Marshall Moutanin Loop Backpack 5/15 - 5 /16

“This was going to be the Hawksbill Climb and it has now changed to the Marshall Mountain Loop. Bison, maybe we can camp Friday night too.”

“I'm in. We can break it up into two nights, how late would you get there Friday? I don't mind night hiking.”

“Which section of Shenandoah is this in? I would probably get there 8ish. It would probably be a short hike to camp Friday night.”

“It's in the North Section. The guidebook actually breaks up the hike into two nights so we could just do it that way.”

“cool”

“I done changed the info on the Trip Planning page.”

“DC TTers UNITE

what say you BM, Y2, Lyra and the others that lurk beneath shadows of the capital dome?”

“yall are gonna miss trail days!”

“What, just DC people are invited? Sheesh! ;o)
Hey, I'll keep this in mind, and I'll know more by tuesday. I don't know about those EARTHnSKY quintuplets though.”

“All are invited! Just trying to activate the DC trailtalk sleeper cell.”

“you should come Pennsy. Bison puts together good backpacks.”

“I'm definately interested. Since it's the only weekend that I don't have a backpack scheduled between April and July, I have to check my calendar to make sure I don't have something else going on that weekend.

I have the Shen AT maps, so where do you plan on meeting?”

“it's a dually pronounced trail name.”

“ay comrade nash!”

“Pennsy, I'll have to get home and look at the guidebook to tell you where the trailhead is, I'll put that info up tonight. If we're gonna start out Friday night it might be best to meet at my place and carpool up in my truck.”

“North Marshall via the AT and the side trail back was my very first backpacking trip in October 1969.”

“I think that you should go with us to celebrate the 35th anniversery of your first backpack then.”

“I will be in West By God (and smile when you say it) Virginia that weekend. If the knee holds up, which at this point is questionable, I will do a bushwack to Stack Rocks north of the Dolly Sods. If not, I will drive around and ogle scenery.”

“thanks Bison. Front Royal is about 240 miles from here, so depending on what time you meet Friday night, I'll have to see about getting a few hours off work.

Right now I am listed as a maybe but I'll know for sure after this weekend.

Yo Geo!”

“bump”

“bump”

“My girlfriend is going to come along for this backpack. This will be her first backpack and she is pretty excited. She is tough though. She climbed Old Rag with me and had no problems.”

“EarthNsky and Pennsy - Wish I could make it, but the wife and I have plans for this weekend already... Keep me in mind for future Shenandoah hikes, tho', OK?

On Top of North Marshall in March 2003:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/68164341/68165527QxmKgV”

“Squilax - thanks for posting the pic.”

“Do you guys have the meeting location and times yet? If I have to take some time off work Friday, I'll need to schedule it by Wed morning.”

“We should meet at the Mcdonalds near Bison's house. It is just south of the interchange of Rt 28 and I-66 in Centerville, VA. Maybe we can meet there 730 - 8pm. What say you Bison?”

“what trailhead are you using?”

“I see Y2 signed up as a maybe for the trip. Y2 we should be able to give you a ride.”

“HOI - we'd be leaving from the parking area at mile 15.9 between Browntown valley overlook and Range view overlook.

If we meet at McD's by 7:30 we can probably be on the trail by 9. Does anyone have a problem with night hiking? If anyone wanted to start Saturday morning it would be easy to catch up with us on Saturday, It's not a long hike that day and I guess we'll probably want to spend a fair amount of time at Big Devil Stairs, so you'd probably catch up with us there.”

“Bearmagnet - you need to come on this trip, you don't backpack enough and that can have a detrimental effect on your health.”

“Night hiking rocks!
Are you meeting on Skyline Drive? I'll have to fiddle around with Mapquest and my maps, but it may be easier for me to just meet you at the parking area.”

“Where would you be coming from Pennsy?”

“Easton, Pa. It's real easy to get to Shen from here. 78 in Pa to 81, then 66 to Front Royal. Going to Centreville would probably take me down 95 and probably a beltway around Baltimore I would imagine.

Comrade Earthnsky would probably know both routes since he is from this area.”

“Yeah Pennsy, take 78 to 81 etc. That is your best bet. We should meet you somewhere near the park.”

“There is a pulloff area just after you turn onto Skyline drive, before the entrance station, Pennsy could meet us there around 8:45 to 9.”

“Bison, I can probably meet you around 7-730ish at that McD's near your place.”

“That sounds good.”

“We just did the loop as a day hike on Sunday. It is a nice one. The AT section has the most up and down, but has some nice views, the Marshall/Bluff section has no views, but it is easy and has lots of water. There are a lot of flowers out right now.”

“"the Marshall/Bluff section has no views"

Ginny
10:48:57 AM
05/11/04

Did you not go down to Big Devil Stairs, if you didn't you missed some great views.”

“What if I just met y'all at the parking area on Skyline Drive? You're meeting where the AT crosses just before the 16 mile marker, right? I say that in case I get out of work early enough to be a touron on SD. Maybe even grab some sunset photos.

From the parking area, are you heading north on the AT towards N Marshall or south towards Gravel Springs?”

“Pennsy, Meeting us at the parking area would be fine as well. We'll be hiking south toward gravel springs.”

“I'm thinking that if Nash and his mystery girl meet me at my place around 7, we should be to the trailhead around 8:30.”

“Two weekends ago, my son and I hiked from Smith Roach Gap, overnight at Hightop Hut (good water source and lots of camping) and finished up the next day at Lewis Mountain. Lots of beautiful wildflowers out, as Ginny said. Large-leafed trillium, Purple trillium, blue violets, and many more.

Gravel Springs hut is nice. I stayed there last fall. Not many campsites, as I recall. There is a peach tree growing directly accross from the hut. I imagined that a hiker tossed the pit after a much needed rest.

I'd like to join you guys on a SNP hike one of these weekends.”

“Nash and his mystery girl, eh? Hmmmm, Scorchy and him did get along pretty well last week. ;o)

Bison - I'll meet y'all at the parking area on the Drive then. It's looking real good for me making the trip. Work schedule does not look good, but I have time to get there if I leave after work, but I may just come up with a sudden head cold that day.

I'll be at the trailhead before 8:30 but just in case, are you planning to camp near the Gravel Springs Hut?”

“Crack! I have another question. I'm feeling like a dang newbie here. I've dayhiked and stayed in campgrounds but never backpacked in SNP. Are overnight permits required?”

“gotta love those sudden head cold syndromes.. I think you could potentially get there in less than 4 hours going 78 to 81.

Ha on the mystery girl stuff. You'll have to wait and see. You guys will like her. Need to give her a trail name.”

“yeah but they will have a kiosk at the trail head.”

“it's either $5 or $10. I think $10 because we will be getting on the trail via Skyline drive.”

“Creek, we will be in SNP pretty often this summer. Bison and I are going to try and section hike the entire AT. Join us sometime.”

“I'm looking forward to meeting your mystery lady. It's always fun picking a trail name for someone. Looking at your new name, Natasha comes to mind.

I know it's a fee (I think $10) to drive into SNP. Before I got into backpacking, I've been there several times. I know thru-hikers have to self register for a camping permit so I'm wondering if we need to.”