Hike Schedule
| Printable Hike Schedule- May-July_2018.pdf |
May-July 2018
Please call or email a few days ahead of a hike to let us know you are coming and to find out about any changes in hike location. Bring lunch, water and sturdy shoes. No dogs please.
Mid-Week Hikes
One Wednesday each month; short, 3-4 miles max. Usually have lunch afterwards. Leader Theresia Barger (540) 337-1567.
Hikes and Worktrips
Sat. May 12. North Shenandoah Mountain Trail Worktrip from Bother Knob to US 33. 7.6 miles. This is part of the Great Eastern Trail. Meet at Turner Ashby High School at 9 a.m. Clip vegetation and pull garlic mustard. Leader: Tim Hupp (540)289-6293, hupp_tim@msn.com Please let Tim know you are coming so that he can plan the shuttle.
Sat. May 19. Springhouse Ridge to Shenandoah Mountain Trail. 7.6 miles. See painted trilliums and other wildflowers in bloom on Big Bald. Possible .4 mi. side trip to Hardscrabble Knob. Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez at 9:00 a.m. Dinner at White’s Wayside (optional) Hike leaders: Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, slynncameron@gmail.com, (540) 234-6273.
Sat. May 26. Chessie Nature Trail in Lexington. 6.0 miles. Easy with lunch in town, possibly Nikos Greek Restaurant afterward. Hike along the Maury River with cool temps under the trees and many wildflowers. Meet at Stuarts Draft Food Lion at 8:30. Hike leader is David Bennick, dbennick@verizon.net, (540) 337-5330.
Sat. June 2. Crabtree Falls Hike. 3.4 miles. Moderate hike. This will be an out and back hike where you can hike any distance and turn back….still enjoying the beauty of the falls. This is National Trails Day, a day to leave a trail better than we found it. We will pick up litter along the trail if we see any. Meet at Stuarts Draft Food Lion at 9:00 a.m. Hike leader: Pam Heinrich, pamheinrich13@gmail.com, (540) 290-5595
Sat. June 9. Shenandoah Mountain Trail/Benson Run Trail loop. 10 mile moderate-strenuous hike. This loop uses trails more regularly accessed by mountain bikes and equestrians on the Augusta/Highland County border south of U.S. 250. The trailhead is on the Benson Run Road (FR 396)– a trip advised for high clearance vehicles only, but doable last fall in Jeff’s old Outback. The loop starts by walking down the Benson Run Road from its intersection with the Shenandoah Mountain Trail, then taking the Benson Run Trail north to the Shenandoah Mountain Trail where we turn back south, and dropping gradually for approximately 4.5 miles through stands of Eastern Turkeybeard before reaching the original trailhead. Meet at Albemarle High at 8:30 am or Churchville TasteeFreez plaza behind the bank at 9:30. This is a joint hike with Charlottesville Chapter. Hike leaders: Mike Smith, foresmiths@comcast.net, (540)742-3451 and Jeff Monroe: monroejeff@gmail.com, (434) 962-1808.
Sat. June 16. Riprap Hollow in SNP. Moderate 7.5 mile hike. We'll leave a shuttle car at Wildcat Ridge Parking at Mile 92. Hike starts at Riprap Parking at Mile 90. We'll hike down Riprap Trail passing Calvary Rocks and Chimney Rocks, and return on the Wildcat Ridge Trail. There are views, small waterfalls and a swimming pool, although it might be chilly for a swim. Meet at the closed Howard Johnson restaurant with the orange roof on Afton Mountain at 9:00 or at Wildcat Ridge Parking at Mile 92 at 9:30. Contact hike leaders: David Bennick, dbennick@verizon.net, (540)337-5330 or Lori Silvestri, thesilvestri3@gmail.com, (540) 241-3750.
Sat. June 23, Swift Run Gap Entrance to High Top Hut in SNP. 6.5 miles round trip. Moderate (1200 ft. elevation gain) Meet at Thunderbird Diner on Rt. 33 in McGaheysville at 9:00 a.m. Hike Leader: Bill Markunas, billmarkunas@yahoo.com, (540) 830-5778.
Sat. July 7. Buck Run–Locust Spring Loop in Laurel Fork (Highland County). 6 miles. Moderate. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Churchville TasteeFreez plaza (behind Bank). Dinner at High’s in Monterey after the hike. Hike leaders: Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, slynncameron@gmail.com, (540)234-6273 (H), (540) 830-4524 (C).
Sun. July 15. North River Gorge from North River Campground to Wild Oak Parking. 5.5 miles. Easy. Several river crossings, so bring water shoes. Option to swim near the end of the hike. This is a great hike for families with children. Those who want a longer hike may loop back to the starting point by taking Wild Oak Trail over Lookout Mountain (12.5 miles total). Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez plaza behind the bank at 9:00 a.m. or at Wild Oak Parking at 9:30. Hike Leader: Jim Fye, jfye40@icloud.com, (540) 830-2023.
Tue., July 17. Worktrip on Club’s section of AT. We will clip vegetation. Please come and help. Many hands make light work. Worktrip leader: Mark Gatewood, mwgatewood@gmail.com, (540)248-0442.
Sat. July 21. Worktrip on Shenandoah Mountain Trail North. Clear blackberry and stinging nettle patches on Bother Knob to make it more passable for Great Eastern Trail through hikers. 2.4 mi. out and back. Meet at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater at 9:00 a.m. Tim Hupp (540)289-6293, hupp_tim@msn.com
Tues. July 24. Planning Meeting and Cook Out for Hike Leaders and Potential Hike Leaders. Meet at Sherando Lake at 3:00 for a swim, hike or sitting by the lake prior to the meeting & cook out. Meeting will start around 5. Be sure to bring swimming apparel. (Rain date is July 25.) Mike & Karen Waterman will prepare the cook out. Everyone should bring a dish to share. Contact Mike & Karen Waterman at karenswaterman@gmail.com or (540) 337-1273.
Sat. July 28 Kaylor Knob. Massanutten. 6 miles, 1200' elevation gain. We will hike along the cool Boone's Run then up Second Mountain to Kaylor Knob. Bring along some clippers and we will cut a few blueberries on the way up. There is a swimming hole at the end so bring swim wear. Meet at Elkton Food Lion at 9:00. Contact hike leader Michael Seth 540 742 1252 (sethmj@jmu.edu).
To become a member of SSVC, join PATC at patc.net and indicate an interest in the SSVC on the membership form. www.ssvc.org and find us on Facebook
Please call or email a few days ahead of a hike to let us know you are coming and to find out about any changes in hike location. Bring lunch, water and sturdy shoes. No dogs please.
Mid-Week Hikes
One Wednesday each month; short, 3-4 miles max. Usually have lunch afterwards. Leader Theresia Barger (540) 337-1567.
- May 9 - Pocosin Hollow. Meet at 9:00 at Swift Run Gap.
- June 13 - Loft Mountain Discovery Trail. Meet at 9:00 at Rockfish Gap.
- July 11 - AT from Pocosin north. Meet at 9:00 at Swift Run Gap
Hikes and Worktrips
Sat. May 12. North Shenandoah Mountain Trail Worktrip from Bother Knob to US 33. 7.6 miles. This is part of the Great Eastern Trail. Meet at Turner Ashby High School at 9 a.m. Clip vegetation and pull garlic mustard. Leader: Tim Hupp (540)289-6293, hupp_tim@msn.com Please let Tim know you are coming so that he can plan the shuttle.
Sat. May 19. Springhouse Ridge to Shenandoah Mountain Trail. 7.6 miles. See painted trilliums and other wildflowers in bloom on Big Bald. Possible .4 mi. side trip to Hardscrabble Knob. Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez at 9:00 a.m. Dinner at White’s Wayside (optional) Hike leaders: Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, slynncameron@gmail.com, (540) 234-6273.
Sat. May 26. Chessie Nature Trail in Lexington. 6.0 miles. Easy with lunch in town, possibly Nikos Greek Restaurant afterward. Hike along the Maury River with cool temps under the trees and many wildflowers. Meet at Stuarts Draft Food Lion at 8:30. Hike leader is David Bennick, dbennick@verizon.net, (540) 337-5330.
Sat. June 2. Crabtree Falls Hike. 3.4 miles. Moderate hike. This will be an out and back hike where you can hike any distance and turn back….still enjoying the beauty of the falls. This is National Trails Day, a day to leave a trail better than we found it. We will pick up litter along the trail if we see any. Meet at Stuarts Draft Food Lion at 9:00 a.m. Hike leader: Pam Heinrich, pamheinrich13@gmail.com, (540) 290-5595
Sat. June 9. Shenandoah Mountain Trail/Benson Run Trail loop. 10 mile moderate-strenuous hike. This loop uses trails more regularly accessed by mountain bikes and equestrians on the Augusta/Highland County border south of U.S. 250. The trailhead is on the Benson Run Road (FR 396)– a trip advised for high clearance vehicles only, but doable last fall in Jeff’s old Outback. The loop starts by walking down the Benson Run Road from its intersection with the Shenandoah Mountain Trail, then taking the Benson Run Trail north to the Shenandoah Mountain Trail where we turn back south, and dropping gradually for approximately 4.5 miles through stands of Eastern Turkeybeard before reaching the original trailhead. Meet at Albemarle High at 8:30 am or Churchville TasteeFreez plaza behind the bank at 9:30. This is a joint hike with Charlottesville Chapter. Hike leaders: Mike Smith, foresmiths@comcast.net, (540)742-3451 and Jeff Monroe: monroejeff@gmail.com, (434) 962-1808.
Sat. June 16. Riprap Hollow in SNP. Moderate 7.5 mile hike. We'll leave a shuttle car at Wildcat Ridge Parking at Mile 92. Hike starts at Riprap Parking at Mile 90. We'll hike down Riprap Trail passing Calvary Rocks and Chimney Rocks, and return on the Wildcat Ridge Trail. There are views, small waterfalls and a swimming pool, although it might be chilly for a swim. Meet at the closed Howard Johnson restaurant with the orange roof on Afton Mountain at 9:00 or at Wildcat Ridge Parking at Mile 92 at 9:30. Contact hike leaders: David Bennick, dbennick@verizon.net, (540)337-5330 or Lori Silvestri, thesilvestri3@gmail.com, (540) 241-3750.
Sat. June 23, Swift Run Gap Entrance to High Top Hut in SNP. 6.5 miles round trip. Moderate (1200 ft. elevation gain) Meet at Thunderbird Diner on Rt. 33 in McGaheysville at 9:00 a.m. Hike Leader: Bill Markunas, billmarkunas@yahoo.com, (540) 830-5778.
Sat. July 7. Buck Run–Locust Spring Loop in Laurel Fork (Highland County). 6 miles. Moderate. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Churchville TasteeFreez plaza (behind Bank). Dinner at High’s in Monterey after the hike. Hike leaders: Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, slynncameron@gmail.com, (540)234-6273 (H), (540) 830-4524 (C).
Sun. July 15. North River Gorge from North River Campground to Wild Oak Parking. 5.5 miles. Easy. Several river crossings, so bring water shoes. Option to swim near the end of the hike. This is a great hike for families with children. Those who want a longer hike may loop back to the starting point by taking Wild Oak Trail over Lookout Mountain (12.5 miles total). Meet at Churchville TasteeFreez plaza behind the bank at 9:00 a.m. or at Wild Oak Parking at 9:30. Hike Leader: Jim Fye, jfye40@icloud.com, (540) 830-2023.
Tue., July 17. Worktrip on Club’s section of AT. We will clip vegetation. Please come and help. Many hands make light work. Worktrip leader: Mark Gatewood, mwgatewood@gmail.com, (540)248-0442.
Sat. July 21. Worktrip on Shenandoah Mountain Trail North. Clear blackberry and stinging nettle patches on Bother Knob to make it more passable for Great Eastern Trail through hikers. 2.4 mi. out and back. Meet at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater at 9:00 a.m. Tim Hupp (540)289-6293, hupp_tim@msn.com
Tues. July 24. Planning Meeting and Cook Out for Hike Leaders and Potential Hike Leaders. Meet at Sherando Lake at 3:00 for a swim, hike or sitting by the lake prior to the meeting & cook out. Meeting will start around 5. Be sure to bring swimming apparel. (Rain date is July 25.) Mike & Karen Waterman will prepare the cook out. Everyone should bring a dish to share. Contact Mike & Karen Waterman at karenswaterman@gmail.com or (540) 337-1273.
Sat. July 28 Kaylor Knob. Massanutten. 6 miles, 1200' elevation gain. We will hike along the cool Boone's Run then up Second Mountain to Kaylor Knob. Bring along some clippers and we will cut a few blueberries on the way up. There is a swimming hole at the end so bring swim wear. Meet at Elkton Food Lion at 9:00. Contact hike leader Michael Seth 540 742 1252 (sethmj@jmu.edu).
To become a member of SSVC, join PATC at patc.net and indicate an interest in the SSVC on the membership form. www.ssvc.org and find us on Facebook
To become a member of SSVC,
join PATC and indicate an interest in the SSVC on the membership form.
www.ssvc.org and find us on Facebook
join PATC and indicate an interest in the SSVC on the membership form.
www.ssvc.org and find us on Facebook
