Shenandoah National Park


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Published: October 18th 2011
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Shenandoah N P SignShenandoah N P SignShenandoah N P Sign

To prove we really were there.
We visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in October of 2011. We spent three days hiking, or trying to hike, in the park. Managed to get on the trails on two of the three days despite just cloudy weather the first day and misty, foggy, rainy weather the last day. The middle day was a total washout with driving rain and wind all day long. We stayed in Waynesboro, VA, one night, in the lodge at Skyland Resort two nights, and the lodge at Big Meadows the last night. Enjoyed the trip even with the bad weather. We saw lots of deer and actually surprised a mother bear and her two cubs on one of our hikes on the last day. They were too quick to run off into the forest before we could get any pictures , but we tried.

The first days' hikes were the best since it wasn't raining or foggy - just cloudy. I think the cloudy conditions actually helped the pictures come out better than they might have otherwise. Colors of the fall foliage were beautiful. Hiked to Turk Mountain first, a 2.2 mile round trip (RT) to a neat rocky mountain top. Then to
Along Turk Mt. trailAlong Turk Mt. trailAlong Turk Mt. trail

Pretty color along the trail.
Chimney Rock on the Riprap trail, a 3.4 mile RT that went by some nice views to a viewpoint with several granite boulders that do look like chimneys. We next hiked a very short .8 mile RT trail to Blackrock summit which looks like a big pile of black rocks, almost like they were dumped there. Also lots of flying, biting gnats there.

Since we knew the weather forecast for the next few days was not favorable, we decided to drive on up to the short hike of the Bearfence Rock Scramble. We had read that this hike was not one to do when the rocks were wet. After doing this hike, I know why. This is only a 1.2 mile RT hike but the first half mile is mostly scrambling over a narrow ridgeline made up almost entirely of huge rocks and boulders. Both upper body and lower body strength were necessary on this one. But the reward was a 360 degree view of the park, one of the very few spots, maybe the only spot, where such a view is possible. The descent to the parking lot is by the much easier AT, which parallels the rock
From the Turk Mt. SummitFrom the Turk Mt. SummitFrom the Turk Mt. Summit

The hike to Turk Mountain is the first significant hike in the park after entering the South entrance.
scramble, completing the hike loop.

The second day was a washout so all we did was visit the Byrd visitor center, look at the displays, watch the three or four movies, and get some advice on hikes from the ranger there. Went back to Skyland Lodge and tried to connect with the WiFi in the taproom. Not much luck with the WiFi, but the beer was good.

On the morning of the third day it wasn't raining, initially, but was quite foggy. We decided to hike the Stoney Man trail, a 1.6 mile RT to "a spectacular view" - of the fog. Then we connected to the Appalachian Trail and hiked another about 2 mile RT to the Little Stoney Man cliffs for more spectacular views of fog. Nice trails though. Next we drove to the Hawksbill Gap parking area and followed the lower Hawksbill trail, a .9 mile trail to the Hawksbill summit. This is the trail where we saw the mother bear with her two cubs. The return trip to the car was via a 2 mile combination of the Salamander Trail and the Appalachian Trail. We then went to the visitor center and found out
From Turk MountainFrom Turk MountainFrom Turk Mountain

From the summit of Turk Mountain, our first hike in the park and one of the nicest.
about a trail to the Rapidan Camp which was a retreat for President Hoover in the late 1920s. Took that trail for about 1.75 miles to a creek that we were unable to cross due to high water as a result of all the rain the previous day. This creek, called Mill Prong, joins Laural Prong at Rapidan Camp to form the Rapidan River. So, disappointed that we couldn't get to Rapidan Camp, we hiked the 1.75 miles back to the car and road back to the Big Meadows area.

Big Meadows itself is just that - a really big meadow on a relatively flat spot along the Skyline Drive. It was the site of one of the first two Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camps that were established in the park. Shenandoah National Park would eventually benefit from ten CCC camps. We walked around the "big meadow" and to an area that showed the actual locations of the various CCC barracks, mess hall, offices, etc. The US army ran the camps while the park service supervised the work details. Apparently the army and the NPS did not get along too well, but they got the job done. Very interesting.
Turk MountainTurk MountainTurk Mountain

A shot of Turk Mountain taken from an overlook along Skyline Drive.
(Seems like something of this sort might be needed these days.)

After walking around the Big Meadows area it began to rain again so, tired and soaked, we drove to Big Meadows Lodge and checked in. Took luggage to the room and then to the lodge taproom where we connected easily, for the first time on this trip, to WiFi. Beer was good here, too.

That's a quick recap of the trip. I'll just post some of the better pictures. Some will be intermingled with this text with the rest below. Most will have a brief description. If you click on any of the pictures you will get a larger version and then be able to page through the rest of the picture gallery. Hope you enjoy.

Lee


Additional photos below
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Along the Rip Rap trailAlong the Rip Rap trail
Along the Rip Rap trail

Color along the trail to Chimney Rocks .
Along the RipRap TrailAlong the RipRap Trail
Along the RipRap Trail

Just a really pretty spot along the trail.
Chimney RockChimney Rock
Chimney Rock

The view from the chimneys.
From Blackrock SummitFrom Blackrock Summit
From Blackrock Summit

Probably the buggiest place in the park.
The Bearfence Rock ScrambleThe Bearfence Rock Scramble
The Bearfence Rock Scramble

Part of this trail is along a knife edge boulder/rock strewn ridge that is a challenge to traverse but gave us the best views in the park. The only one from which we could see 360 degrees.
From the Bearfence Rock ScrambleFrom the Bearfence Rock Scramble
From the Bearfence Rock Scramble

The best views that we saw were from this spot along the rock scramble.
From the Bearfence Rock ScrambleFrom the Bearfence Rock Scramble
From the Bearfence Rock Scramble

In the middle of the picture is a hawk soaring on the thermals.
Bearfence SummitBearfence Summit
Bearfence Summit

After the rock scramble we reached this point with nice views. Can you believe Anne is not comfortable with heights?
Deer along the trailDeer along the trail
Deer along the trail

Taken on the AT trail to Little Stoney Man Cliffs.
From Little Stoney Man CliffsFrom Little Stoney Man Cliffs
From Little Stoney Man Cliffs

Best view we had on that last rainy, foggy day.
There is a bear in thereThere is a bear in there
There is a bear in there

I promise, somewhere in this picture is a bear or two. Taken on the Lower Hawksbill trail.
Anne at Hawksbill's summitAnne at Hawksbill's summit
Anne at Hawksbill's summit

Beautiful views of the fog.
On Hawksbill's SummitOn Hawksbill's Summit
On Hawksbill's Summit

This bush of red berries was at the foot of the stone wall on Hawksbill's summit. Anyone know what the bush is?
When you come to a fork in the trail - take it!When you come to a fork in the trail - take it!
When you come to a fork in the trail - take it!

The junction of the Salamander trail and the AT, on the return from Hawksbill summit.
Rock slide area.Rock slide area.
Rock slide area.

Along the AT on the return trail from Hawksbill.
The #$%*&% Creek The #$%*&% Creek
The #$%*&% Creek

This is the creek we couldn't cross to get to the Rapidan Camp. Tried for 30 minutes to find a spot to cross but just too much water coming down the Mt.
Big MeadowsBig Meadows
Big Meadows

Why the area is called "Big Meadows".
CCC CampCCC Camp
CCC Camp

This area is where one of the several CCC camps along the Skyline Drive was located. The CCC built the road and many of the trails in the park back in the mid and late 1930's
Deer at Big Meadows.Deer at Big Meadows.
Deer at Big Meadows.

While not tame, most deer would let you get fairly close before moving away.


19th October 2011

Great photos, wonderful blog spot....will visit after every trip!

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