Hike Schedule
Upcoming Events
June brings us more summer like weather. Our schedule has our plans for upcoming activities. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
June brings us more summer like weather. Our schedule has our plans for upcoming activities. More hikes and work trips may be added as our leaders finalize their plans. Watch your email for upcoming hikes for the week.
Saturday, June 5: Celebrate National Trails Day with a hike on the Appalachian Trail. Approximately 6 miles, Moderate, Out/Back. Starting from the Humpback Rocks Picnic Area, we will use a spur trail to reach the AT. Then head south to Cedar Cliffs and Little Raven's Roost. Meet at the Humpback Rocks Picnic Area milepost 8.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Find a parking spot in Loop 2 where we will start from the Blue blazed trailhead. NOTE the Humpback Rocks hiking trail is at milepost 6. Do not park here but go another 2.5 miles down the Parkway. Leader: John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235).
Wednesday, June 9: Braley Pond, easy 3-mile Braley Pond loop (Bald Ridge Trail-Johnson's Draft). Leaders: Karen and Mike Waterman (home phone 540-337-1273 or karenswaterman@gmail.com).
Thursday, June 10: Hazel Mountain Loop, SNP - 8.5 miles - Moderately Strenuous. We will meet at 8:30 AM at Meadow Spring Parking Area MM 33.6 on the Skyline Drive. We will hike down Hazel Mountain Trail taking a right onto Catlett Mountain Trail to a right on Catlett Spur Trail until we run into Hazel Mountain Trail again. At that point we will turn left and hike back up to parking. There is water on this trail so make sure you are prepared. Leader: Kathy Dickenson (540-421-7410 or kathy.dickenson@comcast.net).
Saturday, June 12: Break through hike on the infamous Crawford Knob Trail. 6-7 miles (depending on the status of the gate entrance). Difficult. Not for the faint of heart. Limit 12 with priority to alumni of the workdays. For details contact The Hikingeezer (jfye40@icloud.com or 540-830-2023).
Saturday, June 19: Long Hike on the Day Before the Longest Day: Shenandoah Mountain Trail. 14 miles, moderate, out/back. The trail maintainers for Shenandoah Mountain Trail have been working on vegetation and blowdowns for the past year and have it in the best shape it's been for decades. The hike will leave from the Confederate Breastworks and head to Sinclair Hollow intersection and back to enjoy this beautiful trail, which is easy but long. The mountain laurel will probably be in bloom. Those who don't want to go that far can turn back earlier. For a hike in Wilderness, the limit is 10 people. Leader: John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235).
Wednesday, June 23: South River Falls Circuit, 5 miles, Moderate. This will be a loop hike using South River Falls Trail, South River Fire Road and the AT. Meet at South River Fall picnic area MP 62.8 at 9am. Bring a snack and water. We will lose 1000 feet of elevation to get to the bottom of the falls, and then we will climb the fire road back out. Leader: Millie Davis (pisgahdavis@gmail.com or 540-292-0869).
Saturday, June 26: AT hike: Powell Gap to Hightop Summit, 7 miles, Moderate, Out/Back. We will stop for a visit at Hightop Hut. Great way to get some miles on the AT for the MacKaye Challenge. Leader: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Saturday, July 3: Bearwallow Trail in Laurel Fork in the northwestern corner of Highland County. This is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse areas in Virginia with its Red spruce trees, beaver dams, ferns, and trout stream. 5.5 miles. It takes 1 3/4 hours to drive to the trailhead. Leisurely pace to allow time to look at plants. Option to stop for dinner at High’s Restaurant in Monterey on the way home. Plan to get home around 8 p.m. Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez at 8:30 a.m. Hike leaders are Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, (540) 234-ˇ6273 or slynncameron@gmail.com.
Wednesday, June 9: Braley Pond, easy 3-mile Braley Pond loop (Bald Ridge Trail-Johnson's Draft). Leaders: Karen and Mike Waterman (home phone 540-337-1273 or karenswaterman@gmail.com).
Thursday, June 10: Hazel Mountain Loop, SNP - 8.5 miles - Moderately Strenuous. We will meet at 8:30 AM at Meadow Spring Parking Area MM 33.6 on the Skyline Drive. We will hike down Hazel Mountain Trail taking a right onto Catlett Mountain Trail to a right on Catlett Spur Trail until we run into Hazel Mountain Trail again. At that point we will turn left and hike back up to parking. There is water on this trail so make sure you are prepared. Leader: Kathy Dickenson (540-421-7410 or kathy.dickenson@comcast.net).
Saturday, June 12: Break through hike on the infamous Crawford Knob Trail. 6-7 miles (depending on the status of the gate entrance). Difficult. Not for the faint of heart. Limit 12 with priority to alumni of the workdays. For details contact The Hikingeezer (jfye40@icloud.com or 540-830-2023).
Saturday, June 19: Long Hike on the Day Before the Longest Day: Shenandoah Mountain Trail. 14 miles, moderate, out/back. The trail maintainers for Shenandoah Mountain Trail have been working on vegetation and blowdowns for the past year and have it in the best shape it's been for decades. The hike will leave from the Confederate Breastworks and head to Sinclair Hollow intersection and back to enjoy this beautiful trail, which is easy but long. The mountain laurel will probably be in bloom. Those who don't want to go that far can turn back earlier. For a hike in Wilderness, the limit is 10 people. Leader: John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235).
Wednesday, June 23: South River Falls Circuit, 5 miles, Moderate. This will be a loop hike using South River Falls Trail, South River Fire Road and the AT. Meet at South River Fall picnic area MP 62.8 at 9am. Bring a snack and water. We will lose 1000 feet of elevation to get to the bottom of the falls, and then we will climb the fire road back out. Leader: Millie Davis (pisgahdavis@gmail.com or 540-292-0869).
Saturday, June 26: AT hike: Powell Gap to Hightop Summit, 7 miles, Moderate, Out/Back. We will stop for a visit at Hightop Hut. Great way to get some miles on the AT for the MacKaye Challenge. Leader: Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com or 540-290-5595).
Saturday, July 3: Bearwallow Trail in Laurel Fork in the northwestern corner of Highland County. This is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse areas in Virginia with its Red spruce trees, beaver dams, ferns, and trout stream. 5.5 miles. It takes 1 3/4 hours to drive to the trailhead. Leisurely pace to allow time to look at plants. Option to stop for dinner at High’s Restaurant in Monterey on the way home. Plan to get home around 8 p.m. Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez at 8:30 a.m. Hike leaders are Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, (540) 234-ˇ6273 or slynncameron@gmail.com.
