Fw: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, Vigororous Hike: Knob/Neighbor Mt. Circuit

[robert livezey]

All,

 

The drive is closed today and the ranger told me it is "not likely" it will be open tomorrow.  Ice is the problem, not snow.  So we will do David's former version of this hike, but to vary it, we will do it counterclockwise:

 

Knob Mountain Neighbor Mountain Circuit PATC Map 9. Starting at Jeremy's Run parking, hikers will take Jeremy's Run to Neighbor Mountain and do a counterclockwise circuit at the AT, Knob Mountain Cutoff Trail, and Knob Mountain with a stopover at Elkwallow Picnic Area for lunch. No splashdown. This appears to be about 18 miles with about 4000' of elevation gain.

 

Please meet at 7 AM at Stone Rd. commuter parking in Centreville; take exit at 29 from 66W and head south (right turn); entrance to commuter parking is 1 1/2 blocks up; park in SE corner.

You can meet at the trail head at 8:30-45

340 south for 15.8 miles from rt. 55
Left on route 662 at Rileyville (Rileyville Rd.)
Turn immediately right on route 611, Vaughn Summit Rd, 3 miles
Park on shoulder before concrete bridge

Please print out attached map (thanks to David), but follow counterclockwise.

 

Regards,

 

Bob

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: robert livezey

To: Vigorous-Hikers

Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 11:55 AM

Subject: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, Vigororous Hike: Knob/Neighbor Mt. Circuit

 

 

All,

 

I was hoping to do this hike from Matthews Arm Picnic Area, but there is uncertainty about access because the Skyline Drive is closed today.  If the drive is open on Tuesday Matthews Arm may still not be accessible.  In this event we could do the same circuit from either Elkwallow Picnic Area/Wayside or from the parking near Milepost 27.  If the drive is closed the hike will start from the trailhead outside of the park at VA 611 in the Shenandoah Valley.

 

The loop (for all starts in the park) is simply the Knob Mountain, Neighbor Mountain, Appalachian and Elkwallow Trails loop (PATC Map 9).  But if we start outside of the park we will use the Knob Mt. Cutoff Trail to close the loop instead of the Elkwallow Trail. 

 

I will send a followup message on Monday afternoon with instructions on the status of Skyline Drive, the version we will do and a map, and where we will meet.

 

Regards to all,

 

Bob Livezey