Vigorous Hike - Tuesday, March 31st - Tuscarora Trail and More

[Edward Cook]



Greetings - Our last hike of March will be along and just over the WV state line where we will walk a good stretch of the mountaintop Tuscarora Trail, and descend/ascend Great North Mountain to make a circle/lollipop.  This hike was last done in March of 2021 so it's been five years if you did it last time.

Tuesday, March 31st - 8:30am - (17.2 miles, 2500 feet elevation gain) (PATC Maps F&L).   Starting at the Tuscarora Trail parking area at Dry Gap (WVA/VA line) we will take the Tuscarora Trail North along the top of the mountain for 3.3 miles to a large cleared area with open East/West views and high power lines that cross the ridge.  Turn left here and follow the dirt/gravel trail down the mountain alongside the lines for 2 miles until reaching Back Creek Road at the bottom of the mountain.  Turn right here and walk along the lightly traveled road for 3 miles until reaching a segment of the "old" Tuscarora Trail, now called Lucas Woods Trail.  Ascend the mountain for 2.5 miles following a gravel road initially and then blue blazes until again reaching the Tuscarora Trail at the top of the ridge.  Turn right (South) here and shortly we will pass along a significant stretch of nice rock ledge overlooking the west that will be a good lunch spot if the weather cooperates.  After lunch, it 's another 6.4 miles straight along the Tuscarora and back to the cars.

Notes:  - IMPORTANT- - IMPORTANT:  From the experience of a previous hike using this same parking lot (there are two areas on either side of the road), there is a maximum of 10-ish cars that will reasonably fit in with the only real alternative parking to be had along the narrow road you drove in on (I wouldn't recommend it myself but others have used it to park).  For this reason, I encourage anyone who is comfortable with carpooling to do so as that will increase the number of possible participants on this hike so feel free to work this out collectively between yourselves.  All I ask is that those who plan to drive a car please let me know and advise of any extra passengers you might have.  Once/if I have received notice from 9 drivers (plus myself) I'll advise everyone at that time and you can decide for yourself if you want to play parking roulette. I don't think we will have much, if any, competition for parking at this time of the year but just wanted to make everyone aware of the situation.     

Driving Directions:  Take I-66 to I-81 and go south for 3.4 miles until the Strasburg Route 55 Exit.  Go west on 55 towards Wardensville, WV for 12 miles (do NOT cross the top of the mountain) and take a right on Route 609 (gravel).  Drive for .9 ("point 9") miles and look for the main parking area on the left, with a few spots on the right.   (39.109624, -78.477854)    

See you then!  Map is attached.  NOTE:  If the map does not attach it’s because I’m on a cruise ship now so I’ll send separately later.

Leader: Ed Cook, veet...@gmail.com, 703-609-6794