Shenandoah this weekend?

“I'm going to dayhike to Mary's rock on Sunday. Anyone wanna join me?”

“Busy this weekend with Crap! Sorry.”

“Crap vs. Hiking

I'll take hiking.”

“Yeah, been holding off the Crap for too long, though. I can barely get in my apt!”

“Sign up for the Old Rag trip... no excuses, for not going.”

“I'm signed up!!”

“Bounce”

“What time are you planning at being at Panarama parking lot on Sunday or are you planning on taking the bushwhack/short cut up from the Tunnel overlook or some other way up?”

“I was gonna go from the Jewell Hollow Overlook, I'll be there bt 7:30 and 8:00 am.”

“OK I'll try to be at Jewell Hollow Overlook between 7:30 and 8 am tomorrow - hope to see you there but ... what will be will be”

“Excellent, I'll go ahead and wait till 8 to start hiking.”

“Met HOI at the overlook just before 8 am. Nice and cold and windy. The hike had fantastic views almost all the way to Mary's rock. It started spitting snow when we got to Byrd's Nest, but nothing that accumulated. We met a woman at Mary's rock, she was out overnight and then dayhiked up from the North. We stayed at the view for maybe 15 minutes, then headed back.
6.8 miles.

It was great to hike with HOI, the second TTer I've met.”

“Start early Saturday, hike out by early Sunday, either and overnight loop or AT section (Rockfish gap to Turk gap). Anyone wanna join me?”

“Bounce”

“I'll join you on some hikes soon Bison. 10 days till I move to DC.”

“Excellent, I have new pack, new stove, new headlamp, new bag soon.”

“I just got a new pack, new bag, well pretty much all of my equipment is less than a yearold. What kind of stove did you get.”

“I got a pocketrocket, tested it out last night, boiled a pot of cold water real fast. I got a Z pack today, now I need a down back bc my synthetic won't fit, and I want something lighter for late spring, summer, fall.”

“I have a pocket rocket too. They are pretty awesome. When Opie and I camped atop Mt. LeConte this past winter it failed though. It was too cold outside for it. Still can't complain.”

“Yeah I got the pocketrocket just for spring, summer, early fall. I have my dragonfly for anything below freezing, and the added advantage that I can wake up anything in the mountains on those cold mornings.”

“Boing

Somebody has to wanna go hiking.”

“Hey Bison. Can't do an overnighter this weekend, but I might be up for a day hike on Saturday.”

“I just realized that the weekend of April 10th is Easter weekend. That weekend still works for me, but is it a problem for anyone else?”

“That weekend isn't a problem for me, but no one else has signed up, I guess they don't wanna welcome you to the area.”

“Who wants to do an overnighter this weekend? Hike in Saturday, out early Sunday... I'm keeping an eye on the weather, looks like a possibility of rain, but the temps look great.”

“Can't this weekend, or easter weekend. Both Old Rag and Whiteoak Canyon trail are great hikes. I did Whiteoak Canyon last summer. Great hike, but what a haul! Best waterfall hike in the SNP. Have fun you guys.

Hey, I am doing a section hike of the AT in the SNP the weekend of April 3 with some others. Let me know if you are interested in joining us.”

“What are the specifics of the section hike?”

“April 3 - Gravel Springs Gap to Front Royal. This is a day hike with the ODATC (Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club). Option to continue on to Jim and Molly Denton Shelter and hike out to Rt. 55 Sunday morning.”

“Opps, forgot to add that the ones who are overnighting Saturday are starting at Compton Gap.”

“Alright it's gonna be a perfect weekend for backpacking. Hike in Saturday - Out early Sunday. So who wants to go?”

“man bison. I'm moving this weekend. You able to hike tuesday and wedensday? It's quite nice out though”

“Wish I could during the week, but these damn people won't pay me unless I actually show up at work. Bastards!”

“go figure.

Well I am in DC now.”

“Let's go backpacking,
Howsbout a section hike on the AT, in Saturday out early Sunday, depending on the weather.”

“Looks like they took the rain off the forecast for Saturday. Section hike anyone?”

“Boinggggg”

“yeah I might be interested - need to de-stress somehow what are you thinking of as far as where and when?”

“Where? not sure yet, let me look at the maps tonight.

When? Hike in Saturday sometime early, late, whenever.

Be out early Sunday before noon.”

“bump - what's the plan Bison?”

“hmmm, I'm still looking at the weather, I don't have a map with me here. I was thinking of just doing a section on the AT, and car shuttle. Starting maybe Saturday around 1 or 2 pm, and hiking out Sunday around 11 am. But I'm open to anything within that time frame, I need to shake out all my new gear!”

“ok - what district do you want to hit?”

“Central... maybe South I haven't hiked in the South District before.”

“OK - how about AT south from Wildcat Ridge Parking Area to camp near where the Sawmill Run shelter used to be (spring should be flowing well with the last weeks rain) and then hike out to Jarman Gap Parking Area in the morning. If you are running late on Saturday you can also park at the Turk Gap Parking Area and pick up the AT headed south from there. On the other hand if you have more time on Saturday then hiking south from Riprap Trail Parking Area or Blackrock Gap Parking Area or even Blackrock Summit Parking Area are options. One option would be to meet at one of the entrance stations (need to get a backcountry camping permit there anyways) and make the final decisions at that time. For the suggestion above I would recommend meeting at the Rockfish Gap entrance station - note by entrance station I mean the shack where the NPS employees collect the entrance fees/check passes.”

“addendum - since Skyline Drive is currently closed for Central and North Districts due to snow accumulation it looks like South District would be a good idea.

to check for SD closures its 540-999-3500 then 4 then 1

I hope they don't close the South District also.”

“snow wtf!”

“You could still hike in from outside the park.”

“who screwed with my nice spring weather! It was seventy degrees when I hiked to bear church rock last weekend!”

“The forecast for Sunday shows a low of 25 for Waynesboro, so we'd be getting down on my bag rating up in the mountains... Perhaps I will dayhike Saturday instead. Damn the weather... Where is my spring in the mountains.”

“oh well - some other time then - looks like I'll just go check out the blowdowns in St. Mary's”