Big Devils Stairs Adventure Hike - October 29, 2016

 

Saturday, October 29, ten hikers including leaders Pete Fink and Marit Anderson met up at different points and eventually arrived at Gravel Springs Gap in the Shenandoah National Park to do an adventure hike that Pete and Marit had attempted before - hike down the Big Devils Stairs Trail but return through the gorge where the original trail had been many years before.  Two years ago this had been too wet and slick to attempt, but this day the conditions were perfect- dry and warm.  The group included John Brandt, David Crowe, Trude Havik, Marie Moss, Dave Borszich, Michael Seth, Gabriel Garretson, and Iva Gillet with Remy, super hiking dog.

We hiked down the fire road to the Bluff Trail and then the Big Devils Stairs Trail.  The views from the outlying rocks were spectacular.  Colors were at their peak.  We enjoyed a snack, took photos, and continued down to the creek bed below.

Iva and Remy admire the gorge

Trude - happy this visiting Norwegian professor joined us

Marit - glad to be out on a gorgeous day

Once we got to the southern terminus of the existing trail we had lunch and then used GPS and the rock stream bed to follow back up to the top.  Lots of boulders, downed trees, overgrown brush, poison ivy, nettles, and creek water to contend with, making it an adventure for sure.

Gabriel and others enjoy lunch and homemade dark chocolate multi-chip cookies

Dave, artist and hiker, contemplates the ascent.  Phew!

David is ready to go!

Marie and Iva just keep climbing

Pete - the leader - takes a breather

 Remy was the happiest dog ever today!

John ran, climbed, swam, and helped the whole gang

The day ended late, a long haul for many, but we all made it to the top and rejoined the Bluff Trail making our way back to the parking lot.  We hiked only 5.84 miles, but the mile steep ascent with 1,406 ft. gain over all the obstacles on a warm day, was a work-out comparable to hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Great job everyone!  Pete and Marit will keep you posted for our next grand adventure.

submitted by Marit Anderson

Appalachian Trail Treadway Maintenance - October 1, 2016

reported by John Shannon 

     On a damp morning when other chapter members were wading streams, I went to McCormick Gap to do some overdue maintenance on drainage of the steep uphill section of the chapter’s AT section. In some spots, changing the slope of the trail caused water to run off the trail and take debris with it. However, other structures to divert water were full of soil.

     The recent rain made it easier to see where drainage was not working well, and I cleared out all the clogged drains. The wet soil made tamping down of earth difficult because it stuck to the McLeod

     As expected, I saw major growth of oriental lady’s thumb (a little removed). During the day, four backpackers went through on their way to Georgia to complete a north-to-south AT through hike.

Trayfoot Mountain 30th Anniversary Hike - September 17, 2016

reported by John Shannon 

     In August 1986, Rita Wyatt-Beard sent letters to PATC members in the area inviting them to a meeting to consider forming a chapter of PATC in Charlottesville. Instead of sitting alone in the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church as she feared, 20 or more people came and showed that a chapter was viable. Howard Parsons, who later served as vice-president of the chapter, offered to lead a hike over Trayfoot Mountain. Thus, in September 1986, a group assembled at Blackrock Gap parking area for the chapter’s first hike.

     To commemorate the event, John Shannon, who was at the founding meeting and on the first hike, lead today’s hike retracing the path of 30 years earlier. Access to the trails from the valley is now better, making it the preferred starting point, but today our goal was remembering our roots, not taking it easy. Pete Fink, Brad Young, and Michael Seth participated.

     Clouds kept the temperature a little lower than expected, which helped us move steadily. At the junction of Trayfoot and Furnace Mountain Trails, we met a couple of hikers who were unclear which way they should go; John suggested that he might have been familiar with the trails at this spot before the hikers were born.

     We did not attempt to reach the summit of Trayfoot Mountain, which is scarcely any higher than the trail, because regrowth made it difficult to reach, and views would have been nonexistent. The trail was much the same as it has been for the previous 30 years, except that exotic invasive plants have reached this remote area.

     One moment of excitement came when Brad noted that John had just walked past a black snake, which moved away before we could take a picture. We continued to an overlook of Buzzard Rock for lunch, then completed our descent of Trayfoot Mountain. Our first crossing of Paine Run was dry, but did see water at the second crossing.

     A week later there was a little more history when two members from over 20 years ago came to Charlottesville for a reunion hike.

     May the Charlottesville Chapter – PATC continue for another 30 wonderful years!

We are back where we started 30 years ago. 

Lunch at the overlook for Buzzard Rock

Moormans River (Blackrock Gap to Jarman Gap) - October 1, 2016

submitted by Gabriel Garretson

     Eight hikers including hike leader, Gabriel Garretson were brave enough to explore the total length of the Moormans River in flood condition after 10 inches of rain. We started on the SNP at Blackrock Gap and finished at Jarman Gap. Initially we had seven hikers including, Gabriel, Claire Cline, Patricia Wright, Tony Lagana, Stephanie Weaver, Aislinn Lagana and John Sinclair. We pickup up another hiker midway, John Brandt, who managed to ride his bike and trail run to catch up with the group after we had a considerable head start.  The overall hike was 11 miles with 15oo feet of ascent and 32 total stream crossings (counting side streams with an opportunity to get wet). Everyone got their shoes wet as we had to “ford” the Moormans River about 12 times with water level about 2 feet higher than normal. Rock hopping was impossible. Tony Lagana provided expert instruction on crossing methods for deep white water streams that helped most hikers. Only one person slipped on the most difficult stream crossing and she was promptly rescued without injury. This was a challenging hike but one of the most beautiful water hikes I have ever attempted. Everyone got back safely and the memories of the adventure will linger for many years to come. We got a chance for swimming in the blue hole and assisted a hawk in need of immediate medical attention. Despite the flood conditions, everyone enjoyed the hike and are looking forward to a repeat hike later this year.  Claire Cline, as usual, did an excellent job as our hike photographer.

 

Apple Orchard Falls circuit hike - September 18, 2016

submitted by Barbara Martin    

      Hike Leader Barbara Martin and Debra Fisher, Marian Styles and Andre Meyer had a delightful hike on the always beautiful Apple Orchard Falls and Cornelius Creek Trail circuit.  The weather was clear and beautiful and the autumn leaves just beginning to fall.