Tuesday Vigorous Hike: Robertson to Stony Man and Back via Corbin Mountain (15.5 miles, 4000 feet of ascent)

[HUNT LOFTIN]

The June 24^th hike will climb Robertson Mountain and Stony Man peak. Until now we have had a wet but relatively cooler spring. This will be our first hike of the summer 2025, and it will be hot. Temperatures may exceed 95 degrees in the valley and 90 in the upper mountains. After climbing over Robertson Mountain, there are several turnoffs to shorten the hike if you find the temperatures excessive: for example, taking the Corbin Hollow or Corbin Mountain trails back to the parking lot. Corbin Hollow has two crossings over Brokenback Run and Corbin Mountain has one crossing over Hughes Run and a crossing at the end over Brokenback Run. We should check the water elevation at the last Brokenback Run crossing on the Corbin Hollow Trail when we walk up to the Robertson Trail junction, as it is close to Weakly Hollow Fire Road. It was reported on Thursday that several of the large stones have been washed downstream that used to allow for a dry crossing of the Hughes River at Corbin Mountain trail. Thus, it is likely that we may get wet several miles before the hike ends if we take the Corbin Mountain trail back.

The hike is about 15.5 miles with roughly 4000 feet of ascent. We will proceed as follows:

1. Meet at the Old Rag Upper Lot at 8:15 AM. The hike starts at 8:30 AM by hiking up the Weakly Hollow Fire Road. (mile 0)
2. Turn right onto Robertson Mountain trail (~mile 1.8) and hike up and over the mountain. The peak has a nice overlook. (~mile 3.4)
3. Turn right (~mile 4.0) and climb up Old Rag Fire Road.
4. Take a right up the Skyland Big Meadows Horse Trail. (~mile 5.3)
5. Cross Skyland Drive and turn right at the first parking lot to go north on the Appalachian Trail. (~mile 6.4)
6. Stay straight to continue onto Stony Man Trail (the AT bears to the right here).
7. Further up the trail, the proposed route is to go counterclockwise around the Stony Man Trail loop up to the Stony Man overlook (~mile 7.2). Stop here for lunch if you choose so.
8. Continue in the CCW direction down Stony Man Trail.
9. Turn right onto the Stony Man Horse Trail.
10. Turn left at the parking lot to cross over Skyland Drive and return down the Skyland Big Meadows Horse Trail.
11. Turn left to return down the Old Rag Fire Road.
12. Turn left onto the Corbin Mountain Trail
13. Cross the Hughes River and turn right onto Nicholson Trail that takes you back to the Weakly Hollow Fire Road and the Old Rag Upper Lot where we will have our cars parked.

 The AllTrails map for the hike is located at: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/robertson-mountain-via-weakley-hollow-fire-roads-68897f1?u=i&sh=fjn3fe

A pdf of the hike is attached.

To 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. Please let me know if you will meet at the carpool lot so we can coordinate to have enough drivers. (See: Park and Ride - Centreville (Stone Road) | Connector )  

Park and Ride - Centreville (Stone Road) | Connector Fairfax County, Virginia

The trailhead is the Old Rag Upper Lot ( 38.57191893491577, -78.29438236407353)  off of Nethers Road.

 Please email me if you plan to join us. Let me know if you will meet at the trailhead or Centreville Park and Ride. It’s about a 90 minute ride to the trailhead from the Centreville P&R. The hike will start at 8:30. It will be hot so bring plenty of water and start the hike earlier if you want to avoid the afternoon sun. 

Hike Leader: Hunt Loftin, hlo...@verizon.net, 571.319.9362

[HUNT LOFTIN]

So far Ed is the only person to sign up for Tuesday's hike. It is going to be extremely hot tomorrow. My plan is to start hiking as early as possible. So I will get to the trailhead early and will start hiking once the last person to sign up has arrived, 8:30 AM, whichever occurs first. 

The stream crossings on the Hughes and Brokenback Runs are washed out. You will get wet regardless of the trail that you choose to return back to the parking lot, unless you decide to walk back via the fire roads. 

Sent from AOL on Android

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[HUNT LOFTIN]

So far Ed is the only person to sign up for Tuesday's hike. It is going to be extremely hot tomorrow. My plan is to start hiking as early as possible. So I will get to the trailhead early and will start hiking once the last person to sign up has arrived, 8:30 AM, whichever occurs first. 

The stream crossings on the Hughes and Brokenback Runs are washed out. You will get wet regardless of the trail that you choose to return back to the parking lot, unless you decide to walk back via the fire roads. 

Sent from AOL on Android

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