Backpacking recap
Well, I'm alive and well after a tiring 3 day backpacking trek followed by two days with 2nd graders and their parents. The trip was great. We hiked about 15 miles from the Gravel Springs Hut to Elkwallow and down Jeremy's Run back into the Mountain Campus. We had a couple of views from Hogback Mountain around 3400 feet. At that elevation, it was still spring. The leaves had yet to open and the wildflowers were still in bloom. Particularly, there were tons of Wild Geranium in the park.
We made our first camp 7 miles or so into the hike at the AT and Jeremy's Run intersection. That morning, our wildlife excitement was a Timber Rattler discovered by one of the students. The snake was warming up in a patch of sunlight and had no intention of moving a muscle, and so it gave no warning rattle, nor did it show any intention of striking. We kept a respectful distance anyway.
Day 2 was a 4-5 mile hike down Jeremy's Run, a very gentle and almost flat downhill with a ton of stream crossings. Because it was so wet, I hiked nearly the whole stretch in my Keens. Those shoes are extremely comfortable, especially when wet. Walking that far with a heavy pack, I have no blisters. We met up with the other two groups that afternoon at our usual campsite along the creek just above a small waterfall. As evening fell, clouds covered the sky and the air felt as though the threat of rain was near, but we woke up in the morning only to a light sprinkling which ceased in time to pack up nice and dry. We made it out the last 2.5 miles and were back at camp by 8:30.
This weekend, I'm hoping to spend a night out on Massanutten Mountain with Erin and the dogs.
Other Wildlife News:
The Scarlet Tanagers have arrived right on time for the beginning of May. They were everywhere on last week's canoe trip and calling like crazy in the National Park. Wood Thrush are singing about as are the Whip-por-wills. I've heard reports that the Pink Lady's Slippers are up, but I have yet to find them. So far, no sign of any Trillium. It seems that Spring has sprung and Summer is near, at least in the low elevations.
We made our first camp 7 miles or so into the hike at the AT and Jeremy's Run intersection. That morning, our wildlife excitement was a Timber Rattler discovered by one of the students. The snake was warming up in a patch of sunlight and had no intention of moving a muscle, and so it gave no warning rattle, nor did it show any intention of striking. We kept a respectful distance anyway.
Day 2 was a 4-5 mile hike down Jeremy's Run, a very gentle and almost flat downhill with a ton of stream crossings. Because it was so wet, I hiked nearly the whole stretch in my Keens. Those shoes are extremely comfortable, especially when wet. Walking that far with a heavy pack, I have no blisters. We met up with the other two groups that afternoon at our usual campsite along the creek just above a small waterfall. As evening fell, clouds covered the sky and the air felt as though the threat of rain was near, but we woke up in the morning only to a light sprinkling which ceased in time to pack up nice and dry. We made it out the last 2.5 miles and were back at camp by 8:30.
This weekend, I'm hoping to spend a night out on Massanutten Mountain with Erin and the dogs.
Other Wildlife News:
The Scarlet Tanagers have arrived right on time for the beginning of May. They were everywhere on last week's canoe trip and calling like crazy in the National Park. Wood Thrush are singing about as are the Whip-por-wills. I've heard reports that the Pink Lady's Slippers are up, but I have yet to find them. So far, no sign of any Trillium. It seems that Spring has sprung and Summer is near, at least in the low elevations.