Hike for Tuesday, April 21

[Josh Silverman]

The hike for this coming Tuesday will consist of a double loop from the Elizabeth Furnace Day Use area.  For the first loop, we will take the Botts Trail to the Sherman Gap Trail, turn left to ascend to the Massanutten Trail (the steepest ascent on this hike), turn left again, and continue until the trail bends to the left at the intersection with the Shawl Gap and Buzzard Rock Trails to return to Elizabeth Furnace.  From there we will take the second loop, which continues on the Massanutten Trail past the Signal Knob parking area up to the junction with the Meneka Peak Trail, turn left to go over Meneka Peak to the Tuscarora Trail, turn left to descend to the Massanutten Trail, and turn right to return to Elizabeth Furnace.  The total mileage is about 17 miles and the total elevation gain is about 4000 feet.

The weather report is promising; the unseasonable heat will subside tomorrow evening, and currently there is no rain in the forecast for Tuesday.  Depending on our timing, we will have lunch either directly after the completion of the first loop at the picnic tables in Elizabeth Furnace or, preferably, at the Buzzard Rock Overlook during the course of the second loop.

Starting time will be 8:30. Please notify me if you plan to attend.  I will stop at the commuter parking lot in Centreville at 7:00, so let me know you are interested in carpooling.

Josh