I ventured out with my friends Min and Ronan, to Shenandoah National Forest on the last day of January. We decided to take on the Robertson Mountain Trail which starts near the base of Old Rag Mountain. We left Richmond at 7:00am and began our hike at 9:30am. It was a chilly day at 22 degrees F and a solid 5 inches of snow covering the mountain. The view at the top was well worth it. This trip may have opened doors to future winter camping excursions.
November 30, 2014, we hit Skyline Drive to take on the South River Falls trail. During the winter season, Skyline Drive frequently closes off large sections due to the weather conditions. We got lucky with South River Falls as it was one of the first hikes off Skyline.
In late October of 2013, Sarah and I set out with our friend Ronan to the woods of Shenandoah. We found this hike through Hiking Upward, probably the best resource for hikers in Virginia. It’s a website that features detailed descriptions of almost every hike in Virginia. From the Jefferson National Forest to Pisgah National Forest, it covers dozens of trails and reviews them in many different aspects. Each trail is reviewed in several different aspects such as difficulty, isolation, scenery, and degree of camp friendliness. Anyways, we decided upon the Graves Mill Trail which eventually meets up with the Bear Church Rock trail. The beautiful Rapidan River flows alongside for the majority of the trail. Native brook trout can also be seen in the clear, and cold mountain waters. We took a short break next to the river to brew some tea on this awesome fall day.
Old Rag is one of my favorite hikes in Virginia. I have made the hike six times previously but never before on such a clear day. Isoprene in all of its glory.
On January 13, 2012, we stopped by Zion National Park on a road trip through the American Southwest at the recommendation of one of my friends. I am definitely glad we listened, because the ascent up to Angel’s Landing is one I’ll never forget. The beginning of the 5 mile trail, follows the Virgin River along a dirt path. As we climbed higher, the trail transforms into a paved stone pathway up the mountain. There are a series of 21 steep switchbacks before reaching Scout Lookout (the last point of return). From here on, the ascent to the top of Angel’s Landing would be a treacherous path consisting of steep drop offs on both sides while navigating tiny stone walkways. Most areas had chain-link hand rails to cling on to while scaling the side of the mountain. The national park recognizes five fatalities along Angel’s Landing, but more have been reported. With cold winds and ice in January, it was a test of nerve for sure, but ultimately a rewarding view. Incredible place.
WAY NORTH 