Hike Schedule
Upcoming Events
December schedule is below. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
December schedule is below. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
Thursday, December 1st: Hike in Shenandoah River State Park. If anyone is participating in the PATC Fall Forward Hike Challenge, this would count as a hike in a State Park. We will hike the Allen's Mountain and Point Trails for a total of 5.4 miles. Both are listed as moderate by the State Park rating system. If hikers would like to add some additional mileage along the river, we can do that if everyone is willing. Contact Jean Stephens to attend (jtstephens12@yahoo.com or 443-986-5649).
Sunday, December 4th: Come Hike with us in the national forest on the Hone Quarry Loop Trail. This is a 5.4 mile moderately challenging route, with 1,480 ft of elevation gain. There are several steep sections we will go up or down. Please be aware a section of the Heartbreak trail is rocky, steep, and leaf covered. Hiking poles highly recommended. There is a chance it could be very windy on top of the ridge, so dress accordingly. Because we are starting at 12 noon, it would be advisable to eat an early lunch before we start. We may stop for a view/snack break at the overlooks, depending on how cold everyone is. There are 3 minor stream crossings which are easy to navigate. We will meet the trailhead at 12 noon. The trailhead is past the campground but before the dam. I will try to be there early to make sure everyone finds the right spot. The road into Hone quarry has many potholes. It would be advisable to carpool since the road is rough and there are limited parking spaces. If anyone is participating in the PATC Fall Forward Hike Challenge, this would count as a hike in the national forest. Below is a link to the hike description: https://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/honequarryridge/
For more information and to attend this hike, contact Heather Denny (540-421-8169 or
hmd22846@gmail.com )
Monday, December 5th: Work Trip on Bear Draft Trail on Lookout Mountain in the GWNF. Great opportunity to help the Shenandoah Mountain Trail Crew. Our goal is to dig out about a dozen grade dips to divert water off the trail and clip back vegetation. Come and meet our new trail maintainers for Bear Draft. Meet at Riverside Plaza in Churchville behind the bank at
9:00 a.m. to carpool or caravan to the trailhead or meet at the trailhead at Stribling Springs at 9:30. Bring hard hat, gloves and safety glasses, lunch. and water. We will provide tools and extra PPE, if you don't have any. Worktrip leaders: Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, slynncameron@gmail.com or (540) 830-4524. Please let us know if you plan to attend.
Saturday and Sunday, December 10th and 11th: Workdays at Schairer Trail Center in SNP. We are looking for people interested in helping remove branches and limbs from dead trees as they are being cut by the Cadillac Crew. Also looking for help cutting Oriental Bittersweet vines from trees surrounding the cabin and meadow. Contact Jean Stephens for more info if interested. (443-986-5649 or jtstephens12@yahoo.com)
Wednesday, December 14th: Shenandoah Mountain Trail: 4 miles out/back. Great views especially now that the foliage is down. Leaders: Mike and Karen Waterman (karenswaterman@gmail.com or 540-337-1273.
Thursday, December 15th: Fortune’s Cove Preserve 5.5 miles. This will be a Moderately Difficult Hike. We will be hiking in the Nature Conservancy’s 29,000 acre Fortune’s Cove Preserve which is located south of Charlottesville near Lovingston, VA. The Preserve’s 5.5 mile trail provides a challenging hike with stunning mountain vistas. Hike takes about 5 hours and includes a 1500’ climb. Hike limited to 12. For additional details and to register contact Howard Davis at hsdhiker@gmail.com or 434-964-1242.
Saturday, December 17th: Big Branch Falls via Moormans River Trail. 7.6 miles, moderate with 880 feet of elevation. Hike in south district of the Shenandoah National Park beginning at Blackrock Gap and uses the Moormans River Fire Road to access Big Branch Falls. To attend, contact Pam Heinrich, (540-290-5595 or pamheinrich13@gmail.com).
Thursday, December 22th: Join us for a hike to the site of the former Blackrock Springs Resort. See what remains of the hotel, cabins and healing springs. There was even a bowling alley! The site is off Paine Run trail. We'll also visit a couple of locations with archaeological significance. This moderate 8 mile hike involves up to a mile of hiking off-trail, some in steep, rocky terrain so if you don't like bushwacking this is not a good hike for you. There are several stream crossings and numerous boggy areas. 900' elevation gain. Trailhead parking is limited.
Anyone with intimate knowledge of this area is encouraged to join us. To attend or for additional info contact Jim Fye (540-830-2023 or jfye40@icloud.com) Co-led and guided by John Burkhardt.
Thursday, December 29th: SNP-Hawksbill to Big Meadows 8.5 miles
This will be a Moderately Difficult Hike. Hike takes about 6 hours and has around 2000 ft of up and 2000ft of down elevation change.. We will set up a shuttle between Big Meadows Visitor Center and Upper Hawksbill Parking. Then after hiking to Hawksbill Overlook we will use the AT and the Dark Hallow Falls-Rose River Loop Trail to return to Big Meadows. (Should Skyline Drive be closed will substitute a local hike near Charlottesville) Hike limit 12. For additional details and to register contact Howard Davis at hsdhiker@gmail.com or 434-964-1242.
Friday, December 30th: Indian Grave Ridge Hike, 8.6 miles moderate difficult. Massanutten Exploratory Hike: this circuit hike combines portions of VA 717, Toliver, Milford Gap, Massanutten, and Indian Grave Ridge trails. This is an exploratory hike for more experienced hikers as I, the hike leader have not hiked this before. For more information about the hike, see this description from Hiking Upward: www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/indiangraveridge/
To attend, contact Pam Heinrich, (540-290-5595 or pamheinrich13@gmail.com). Pam will be assisted by Mike Smith, as he has hiked this route.
Sunday, January 1st: Start the New Year off with a hike from Braley Pond. Lynn and Malcolm Cameron will lead a hike to Bald Ridge Overlook, 7.5 miles, moderate, out/back. To participate in this hike, contact Lynn and Malcolm, (540) 234-6273 or slynncameron@gmail.com.
Notice for all hikes
All SSVC hikes will follow Covid-19 guidelines. The option to offer carpooling is a decision made by each hike leader. Hikers may always meet the group at the trailhead. Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under the age of 18 to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present. Dogs are not allowed on our chapter hikes.
All SSVC hikes will follow Covid-19 guidelines. The option to offer carpooling is a decision made by each hike leader. Hikers may always meet the group at the trailhead. Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under the age of 18 to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present. Dogs are not allowed on our chapter hikes.
