3 1/2 hours, and then returned to Briarleigh Farm for chili, chicken chili and beef stew that Bill Holman had been preparing for days, and that was piping hot upon our arrival. We enjoyed plenty of bread and soup, along with cheese, crackers, coffee cake and mints that hikers had provided. With the proposed route to be hiked another day, we enjoyed each others good company and great food.

 

Whetstone Ridge on St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 2015

Western view of Shenandoah Valley

Eastern view of Boston Mountain and Nettle Mountain

Mark Perschel, Dave Borszich, Pete Fink, Ann Colgate, Tom Cross, Irene Burke

St. Patrick's Day should be spent outdoors admiring the green of nature all around.  That is what a group of seven hikers did on March 17.  Hike leader, Marit Anderson, convened with the six trekkers in the photo above at the Whetstone Ridge Trail Center at MM29 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We shuttled Pete's truck to the southern trail head on Irish Creek Road 8 miles below the center and then began the hike a little before 9 am at the northern terminus.  The perfect day for a ridge hike with little leaf cover, high 60 degree temperatures, and a pleasant breeze made the outing even more enjoyable. 

Adams Peak nearby at 2,976 ft

Along South Mountain, the Whetstone Ridge Trail (the longest trail in the Pedlar District - George Washington National Forest) is a challenging 11.9 mile hike with the first 3 miles gradually descending, the next 6.5 miles having a series of sharp ascents and descents, and the last 2 miles descending on switch backs to the Irish Creek trail head.  We had various GPS trackings, but the elevation gain seemed to be around 1600 ft.  Highest point was at 3,167 ft. The group had a quick pace of 2.5 mph with lively conversation and much camaraderie.  We completed the hike at 3 pm and had some refreshments - thanks to Mark Trail.

Lunch time at 1 pm with chubby chews and chocolate for dessert

Irene and Ann follow the contours of the roller coaster trail

The path is marked by a yellow blaze

Bright yellow/green moss everywhere -  leprechaun's carpet

Six hours later the group is finished and ready for the shuttle back up to the Blue Ridge Parkway

 submitted by Marit Anderson