Hike Schedule for July thru September, 2007
David
All outings depart 17th & K Streets at 8:00 am sharp unless otherwise
noted. VA=suburban pickup in Virginia; MD=suburban pickup in Maryland
(see maps of pickup points)
To join us on a hike, make a reservation with the leader at the
telephone number listed at the end of the hike description. Membership
is not required unless specified. It is club policy that hikers new to
the club will take the moderate hike.
Please sign up by noon, Friday before the hike! Otherwise the hike may
be cancelled due to low number of sign-ups.
Rating of hikes based on elevation and terrain. Easy: less than 1,000
ft elevation gain. Moderate: less than 2,000 ft elevation gain.
Strenuous: 2,000+ ft elevation gain. Rating may vary with weather and
terrain. Consult the leader at the phone number provided for advice.
Where park fee is indicated, holders of Shenandoah Park, Golden Eagle,
or Golden Age passes are not charged, but must have passes available.
Others pay $8.00 park entrance fee in addition to bus fare.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 10 (Sunday) AT, Snowy Mountain, PA to Pen Mar, MD. (rescheduled
from February 24) Long Hikers start at route 233, and ascend Snowy
Mountain, pass Buzzard Peak, and continue on the AT south to Pen Mar.
Moderate hikers begin at Old Forge Road, and also take the AT south to
Pen Mar. Estimated miles: 13 (strenuous) and 8.4 (moderate). PATC Map
4. Fare: $23. Phone: 301-294-1356 and (703) 582-9557. (MD)
June 17 (Sunday) Catoctin Trail, Right Hand Fork Road to Gambrill
State Park Road, MD, and special WELCOME BACK hike for folks who
haven't been out in a while, also suitable for newcomers who want an
easy starter hike. Long hikers start at Right Hand Fork Road, moderate
hikers start at Delauter Road, and Welcome Back hikers start at
Hamburg Road, and all follow the blue-blazed Catoctin Trail south to
Gambrill State Park nature trail parking lot. Estimated miles: 12.9
(moderate), 8.6 (moderate), and 5.5 (easy); a 15.3 mile (strenuous)
version starting at Catoctin Hollow Road also available. Fare: $23.
Phone: 703-660-2342 and 301-588-0490. (MD)
June 24 (Sunday) AT, Shippensburg Road to Route 30, Caledonia State
Park, PA. Long hikers start at Shippensburg Road, take Fegley Road to
the AT, and follow it south to Rocky Knob Trail and loop around Sier
Hill and Rocky Knob. At the junction they go left to return to Rocky
Knob Trail and follow it around the reservoir. They go left on Birch
Run and Milesburn Roads, and right on Locust Gap Trail, right on
Hosack Trail, left on the AT, and right on Ramble Trail to do a
counter clock-wise loop, past the swimming pool, and to the bus.
Moderate hikers start at Pine Grove Road and take Orebank Road to
Breast Access Road and turn right to go along the reservoir; they then
turn left onto Birch Run Road and left on Rocky Knob Trail to follow
the route of the long hikers to the bus. Estimated miles: 12
(moderate) and 8 (moderate). PATC Map 2-3. Fare: $23. Phone:
(301-251-0899). (MD)
July 1 (Sunday) AT, Rose River Loop, and Dark Hollow Falls, SNP, VA.
Long hikers start at Timber Hollow Overlook and take the AT to Fishers
Gap; they cross the drive and take Rose River Loop and Dark Hollow
Falls Trails. At the parking lot they walk south to Lewis Spring Road.
They then follow the AT north to Fishers Gap and the bus. Moderate
hikers start at Fishers Gap and follow the long hikers. Estimated
miles: 11.2 (moderate) and 7.2 (moderate). PATC Map 10. Fare: $23 plus
park fee or pass. Phone: (202-291-3868) and (301-770-5249). (VA)
July 8 (Sunday) Tuscarora Trail to Cowans Gap State Park, Buchanan
State Forest, PA. SWIMMING POSSIBLE. Long hikers start at route 16 and
moderate hikers at the dirt road behind the Tuscarora Summit Inn. All
hikers follow the Tuscarora Trail north to the end of the hike at the
beautiful lake at Cowans Gap State Park. Estimated miles: 9.6
(moderate) and 7.6 (moderate). An optional strenuous 12.2 mile hike
via Hunter Road Trail may be available. PATC Map K. Fare: $23. Phone:
(301-654-3749) and (703-280-1453). (MD)
July 15 (Sunday) AT, Panorama to Elkwallow, SNP, VA. ICE CREAM SUNDAES
and special WELCOME BACK hike for hikers who haven't been out in a
while; also for newcomers who want an easy starter hike. Long hikers
take the AT north from Panorama; moderate hikers join them at Beahms
Gap Overlook. All hikers take Rocky Branch Trail, cross the parking
lot, and turn right on Hull School Trail. They pass Thornton River
Trail, turn left on Fork Mountain Trail then continue on Piney Ridge
Trail. At the AT, they turn left to Elkwallow Wayside and the bus.
WELCOME BACK hikers follow Elkwallow Trail out and back. Estimated
miles: 10.5 (strenuous), 7.5 (moderate), 5 (easy). PATC Map 9. Fare:
$23 plus park fee or pass. Phone: (410-535-5171) and (301-656-9169).
(VA)
July 22 (Sunday) Tuscarora Pond Run and Three Ponds Trails, GWNF, VA
and WV. All hikers begin and end at the parking area on the right side
of CR 5/1 about 1.2 miles past Capon Furnace. They walk about .6 miles
and turn right to ascend Tuscarora/Pond Run Trail. At the junction 2.5
miles in, long hikers turn left to continue on Tuscarora/Three Ponds
Trail. They then leave the Tuscarora and turn left onto Old Mail Path
Trail, left onto Wilson Cove Trail, and continue on CR 5/1 back to the
bus. At the first junction, moderate hikers turn right onto Halfmoon
Trail, then right on German Wilson Trail, and right on Old Mine Trail
and follow it to the bus. Estimated miles: 12.4 (strenuous) and 7.5
(moderate). PATC Map F. Fare: $23. Phone: (703-465-9022) and
(202-863-9362). (VA)
July 29 (Sunday) AT, Reno Monument Road to Keep Tryst Road, MD. Long
hikers access the AT at Reno Monument Road and after a climb up Lambs
Knoll, follow the gently undulating AT south to the bus at Keep Tryst
Road. Moderate hikers begin at Gathland State Park and follow the path
of the long hikers. Hikers who want more miles may continue out and
back on the AT along the C&O canal towards Harpers Ferry. Estimated
miles: 13.4 (moderate) and 7 (moderate). PATC Map 6. Fare: $23. Phone:
(703-239-0131) and (301-990-1988). (MD)
August 5 (Sunday) AT, Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA. SWIMMING
POSSIBLE. Long hikers start at PA route 94 and moderate hikers start
at Pine Grove Road. All hikers follow the AT south to Fuller Lake in
Pine Grove State Park for a swim. The bus will be in the large parking
area just past and to the left of the lake. Estimated miles: 11
(moderate) and 7.8 (moderate). PATC Map 2-3. Phone: (301-294-1356) and
(703-582-9557). (MD)
August 12 (Sunday) Bird Knob and Roaring Run Trails, Massanutten
Mountain, VA. Long hikers begin at Catherine Furnace and follow
Roaring Run Trail up and over Big Mountain to Massanutten South Trail,
Bird Knob Trail, and again Massanutten South Trail to the bus at the
Massanutten Visitor Center. Moderate hikers start at the visitor
center and complete a circuit, using Massanutten South and Bird Knob
Trails. Estimated miles: 10 (moderate) and 8 (moderate). PATC Map H.
Fare: $23. Phone: (301-220-1072) and (202-462-7049). (VA)
August 19 (Sunday) AT, Crescent Rock to Panorama, SNP, VA. Today's
hikes are summer favorites. Long hikers start at Crescent Rock
Overlook and go north on the AT to Panorama. Moderate hikers start at
Little Stony Man parking area and follow the route of the long hikers.
All hikers may climb to the summit of Mary's Rock for outstanding
views before descending to the bus at Panorama. Estimated miles: 12.5
(moderate) and 8.5 (moderate). PATC Map 10. Fare: $23 plus park fee or
pass. Phone: (540-542-6187). (VA)
August 26 (Sunday) Tuscarora Trail, Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management
Area, WV. All hikers walk .9 miles on Hampshire Grade Road, and turn
left onto the Tuscarora Trail. The Tuscarora Trail turns sharply to
the right after 1.5 miles. Long hikers turn left and walk 1.5 miles to
Pee Wee Point. They then return about .7 miles and turn left onto the
red-blazed Equestrian-Bike Trail. They follow this trail to rejoin the
Tuscarora Trail, which they follow south to Millrace Trail. At the
parking area, they turn right and follow the road to the bus on route
45. Moderate hikers continue south on the Tuscarora Trail until
Millrace Trail and follow the long hikers to the bus. Estimated miles:
12.5 (moderate) and 9.5 (moderate). PATC Map L. Fare: $23. Phone:
(703-575-7684) and (703-725-8026). (VA)
September 2 (Sunday) Hawksbill Summit and White Oak Canyon, SNP, VA.
SWIMMING POSSIBLE. Both hikes begin and end at Hawksbill Parking Area.
Long hikers follow the AT south to Salamander Trail to ascend to
Hawksbill Summit, and then descend Lower Hawksbill Trail to cross the
drive and follow the path of the moderate hikers. Moderate hikers
descend Cedar Run Trail, turn left at White Oak-Cedar Run Link Trail,
and left again at White Oak Canyon Trail. Hikers may stop for a swim
as they ascend the falls. At the top, they turn left and follow White
Oak Canyon Fire Road to return to Hawksbill Gap Parking Area.
Estimated miles: 10 (strenuous) and 7.5 (strenuous). PATC Map 10.
Fare: $23 plus park fee or pass. Phone: (703-352-4685). (VA)
September 9 (Sunday) South River Falls, SNP, VA. Long hikers start at
the South River Overlook and take a series of trails to reach the base
of South River Falls. They then ascend South River Falls Trail to the
South River picnic area where the bus is waiting. Moderate hikers
start at the parking area for the Pocosin Fire Road to begin their
descent to the falls, and follow the path of the long hikers.
Estimated miles: 10 (strenuous) and 7 (moderate). PATC Map 10. Fare
$23. Phone: (703-448-0140). (VA)
September 16 (Sunday) Picnic Hike, Shenandoah River State Park (SRSP),
VA. Members only. Today we enjoy an end of summer picnic "down by the
riverside" in SRSP. From route 613, long hikers take the Tuscarora
Trail across Indian Hollow Bridge and walk along Massanutten Mountain
East ridge; they then retrace their steps and follow park trails to
the picnic feast. Moderate hikers take Cullers, Paw Paw, and other
trails in the park network to reach a feast of grilled burgers,
salads, and homemade delights. Estimated mileage: 11 (moderate) and 7
(moderate). Park map and PATC Map G. Fare: $23 plus $8 picnic costs.
Phone: (703-660-2342) and (301-588-0490). (VA)
September 23 (Sunday) Buck Ridge, Hazel Mountain, Hot-Short Mountain,
and Nicholson Hollow Trails, SNP, VA. SWIMMING POSSIBLE. Long hikers
start from route 211 and ascend Buck Ridge Trail, turn left on Hazel
Mountain Trail, and then descend Hot-Short Mountain Trail to Nicholson
Hollow Trail. After a dip in the Hughes River, they continue on route
600 to Old Rag parking area. Moderate hikers take Hazel Mountain Trail
from Skyline Drive, and follow the same route as the long hikers.
Estimated miles: 11.6 (strenuous) and 8.9 (moderate). PATC Map 10.
Fare: $23 plus park fee or pass for moderate hikers only. Phone:
(202-332-7236) and (703-941-0209). (VA)
September 30 (Sunday) AT, Compton Gap to Hogback Overlook, SNP, VA.
Long hikers start at Compton Gap parking area and take the AT south up
to Compton Peak and after enjoying the views, continue to Hogback
Overlook and the waiting bus. Moderate hikers start at Jenkins Gap and
follow the route of the long hikers, stopping to admire the views from
North and South Marshall Mountains. Estimated miles: 10.4 (strenuous)
and 8.4 (moderate). PATC Map 9. Fare: $23 plus park fee or pass.
Phone: (703-455-2756) and (301-587-8172). (VA)