Shenandoah National Park - June 2006 Tri p Report

“Trails Hiked: Paine Run Trail, Trayfoot Mountain Trail, Furnace Mountain Trail, Madison Run Road, Austin Mountain Trail, Big Run Loop Trail (north half), Appalachian Trail.
Miles Hiked: 22
Wildlife: 3 deer, 1 bear cub, 1000 butterflies

Friday, June 09, 2006: I arrived at the southern entrance station of Shenandoah National Park around 10:30 am. I paid my entrance fee and filled out my backcountry camping permit and gave it to the park ranger. I then drove the 17 miles along Skyline Drive to Blackrock Gap. I did one final gear check, double checked to make sure I had my keys and locked the truck. I walked to the southern end of the parking area where the Paine Run Trail began, and was on my way. I had only walked about 1/4 mile when I met 4 gentlemen on horseback, I politely stepped off the trail and allowed them to pass. Each one of the riders acknowledged me in their own way either by speaking, waving or a simple, nod of the head. Once they passed, I was on my way once more. The Mountain Laurel was in full bloom and the bees were taking advantage of this abundant pink and white flowering shrub.

It didn't take long to work up a good sweat on this 80 degree sunny day. I decided to take an early break in the shade near one of the many stream crossings of Paine Run. As I sat on a rock in the middle of the run and ate my Frosted Cherry Pop Tart, I was entertained by a school of 3" to 4" trout darting in and out of the rocks. It was then I noticed the butterflies. There just seemed to be these brilliantly colored insects everywhere. One landed on my camera case so I took a qucik photo before the opportunity flew away.

The next few miles of the Trayfoot Mountain trail was pretty uneventful, other than the butterflies everywhere and the occasional view through the trees and Mountain Laurel. I eventually made my way to the Furnace Mountain trail where I debated wheter to camp on the summit of Furnace Mountain or continue on to Madison Run. Since I was running low on water I decided to skip the summit and head for water. I arrived at my campsite around 5 pm and found a nice flat high area just above the Madison Run Fire Road. I set up camp and unpacked my gear, filled my water bottles and returned to the creek for a cold refreshing sponge bath. I went back to my tent and put on my camp clothes and retrieved a 20 oz. Nalgene bottle filled with White Merlot. The evening breeze and the sounds of the creek complimented my wine perfectly. After a while I could feel the effects of the fermented drink so I returned to my camp site and had a cup of soup. I finally retired to my tent around 9pm feeling satisfied at the days events. I was abruptly awaken at 12:05 am at the sound of something running through the leaves near my tent. I cautiously unzipped my tent and searched the area with my headlamp. I was unable to find the source of the sound within the range of my LED headlamp, so I crawled back into my warm bag and drifted off to sleep once again. Sleep was a rare commodity this night. Around 1am the Coyotes decided they needed to communicate with one another and they did so for about an hour. It finally quieted down and once again sleep overtook me.


Saturday, June 10, 2006: I awoke around 7am on this morning but getting out of my sleeping bag was not a priority. I had nowhere important to be or no pressing chores than needed my immediate attention so I just layed there in my tent allowing laziness to have it's way with me. I finally summoned the energy to exit my tent and answer the inevitable call of nature. After a quick bowl of honey and nut oatmeal I disassembled my backcountry home and packed up my gear once more. I crossed the creek to the Madison Run Fire Road and attempted to work out some of the soreness in the calves. After about a half mile walk heading east I came to the Austin Mountain Trail. The trail left the fire road and went straight up and continued on a hefty pitch for about a mile. This section of the trail was extremely rocky so there were not many trees to block views to the south and east. The trail eventaully leveled and followed a long ridge which paralelled Skyline Drive some 2 or 3 miles away. If you took the time to stop and look you could see an occasional vehicle slowly making it's way between the giant hills. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I though about those poor people in those vehicles and how I would rather be where I was, than drving any luxury car.

Just before 11am I realized that the oatmeal I had for breakfast was no longer with me. I stopped along the trail and made 2 sandwiches, constantly scanning the thick foilage for other critters that might want my lunch also. It's funny how fast food on the trail goes. I bet it didn't take 10 minutes to devour both sandwiches and gulp down a quart of water. I packed up once again and headed down the trail toward the Rocky Top Trail junction.

I hadn't gone maybe 300 yards when I looked up and there sat a bear cub in the middle of the trail, less than 20 feet from me. I froze in my tracks! This cub couldn't have been more than 2 months old and what scared me the most is I could not seem to locate it's mother. I began to slowly back away scanning the terraine for a much larger Ursus Americanus. Thoughts of a pissed off sow in the Smokies came rushing back into my memory and I did not want to relive that scenario. The cub latched onto the closest tree after it realized I was close by and went straight to the top in a matter of seconds. I scrambled for my camera, the whole time searching for momma bear. After a few uneasy moments I was unable to locate the sow so I cautiously continued down the trail leavig the cub to defend for itself. I had missed another photo opportunity but I didn't want to linger in the area too long.

I finally made it to the Big Run Portal trail and instead of taking the south loop that was only about 1/3 of a mile from the Appalachian Trail I took the much longer 2.3 mile north loop. I felt like a total green horn making a rookie mistake like that. That one error added almost 4 miles to my already planned 11 mile day. It was 2pm when I finally reached the Appalachian Trail and I now had nearly 5 miles to go before I could legally camp at the Blackrock Hut. I figured since the hut was less than 1 mile from my truck I would just make a push for Blackrock Gap where my truck was parked. I made it back to my vehicle at exactly 5pm. I did 15 miles in 8 hours, not too bad for a lazy state employee.


Photos Are Here!
Video
Map
last edited: 6/11/06 10:04:30 PM”

“nice report and video. Glad to see so many getting out this weekend”

“You are making me homesick!”

“Beautiful butterfly...must've been really cool to see hundred of them...loved your pictures and TR as always...thanks Cloudy...”

“Cloudwalker, I always love looking at the photos you have taken.

One of these days I'll get up to Shenandoah It looks like a beautiful place.”

“awesome report, pics and video!!”

“great pics Cloudwalker

it was a great weekend up in SNP - I was up there Sat and Sun doing dayhikes - absolutely the best weather - nice cool breeze yet mostly sunny

saw my second bob cat on the trail Sat - coming back up Pocosin Fire Road after hiking the Entry Run Tr. - the cat was sitting in the middle of the road but took off as soon as it saw me

my son took a bunch of flower pics Sun - unfortunately I don't have a clue as to how to share them with ya'll”

“one of these days I am gonna have to make a trip to SNP”

“C'mon up Ewker! I will show you around the park.

HOI, I've never seen a bob cat in the SNP, but I had one scare me to death with his/her scream.”

“Creek Dancer, I might take you up on that invite.
I almost went on the Old Rag trip last yr but couldn't work out the arrangements.”