Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 - Vigorous Hike - Skyland Hike Around (Staying High!)

[Edward Cook]

Vigorous Hikers,

We will start our hike at The Pinnacles picnic area, on the AT and Skyline Drive, and end there after a loop around east of, and through, the Skyland area.  Our hike this week is planned out to spend as much time as possible "at elevation" during what is historically the hottest time of the year (while still achieving a good amount of elevation gain).  75% of the mileage on this week's hike is above 3,000 feet with a low of 2,100 (early - in the first part of the hike) and a high of 3,800 near Skyland.  My goal is to have lunch at Skyland, but this depends on how far we get (Skyland would be about 10 miles into the hike).  Pack a lunch and if we make good time we could be eating out on their patio.

We start out on the AT, quickly cross the Drive and turn onto the Corbin Cabin Cutoff Trail, transition to the Indian Run Trail, the Corbin Mt. Trail, Old Rag Fire Road, a brief section of the Limberlost Trail, Crescent Run Trail, and then the AT again.  After Skyland we can go back via either the Passamaquoddy Trail or continue straight on the AT until we get back to the Pinnacles.

Distance:  15 miles

Elevation Gain:  3345 feet

Forecast:  As of now, the local (Sperryville) forecast shows a high of 93 that day with a good chance of t-storms in the afternoon so bring some rain gear.  Up on Skyline Drive and vicinity, I don't expect us to encounter anything above the low 80's and that would only be near the end of the hike.  Last year, this same hike was done on the hottest day of the Summer when it was over 100 in Sperryville but up on the drive it was considerably cooler.     

***Please let me know if you plan to attend!  If I get no takers I won't be going with myself so please let me know if you plan on showing up.  Once all "declared-in-advance" hikers arrive we will depart, but NLT 0830, so please be there promptly.***

 Trailhead:  Pinnacles Picnic Area (3380 ft) is at approximately MM 36.5 on Skyline Drive, going south from the Thornton Gap Entrance

GPS Coordinates:  38.62419, -78.34322.  Park at the far end, near the latrine.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sx6RmFx4cRKGSRoo6

Start Time: Hike begins at 8:30am.

Carpool: Hikers wishing to carpool should meet at the Centreville Park and Ride off I-66, exit 52, Centreville. Arrive early enough so that drivers can depart the lot no later than 7:00 AM.  Go west on Rt 29 taking the 2nd right into the park and ride lot, then immediately turn left to the corner of the lot where our group gathers.  (See: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/riders/stone-road).   

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

AllTrails map:  https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-july-5-2025-d2dc636?u=i&sh=s4m7ms

<iframe class="alltrails" src="https://www.alltrails.com/widget/map/map-july-5-2025-d2dc636?u=i&sh=s4m7ms" width="100%" height="400" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" title="AllTrails: Trail Guides and Maps for Hiking, Camping, and Running"></iframe>

Virus-free.www.avast.com

[Josh Silverman]

I will be there, and I can stop at Centreville first if others want to carpool.

Josh

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From: vigorou...@googlegroups.com <vigorou...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Edward Cook <veet...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2025 9:24 AM
To: Vigorous Hikers <vigorou...@googlegroups.com>; Alan Fischler <afisc...@gmail.com>
Subject: Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 - Vigorous Hike - Skyland Hike Around (Staying High!)

 

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