Name: Bill (aka
Juanvaldz)
Hike:
White Oak Canyon/ Cedar Run
Date: 1/30/2010
Rating: 4
Critique: This was the first winter hike for the "Stanley Adventure
Hiking Team"
Conditions at the White Oak Canyon Trail head parking lot: 12
degrees, 3 inches of fresh snow. Wind: none (thankfully)
White Oak canyon is pretty consistent uphill trek. The conditions
made it MUCH less than ideal. The snow and ice cover required every
step to be planned in the rough areas. The falls in the winter are a
site to see. Ice covering everywhere the water was splashing,
freezing things in place.
We took a
lunch break near upper falls where the bridge crosses the stream
(Robinson River) Caution, there are two trails at this point, The
White Oak Canyon trail, and the White Oak Fire Road. The published
White Oak Canyon-Cedar Run hike requires you to take the left at
this intersection onto the fire road. (Don't ask us how we know
this, we wont tell) The fire road is wide and much better suited for
a winter hike than the rocky trail. You continue to gain elevation
until you come within view on Skyline drive, where you turn south
onto the Cedar Run trail.
At the 5
hour mark we start the downhill leg of the hike. At times the trail
is VERY narrow and in the winter conditions, trekking poles are a
must. A number of times, the poles were the only thing that stopped
a slide in to the icy waters of Cedar Run. Its surprising how few
pictures you take when you are worried about taking an unwanted
winter swim. To say it was adventure coming down is an
understatement. There are two stream crossings, and you study every
step you are going to take, because mistakes here are unforgiving.
We averaged
1.1 mph for the entire hike with rest breaks and lunch. Could we
have done it faster, sure, but safety was more of a concern, rather
than speed.
I cant wait
to take this hike again in the spring. Would I do it again in the
winter??? I think so, but my brain may have frozen a little too!

Name: Moonshine
Hike:
Rocky Knob-Quarry Gap
Date: 1/23/2010
Rating: 5
Critique: The trails are freshly blazed, well-maintained and easy. The
right fork of Rocky Knob Tr has very good views and provides opportunity
to climb the knob. On the last stretch we turned left from AT on Hosack
Run Tr. Will definitely visit this area in summer.

Name: Dave
Hike:
Bull Run Mountain Conservancy
Date: 1-20-2010
Rating: 5
Critique: A very nice, moderate, short hike. The old historic sites are
really interesting and worth seeing, and the trip up to High Point is
the highlight of this hike. I would advise skipping the out and back
section of the quarry trail, the trail is really quite hard to follow
and there isn't much there. However, if you like looking at old
foundational ruins the author is correct that there are some ruins
further north up the stream on the West side, though again the trail is
very hard to follow.
The trail marking system in the conservancy was really disappointing.
Most all of the old blazes are worn away, so in some of the parts of the
system where the trail is hard to follow you're not exactly sure if
you're still on the right trail. Definitely bring the park map with you
on the hike-it labels all of the intersections with the numbers that the
conservancy uses on the trails. There should be one at the main kiosk,
but if not you can get on here:
http://www.brmconservancy.org/trail_map.html.
Overall a good hike that I would recommend for a a fun afternoon.

Name: Steve
(hikingff77)
Hike:
Old Loggers Path
Date: 12/05-12/06/09
Rating: 5
Critique: We started out at the SGL gate just north of Masten on
Ellentown Road and hiking counterclockwise on the OLP. Very beautiful
area with lots of water in the creeks and streams. For the most part I
felt as though we were hiking downhill on a nice grade. The trail was
wide for the most part and it did have plenty of boggy and muddy
sections. Saw a few hunters and there was another group backpacking,
never saw them on the trail, just at the TH. Lots of downed trees in the
woods and some blowdowns across the trail. Nothing we couldn't navigate.
Got cold, 15* at one point in the night. Thank god for down.
We hiked out to the Jeep road and then took that to the Ellentown Road
and road walked it back to the car. The road walking sucked but it was
snow covered and the only way we could make a loop out of it for the
short time we had.
All in all an awesome place. We'll def. go back in the summer to play in
the creeks.

Name: Susan Neill
Hike:
Billy Goat Trails A&B
Date: 11/21/09
Rating: 3
Critique: I have to give BGT-A a 3 because of the high volume of
human traffic. I like peace and solitude on my hikes (too much to
ask for so close to D.C.), and the endless parade of boy scouts, cub
scouts and hiking clubs made this a noisy hike, to say the least.
The trail itself is an exciting one, and Mike is right: hikers with
balance problems - of whom I am one - should come prepared. It's
full of places that require hopping from one narrow boulder ledge to
another, and several deep, water-filled potholes that must be gotten
around along ledges. I went up the cliff, which seemed easier than
going down (to begin the hike so you'll approach the rock face from
its base rather than summit, begin the hike at the trail head
closest to the Park's entrance). It is a rather shear rock face, but
foot holds are fairly easy.
The next time I hike the BGT-A will have to be on a weekday.

Name: Chris
Hike:
Bull Run Mountain Conservancy
Date: 11-19-09
Rating: 5
Critique: Hike in, cross the tracks, follow mountain road trail,
(across wooed walkway) turn left at marker one and parallel the
tracks, you will see the ice house, (Cemetery on right marked by box
on park map) the bottom of the trench, the mill and the old house.
Follow trail to the marker 4. You will see the old home site and
secondary mill site. Follow fern hollow trail to marker 9, turn
left, follow ridge trail. You will see summit points on the left. At
the end is a fence barricade showing the park boundary, turn right
and follow down. At marker 13, turn right. At marker 10, left turn.
At marker 11, turn right on to damsons trail. On Dawson's, old home
site on right (its an old "clearing" you will miss it if you arent
diligent) and the trail to the Dawson graveyard on left. VERY OLD.
Follow Dawson to the intersection with markers 6 and seven. You can
come back in on alternate trail or the mountain trail. (We smelled
bear while on the mountain road trail on our afternoon hike as the
sun went down!) Both are nice ends, alternate will rise back up,
mountain road steadily declines. Cant tell you the distance but is a
good hike. I'll hike with a pedometer and get back to you. I hiked
it with my nine year old son in 2 hours. This is a nice historical
hike and a nice stretch of the legs with views thrown in.
DOWNSIDE-city folk bringing in dogs when they shouldn't.

Name: Wayne Reno
Hike:
Mason - Dixon Trail/Otter Creek Loop
Date: 11/21/2009
Rating: 4.0
Critique: I really enjoyed this hike having never been to the Urey
Overlook before or the upper portion of Otter Creek from the
bushwhack section on down.
I did have a problem finding the path on the red, Otter Creek Trail
where the blazes seemed to disappear on the East side shortly after
the Mason-Dixon trail ascends from the creek up to 425 (this is not
the route recommended in this hike but serves as a reference point).
I continued downstream past the stone foundation of an old cabin and
found a red blaze. I continued to the sharp right turn in the creek
approximately here.
39.884136°, -76.385277°
At the creek edge there's no apparent trail or red blazes. I
bushwhacked along the creek for awhile and then ascended the steep
hill on the left without finding any red blazes. Instead of
bushwhacking back to the campground, I continued over the ridge and
down to reconnect with the blue blazes of the MDT.
Questions: While following the red Otter Creek trail on the map, was
I on the correct side of the creek (East) and did I just miss the
red trail by staying by the creek to the sharp bend?
M.R.Hyker's note: You need to ford
the stream and bushwhack down the south-west bank.

Name: GaliWalker
Hike:
North Fork Mountain
Date: 10/11 and 11/21/2009
Rating: 4
Critique:
An early start from Pittsburgh had me at the north trailhead by first
light. It was pretty gloomy, but just bright enough to notice that the
trees were clad in full fall finery. 50yds into the hike and a beautiful
stand of trees stalled forward progress almost before I even got
started.
After regaining focus I headed upward on a consistent, but relatively
gentle slope. The light improved steadily and I knew that it was going
to be a glorious day. Not much happened until I crested the ridge. The
views were quite spectacular. Fog still hung in the valley below thought
it was burning away quite quickly. Shadows nestled in the various folds
of Shroud Ridge, across the Potomac River valley. It was all quite
peaceful.
Well not completely peaceful: a goodly amount of elevation gain still
remained. Thankfully though, it was all in the open now, and I didn't
even notice the climb up to Chimney Top. I had initially thought that Id
travel further along the ridge, but my camera developed various issues,
so I decided that enough was enough and headed back down.
Stats (round-trip): 5.7mi, 2000ft (cumulative) gain:
Photos
---
North Fork Mountain: Landis Trail North Fork (Nov 21, 2009)
A month earlier I had been stymied by camera problems and had had to cut
my hike along North Fork Mountains ridge crest short. It was time for a
return. Another early start (3:30am from the house) had me at the Landis
Trail trailhead and on my way by 7:30am.
I was immediately struck by the change in scenery: it seemed that fall
had moved its magic from the trees to the ground. Leaves, leaves and
more leaves. The trail was thick with crunchy goodness, at times ankle
deep. In no time at all I was rolling around on the ground taking
photos. Chestnut and Red Oak leaves, intermixed with beech (I believe)
created pretty patterns and color contrasts. Quite heavenly.
I reached the ridge crest and decided to head south since Chimney Rocks,
which I had visited earlier, were just north of me. One spectacularly
craggy viewpoint after another made an appearance (though none quite as
nice as Chimney Top). Eventually, I reached the 3653ft North Fork
high-point, where I turned around.
Stats (round-trip): 7.5mi, 2000ft (cumulative) gain:
Photos

Name: Bob
Hike:
Middle Creek WMA
Date: 11/17/09
Rating: 2.5
Critique: I did this hike on a beautiful Tuesday in November, and
followed the directions as outlined in the trail notes. The visitor
center was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday morning. It's an interesting
layout, with a wall of windows looking out over the lake and binoculars
provided for bird watching. However, the water is presently contaminated
with E Coli, so bring your own drinking water.
Conservation Trail is nice low-key start to this trek. At one point I
stopped along a low stone wall and could see 5 or 6 very active
woodpeckers. The direction in the trail notes to head off trail at 0.70
miles was difficult to assess without GPS. I figured out (later) that
this was the first of two left-pointing trail markers on posts. The
other side of the post had a "hiking trail" sign. If you get to the
second, and can see the picnic tables, just go straight to the road,
turn right, and right again at the intersection, rejoining the gravel
road in the trail notes to Game Lands #46.
Elder's Run trail is basically a gradual descent on a road, but the
spring house and foundation with chimney are interesting. The Middle
Creek Trail is an almost straight gradual ascent, but with a few
ankle-breakers, just as the trail notes say. The creek is very scenic,
however.
After ascending up the Horseshoe Trail, when it turns right, follow the
large yellow circles to the left on a connecter to the white blazed
Millstone Trail. Go right on the Millstone Trail, because the scenic
overlook is not to be missed!
I really enjoyed the Horseshoe Trail sections, the Millstone Trail, and
the Valley View Trail for their general remoteness and overall "trail"
feel. The other sections were a little developed for my tastes, feeling
more like a "nature walk," paralleling roads, or on roads, with a fair
amount of traffic. My overall rating is based on the fact that the
directions do an excellent job of putting together a scenic hike of
reasonable distance without a lot of backtracking, but it takes a fair
amount of road walking to piece the trails together, largely because the
trails are limited by their geographic location.

Name: Matt Swenson
Hike:
Mount Rogers Backpack
Date: October 24th and 25th 2009
Rating: 5
Critique: I did most of this hike a few weeks ago. The first day was a
let down because we had less than one hundred feet of visibility. The
second day was great though. The clouds and fog lifted, and we had great
views. We almost missed the highest point though because we summited
before sunrise. While we were waiting for the sun to come up, we thought
that we were at the peak because we saw the marker on the rock in the
opening. However, after a few minutes, we noticed another marker, off to
the right of the opening, in the woods, on a rock that was a few feet
taller than the one in the opening. Luckily we found it, because a 6
hour drive to NOT hit the high point, would've been a real bummer.
Definitely an awesome hike though.

Name: Jim Leo
Hike:
Otter Creek Backpack
Date: 10/25-26/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Mike, Thanks so much for providing the trail
descriptions and waypoints. The GPS really does make wilderness
hiking a more carefree adventure. Our trek was Mylius to
Shavers, Green Mnt, Possession Camp, Otter Creek and back to
Mylius. Camped at the intersection of Green Mnt. And Possession
Camp, nice camps sites here. Dropped to the low 20's. First time
for me in about 12 years and first time for my girlfriend. I
would highly recommend not reading " A Walk in the Woods" (Bill
Bryson) while out on the trail. She was up half the night scared
out of her wits and of course everything was fine. It's a
comedic but true slant on wilderness experiences. Possession
Camp is the most beautiful trail, lots of Hemlock and
rhododendron along most of the trail and little tributaries and
springs along the way. The section of Otter Creek is equally
beautiful. Some of the best camp sites are right along the the
Otter creek trail just after the intersection of Possession
Camp, Moore Run and Otter Creek. I hope she'll try it again.
You're doing great work, Mike.

Name: The Tick
Hike:
Duncan Knob/ Strickler Knob
Date: 10/25/09
Rating: 4
Critique: This was a very nice hike. Started the hike at about
11:30 and headed up the Scothorn Trail which is more steep than
is to be expected as soon as you get out of the car. After
stretching the legs on the uphill for a few minutes, it became
much easier. Got to the intersection of the Massanutten trail
and took that to the intersection of the Strickler Knob trail
and Massanutten trail. Went to Strickler Knob which was the
highlight of the trip and well worth the 1.5 miles out to the
knob and back. Spent some time out on the knob which was a lot
of fun and not to be missed. Hiked over to Duncan knob next and
climbed to the top for some great views. Could sit up on either
of the two rocky outcroppings for a long time but it was getting
late in the day. The trails between the rocks get a 3/4 rating
but the rocks make this trip worth the effort. Would do again
and I wonder how I missed this trail for so long.

Chris H.
Hike:
Ketchum Run-Scar Run Circuit
10/24/2009
Rating:
My buddy and I
just did the Ketchum Run hike this weekend right after the rain
had stopped. Those smaller streams turned into raging rivers.
Compare the pictures that I send to you with the ones on your
website. It was soggy and very awesome to see those raging
rivers. Ketchum Run was unreal. The stream crossing after you
make a left from the yellow-blue ski trail was basically
impassable. We did the bushwhack there instead and eventually
met up with the Loyalsock trail where it comes in from the left.
The pic of this stream crossing is the small drainage just
before the 2 campsites before Lee's Falls. The red x trail that
goes below Lee's falls was definitely impassable. We enjoyed the
hike and I absolutely love your website. it is such a great
resource for getting ideas of where to go for trips as that is
the hardest part of getting a trip started.


Check out this movie file of Lees Falls gone wild.

Name: Dave Barry
Hike:
Roaring Plains Circuit
Date: 1010/09
Rating: 2
Critique: The Canyon Rim Trail could be a great experience. However, we
missed a least three trail junctions (tee pee in particular) and were in
a somewhat dangerous position for half a day because of it. The trip
ended late with a trip leader with a wrenched knee and gashes on his
face (from a fall) and two participants who would not try it again. The
poor trail documentation and rugged terrain are a dangerous combination.
Big Suggestion for the all trail descriptions - give compass headings
and distances. For instance, the instruction for finding the tee pee
trail is something like "starts behind the campsite a short distance
into the laurel thicket". A much more effective description would be
something like "about 150 yards NW (300 degrees) of the fire ring". By
the way the thicket is actually small pine trees.
We greatly appreciate the huge effort involved in MidAtlantic and the
wonderful hikes it documents. The GPS tracks will be increasingly useful
as more of us obtain that equipment.

Name: Paul Fofonoff
Hike:
Roaring Plains Circuit
Date: 10/10-11/2009
Rating: 5
Critique: I led a trip to Roaring Plains for the DC Chapter of the
Appalachian Mountain Club on Columbus Day Weekend. It turned out to be
the most spectacular but also the most strenuous hiking that I've done
in Mid-Atlantic region, comparable in roughness and dramatic views to
some of the roughest trails in New England, and except in altitude, to
some of the rougher trails in the West. We followed Mike's route up to
the Tee Pee Trail, which we hunted for but could find no trace. We
considered a bushwhack, but instead continued rockwhacking along the
Canyon Rim, following the cairns through a seemingly endless boulder
field. Throughout the route, we had to stop periodically to look for
paths or cairns. We were lucky to have good weather for most of the
trip, as clouds lifted on Saturday afternoon, but rocks and leaves
remained slippery, especially on the Boars Nest Trail (the 'Sliding
Board'). This is one of those trips where you tell yourself 'Never
Again' the day after, and then start thinking about returning as the
aches and scratches start to heal, when you look at memories and
pictures. Mike, thanks, for getting us out there!

Name: Mike from
Richmond
Hike:
St. Mary's Wilderness
Date: 10-10-2009
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Thanks an awful lot for the trail notes -- they were indeed
quite helpful. We just did an out and back to St. Mary's Falls, and it
was fantastic. We were very fortunate to have caught the leaves close to
their height of color and just wished it had been a drop warmer so we
could've done some swimming!
Two notes: 1) On the way to the falls, there's a fork in the road about
3/5ths of the way there that unnecessarily confused us. To the right,
the path goes up a hill into a weird looking field; to the left is a
path continues into the woods. It's easiest to bear to the left
(although on the way back you can cut across the field and you'll figure
out where you are). 2) If you go to the Falls for this out-and-back,
it's downhill almost the entire way there, and respectively, uphill
almost the entire way back. Budget your energy and time accordingly!

Name: Travis Martin
Hike:
AT/Mau-Har Loop
Date: 10-13-09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Started at six thirty as the sun was coming up.
The first several miles were easy and the up-hills weren't
too steep. Saw a huge pile of fresh bear pooh which had me a
little bit on edge. The long descent down Three Ridges is
when it started to get a little bit tough, because the trail
is made up mostly of sharp, uneven rocks and roots. Hardly a
single footfall is on flat ground, so its crucial to have
boots that can take a beating.
Stopped for a brief rest at Harpers Creek shelter. The creek
was almost completely dry but it looked like a good place to
camp if you are backpacking.
Starting up the Mau-Har trail started to get really tiring
and this was the rockiest stretch, as well as steepest as
you climb out of the Creek. The leaves are turning up there
right now so that made for some great scenery. The final 3
miles were a killer on my feet and knees but I made it back
to the car at 3:30, 8 hours after i started. way faster than
I expected but I didn't make any extra long stops. I was
going mighty slow for the last mile though. I was pretty
beat. This isn't a trail for people who are out of shape or
ill equipped.

Name: The
Tick
Hike:
Trayfoot Mt/Paine Run Loop
Date: 10/10/09
Rating: 4
Critique: This is a good hike. Took us about 5 hours to complete but
we took it slow enjoying the scenery. Beginning sections were a
little steep but over relatively quick. Spent some time at Blackrock
and scrambled up the short distance to the top. Very fun. An overall
fun hike, and once up on the ridge, not a whole lot of energy
expenditure until the end. The rock formations were great
throughout. Saw a bear at the end of the hike but it ran away very
quickly. Mt Paine was a little slow as it was a sort of fire road
type trail but did not look like it was used for that purpose in a
long time. I would recommend this hike.

Name: The Tick
Hike:
Rockytop- Big Run Loop
Date: 10/11/09
Rating: 5
Critique: This is a great hike that I have avoided for a long time
since it was so far south in the park. I was a little apprehensive
at first doing this hike as it is stated that you must be in great
condition and I am in slightly less than ideal shape. Started out
the hike at about 9:30 and it initially starts up a fairly steep
incline. This continued for a short period and in the beginning it
feels like we were coming to trail junctions pretty frequently. We
started up the mountain and although the grade was steep it was not
overwhelming. When we got to the top of Rockytop we sat on one of
many large rockslides and enjoyed the view. Continued on to Big Run
where the decent was very rocky and lots of loose footing. When we
got to the bottom, we got to ford Big Run several times and where
there were many 6 inch trout in one of the pools. Continued back to
the car and ended the hike on a fairly steep grade but thankfully it
was over shortly. Great hike, definitely long but we finished at
4:00 so we never faced impending darkness. Would do again. Great
hike.

Name: Jay
Hike:
Cranberry Wilderness
Date: 09/03/09-09/07/09
Rating: 3.5
Critique: First, great site. Lots of good info here.
My 10 year old son and myself did the Cranberry Wilderness loop as
described here. Positives:If you like solitude, this is your hike.
We never saw another person EXCEPT at the shelter at the forks of
the rivers. Also saw workers coming into the Liming station but I
won't count them either. Saw signs of bear, heard a couple of birds
and rousted some grouse but that was it. Wildlife must not like it
here either. There are some really nice camp sites along the trails.
Pretty easy hike all the way around. We really liked walking through
the pine areas with moss- covered rocks and vegetation everywhere.
Seemed surreal at times. Negatives: Trail maintenance is awful. But
that's why most of us hike, is the challenge. There was a lot of
overgrowth, wading through waist- high weeds, trees, etc. Some of
the trails needed cleared as some places were difficult to get
around, especially when we were going downhill. And if you were not
experienced in back- country trails, there were several areas where
it be easy to get lost. Blazes would be a very good idea.
Reasoning for the
3.5 rating is maintenance and markings. I try to look at this is if
I was going to recommend it to people. My 10 year old is a strong
hiker and he even complained at times. On the other hand, I loved
the solitude and am not sure I want more people coming here. Former
mountaineer living in NC now. Coming here brings back a lot of
memories. Will be back for the other hike soon enough.
M.R.Hyker Note: Read the government
definition of "Wilderness"
here.

Name: Joe Gilvary
Hike:
Pond Run-White Rocks Loop
Date: 10/04/ 2009
Rating: 5
Critique: This is a great hike, for exercise, for solitude, and for
the views. There aren't as many stops to view the valleys as there
are on some other hikes in GWNF, but these were well worth the
effort it took to reach them.
I have two quibbles with the description. The first is really with
the google maps directions. They indicated that I should "stay to
the right" to continue on Waites Run Road. There's nothing there to
confuse a driver. It's better to follow the directions as stated in
the PDF from this site, just drive 6.5 miles up Waites Run Road.
The other issue is an update on the White Rocks Spur Trail. This
trail would be difficult to miss now, as the intersection with
Tuscarora is obvious when a hiker reaches it. The description here
led me to believe that I would find it by searching for a sign on
the right near the start of the "slight decline" in Tuscarora. I
ended up patrolling a downhill portion of Tuscarora several times,
strolling into the trees to look for the sign wherever I thought I
might be seeing a somewhat overgrown trail before I gave up in
dwindling daylight.
After I walked easily some tenths of a mile, I found the
white-blazed trail on the right and still had enough time to walk to
the overlook.
The views of the mountains on this hike are gorgeous. I had a great
day, mostly sunny with temperatures around 60° F.

Name: Darlene
Hike:
Little Devil Stairs
Date: 9-15-09
Rating: 4
Critique: We started our hike from the boundary off of 614 which is
better because you can go up Little Devil Stairs in the beginning
and have a mostly downhill hike coming back. We did the Piney Branch
Trail semi-circuit, so we didn't have to walk as far down the fire
road which can be a little boring. We saw a mama bear and cub, a few
chipmunks and lots of spider webs and only saw one person the 6
hours we were hiking. We accidentally added on an extra mile because
we took the Piney Branch trail in the wrong direction so had to hike
down again, so did a total of about 9 miles. This is definitely one
of my favorite hikes.

Name: Frank Green
Hike:
Ramsey's Draft
Date: 09/06/09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: This is a long but not particularly challenging hike
-- but a great one. The suggested route going up Ramsey's Draft
instead of down it on the return loop is a sensible one. Many
younger Hemlocks appear very healthy. A few of the giants may
still have some life near the top. A caution: there was a small
dead animal, squirrel or perhaps a young possum under the water
in Hiner Spring itself (within the small stone walls). It's hard
to imagine it fell in and drowned. I hope someone didn't do it
deliberately. I think the area at the junction of the Ramsey's
Draft and Shenandoah Mountain and Tearjacket trails is even
prettier than Hiner Spring -- and Shenandoah Mountain Trail is a
gentle joy.

Name: Sara Bird
Hike:
Roaring Plains Circuit
Date: 09/05-06/009
Rating: 5
Critique: Challenging, but well worth it. Spent the night just
northwest of the point. Map and trail descriptions were just
enough to keep us on trail for the most part. Internal sense of
direction didn't hurt, but clearly didn't help when getting lost
on Tee-Pee trail. Trail was marked with flags, but missed a
crucial right hand turn through some boggy area and ended up in
open but barely navigable field of heath thickets. Backtracked
saw the missed flag and were able to continue on out to Roaring
Plains trail with only minimal head scratching. Breaked for
sustenance and wit-gathering at the site of the old "teepee"
What's the backstory here? Anyone?
(M.R. Hyker Note: There is/was an old hunter's canvas tee-pee
standing back in the woods that you could see from the edge of
the small campsite in a thicket. I think it has fallen down
since I last hiked it.)
Thanks for the route and I know I'll do it again soon.

Name:
Marty Shobert
Hike:
Long Pond Backpack
Date: 9/4 - 5/2009
Rating: 4
Critique: Thanks for all of your effort with this website. It's
really a godsend for us "Weekend Warriors" in finding, planning
and executing 1-3 day excursions.
I started from the Ranger Station instead of 15 Mile Creek Rd.
and found a nifty little side trail off of Pine Lick Trail down
to 15 Mile Creek. Soon after leaving HQ, after crossing the
second wooden bridge, turn left on the well-marked trail where
the Pine Lick Trail T's and you'll quickly hit Long Pond Trail
and two of the nicest campsites of the whole trip. I decided to
hike all the way back the same day in order to camp at one! Big
deep pools for swimming, huge rock faces with flat rocks for
stretching out, clear sky view (full moon the night I was there)
and lots of firewood. What more could one ask for? Be sure to
note the intersection of the side trail and Long Pond Trail at
15 Mile Creek, as it's easy to miss on your return trip.
I also go to Dolly Sods, but this hike is a miniature version
with half the drive for me from Baltimore. Great hike...can't
wait to go again.

Name: Steve
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: 9/02/09
Rating: 5
Critique: I went on a cool late summer Wednesday arriving about
9 am at the secondary parking lot. I hoofed it from the parking
lot up to the trail head and set out on the blue trail.
I suggest you try parking at the main lot directly at the trail
head unless you want to add on an extra 2 miles to the loop. The
main lot by the trail head was packed even on a Wednesday
morning though.
Normally when I go hiking during the week I don't run into
anyone else. In this case, I bumped into a young couple several
times during the climb and we stopped at some of the same places
to take in the views. During the rock scramble (which is awesome
and something I had never experienced) I passed a group of 3
people, 2 women and 1 man, about 50 years old. I think this can
be completed by anyone in reasonably good shape though it was
fairly difficult for an office dwelling "treadmill athlete" such
as myself.
The rock scramble is really like easy rock climbing in many
places (which is pretty hard actually) and is something you
can't experience too many places on Earth but especially the
East Coast of the U.S. There were multiple points along the
trail where I found it hard to believe that the trail actually
went where it did and I was dumbfounded that someone must have
been the first one through there and decided it was a good place
for a hiking trail!
The physical requirements aren't too steep but you should be
confident in your strength, balance, and ability to overcome any
fear of heights. It would certainly be possible to fall and be
seriously injured while doing the rock scramble

Name: Jason
Hike:
Dolly Sods Circumnavigation Mod1
Date: 8/21/09-8/23/09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: First, thanks to Mike for this excellent website and for his
quick replies to my email inquiries. We intended to do the Dolly Sods
Circumnavigation Mod trip, but made a few changes to our itinerary due
to a late start on Friday (driving in from Michigan and Ohio). The two
changes were: 1) did not hike the Harman Trail/Blackbird Knob Trail
loop, and 2) used the Dobbin Grade Trail on our return versus Raven
Ridge Trail and the unofficial by-pass (wish we hadn't made this
decision).
We started from the Bear Rocks trailhead at 6:30pm on Friday and arrived
at the first campsite at the Red Creek crossing around 7:00pm. This was
an excellent campsite that holds maybe 4-5 tents right along Red Creek.
Nice fire pit as well, although we didn't have a fire (too wet, too
late). We did hear some wild dogs howling on the ridge around 4:00am,
but otherwise an uneventful night (not counting our bear bagging
experience, which is always eventful).
Day 2 started early with an incredible hike up Raven Ridge and along
Rocky Ridge. This is the highlight of the trip as far as views are
concerned. The trails were fairly flat with only a few short climbs. The
main challenge is the lack of signage in certain places, mud and bogs
and rocky sections. As mentioned, we bypassed the Harman/Blackbird loop
due to our late start on Day 1. Continuing south along the Rocky Ridge
Trail was incredible with several large rock formations and views.
At the kiosk at the intersection of the Breathed Mt Trail and Big
Stonecoal Trail, we missed a trail sign and simply headed to the right.
About 20 minutes later we realized we were on Public Road 80 and
back-tracked where we found the sign for Big Stonecoal Trail.
Rocky Point Trail certainly earns its nickname with at least a few miles
of some of the rockiest trails I have hiked. Also, there was some
confusion among our group and another group as to which route to the top
of Lions Head was the "best". We chose the second cairn, which led us up
a confusing and overgrown path, then to some nice rock scrambling to get
up top. We came down the same route. Lions Head was incredible and worth
the navigational effort.
We camped at The Forks. There are several campsites in this area, some
better than others. Make sure you walk around and up the trail to survey
all of the sites. We had actually decided to move on to Blackbird Knob
to camp and passed a nice site while hiking out of The Forks campsite.
It had room for several tents and was right along Red Creek. Two nights
sleeping with water in the background was perfect and I slept better
than I've ever slept while hiking. Day 2 was some of the best
backpacking I have experienced.
Day 3 was a short hike out, but not without some great mud bogs and
river crossings. The crossing of Red Creek at the intersection of Upper
Red Creek Trail and Dobbin Grade Trail was a nice rock hop. We chose to
hike the Dobbin Grade Trail instead of Raven Ridge. This turned out to
be a mistake as Dobbin Grade was very muddy with plenty of mud up to
your ankle moments. Given it was our last leg, we were happy to play in
the mud and clean up at the trailhead. The Raven Ridge Trail could be
seen higher up on our left as we mudded our way through.
Overall this was an awesome hike. One I would recommend to anyone who
has some experience in backpacking and reading a map. There are some
sections that are under-signed, however it certainly didn't detract from
the trip. I look forward to returning to the area.

Name: Cory Davis
Hike:
Difficult Run Loop
Date: 23 Aug 09
Rating: 4
Critique: Overall a great hike. My first hike in over a year and just
felt so great I didn't want to stop. The trail is in great condition and
the folks along the trail were very friendly. Just a note that the River
Trail now has "teal" colored blazes rather than blue. Thanks for the
great trail notes.

Name: Kevin
Hike:
Little Devil Stairs
Date: August 16, 2009
Rating: 4
Critique: A very nice hike! The directions to the start and the
description of the hike are very accurate. The beginning is tough but
enjoyable. I brought my two sons, Ryan-12 and Shane-9 and they had no
problem. They enjoyed the small waterfalls and pools. Lots of neat rock
formations. Saw many fat red centipedes and butterflies but no other
wildlife. We took the short way back on the fire road which they thought
was sort of boring. The oldest wished he had lugged a folding bicycle in
the backpack to ride down, which you could have done. You can also run
down if you pack running shoes. I am going to hike it again during rainy
season to see some faster running water.

Name: pat
Hike:
Morgan Run
Date: 8/08/09
Rating: 5 (-3)
Critique: The path leads through beautiful, heavily forested areas with
a few open spaces. Isolation takes on special meaning as during perfect
weather on Saturday, I walked alone - never seeing another hiker. Big
problem was staying on route after Poole Rd. Got lost and after more
than 2 hours, was rescued by knocking on a neighbor's door.

Name: Bob Parker
Hike:
Patterson Ridge-Big Run Portal
Date: 08/04/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Ran the hike starting at Doyles River Parking and skipping
Frazier Discovery by using the campground trail from the camp store. Met
a large bear near the Loft Mountain Camp store enjoying the local
berries. Patterson Ridge was a knee crunching descent with limited views
and occasional rough trail. The Big run portal was a nice hike, the
first campsite on the map was hard to locate and the second had been
marked no camping by the Park service
(M.R.Hyker Note: The campsite is about 30
yards downstream from that sign on the opposite side of the trail.).
The climb back out on Big Run Loop is much easier than expected with
good trail conditions.

Name: Kylena Cross
Hike:
Catoctin Mountain
Date: 7/25/09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: I have hiked Catoctin many times and have avoided hiking along
the stream/Rt 77 because of traffic issues. Otherwise it is a fantastic
place to hike. The hills aren't too bad in terms of steepness. However,
if you need to stop and catch your breath you can do it without someone
on your heels as long as you hike during the week or in the early
morning.
Always a caution at Catoctin is whether the president will be at Camp
David...if he is then some of the trails will be inaccessible. Check
before you go!

Name: Vern
Hike:
Kelly's Run - Pinnacle Overlook
Date: August 1, 2009
Rating: 4.5
Critique: I've been thinking about doing this hike for several weeks,
but avoided it, because I thought it might be a little too short. Well,
was I ever wrong. As Mike indicated, this one seems a lot longer then
the advertised 5.5 miles.
The only problem I ran into, was after crossing Kelly's Run at the
bridge. I'm not sure if I was right or wrong, but I followed an unblazed
trail along the railroad tracks, rather then continuing on Kelly's run.
Eventually, it turned up hill, and connected with the Conestoga Trail,
right at the underground utility line. From that point, it sure was a
fun climb to Pinnacle Overlook. The views along the way were
outstanding.
After lunch at the overlook, the hike along Kelly's Run was beautiful.
There were several pools of water that looked really inviting, since it
was in the high eighties and humid. By the time we arrived back at the
ball field, I was thoroughly worn out and thoroughly soaked.
It's easy to add a little distance to this one by continuing up the
Conestoga Trail after the overlook. I personally did not see any need to
do that and I had a real ball.

Name: Lydia
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: 7/19/09
Rating: 5
Critique: My partner, Kate, and I went out and hiked Old Rag in the
morning to beat the crowds. The last time I was there, there was a
bus full of boy scouts and we went up the back way and missed part
of the scramble. I love this hike and think the upper body and mind
challenges it gives in addition to the leg workout, is awesome. My
heart is full and I'm waiting till I can walk without a cane again
to return.

Name: Greg
Hike:
Kelly's Run to Covered Bridge on Conestoga Trail
Date: 7/18/09
Rating: 4
Critique: We sort of pieced 2 hikes together to make a long day hike
with some decent elevation gain. We started at Holtwood Recreation
Area and hiked down Kelly's Run, then proceeded on to the Pinnacle
then up the Conestoga Trail past the Wind Cave to the covered bridge
about 1.3 miles before Martic Forge, then turned around and hiked
back to the car. On the way back, we skipped the Tucquan Creek
detour, and also took the meadow walk Kelly's Run return trail
instead of back along the run itself (our feet were tired). We had
wanted to go all the way to Martic Forge, but it was getting late,
and we had a LONG way back to the car. By GPS, total hike was 21.1
miles, with 6,062 of elevation gain. A pretty good jaunt.
First of all, the little green pamphlet from PPL containing the map
to the Kelly's Run area really STINKS. Just about worthless.
Second, the Tacquan Creek portion of the trip is a bit confusing, as
there are blue blazes on both sides of the creek so we were left
wondering which ones we should follow. Eventually, I figured out
that they both led the same place, but it slowed us down
considerably.
The Conestoga Trail for the most part is blazed pretty well;
however, there was one part near the Tacquan Creek area where a
blaze indicating a change of direction was nearly impossible to see
because the tree it was on was leaning in the direction you were
coming from. We missed it, and ended up taking a .25 mile detour
before we turned around. Then we wandered back and forth trying to
find the orange blazes again, before my hiking partner finally
noticed the blaze on the leaning tree. Kind of a pain.
We weren't the only ones complaining about the blazing either -- we
met 4 others groups (including a nice couple who did an AT thru hike
last year) who were having issues following the balzes.
All in all, a decent day, but some of the trail marking is a bit
suspect. Coupled with the fact that there aren't any good maps of
the area makes this one a bit of a challenge.
However, the hike we did does have some good elevation change, so if
you're looking for a good strenuous hike close to Philly, this one
is pretty good. Nothing else I have done within a 2 hour ride of
Philly comes close.

Name: trail-god
Hike:
Chuck Keiper Trail-East
Date: 10/08
Rating: 5
Critique: great trail but hard. many great views. Good experience.

Name: Vern
Hike:
Mason - Dixon Shuttle
Date: July 13, 2009
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Hard to imagine that no one has reviewed this hike. I had
a fantastic day there yesterday. The weather was as good as it gets
in July. It was around 75, and not a cloud in the sky. I did this
one as an out and back, since I was by myself. It was definitely a
full day of excellent hiking with sore muscles as a welcome side
effect.
The only part of this hike that might be considered remotely boring,
is the short walk along River Road. Even here, you have outstanding
views of Holtwood Dam and Lake Aldred. I had lunch lakeside, with a
beautiful view. The walks along Mill and Oakland Runs were
outstanding. Mill Run had a particularly nice waterfall. Between the
two streams, there was a good-sized hill which had some freshly cut
switchbacks and two excellent overlooks. Even with the switchbacks,
this hill was a real lung capacity test.
The M-DT is well marked in this section, and it is just "rough"
enough to make it really interesting. I saw loads of deer, and a
couple of copperheads. Only came across two other groups during the
entire hike. This one is going on the "do again" list without a
doubt.

Name: José Calvo
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: 7/6/09
Rating: 4
Old
rag is an old favorite and I recently re-did the hike - it did not
disappoint. I would highly recommend getting there early OR LATE to
avoid the crunch in the upper parking lot. That might be the one
downside - the hike is so popular that you're unlikely to have your
own space or silence for long. The plus is lots of friendly faces or
commiseration if you're into that sort of thing.
Old rag remains unique for combining a difficult hike with some very
unusual rock formations that require scrabbling and even upper body
strength to lob your limbs up cracks and across a sheer cliff-like
face here and there. I would not do this hike alone unless you are
able to lift your body weight on your hands & arms (think push ups
or better yet "dips)." The rocks make this a really fun hike.
In the summer most of this hike is in the shade, but of course the
top 1/4 mile or so will expose you to a lot of sun.
Great views along the way so if you need an excuse to stop and pant,
you'll get them.
Biggest downside might be how long that fire road seems at the end.
It's easy to do, but by the time you get to it realizing you have
over 2 miles to go, and go, and go is just painfully dull.
J
PS
thank you for the fantastic web site - I've been neglecting hiking
for many months, but your site (still bookmarked in my browser)
makes it really easy to scope out the old haunts.

Name: José Calvo
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: 7/6/09
Rating: 5
Critique: Hey! Hey!! HEY!!! This isn't really a critique so much as
an alert - your driving directions are wrong! The google maps link
works fine, but if you follow the route it sends you on you cannot
get to old rag at all. In fact, it's been wrong so long that some
VERY NICE PERSON put up their own homemade wooden sign at the turn
that says "Google maps is wrong!" and gives directions that will get
you to old rag.
So - yes loved the hike as everyone does, done it many times, but
please update your site to give directions NOT GOOGLE MAPS :)
Thank you!
MRHyker Note: More
detailed directions are in the Trail Notes. A suggestion to use them
are now noted after the Google Map Directions.

Name: Josh
Hike:
Little Devil's Staircase
Date: 7/5/09
Rating: 5
Critique: This is my absolute favorite hike in Shenandoah National
Park. Though you don't get the views that Old Rag or Hawksbill
Summit offer, you get an enjoyable hike, a bit strenuous at times,
with an active stream. The pools of water are populated by several
species of salamanders, frogs and snakes, so enjoy looking under
rocks. You will likely pass other hikers on the trail, but it will
be quiet for the majority of your time. Wear sturdy shoes, as the
rocks on the 'Devil's Staircase' are often slippery/slimy from the
stream and can result in tumbles. My six and eight year-old
completed the hike today (5.4 miles), so take your kids!

Name: C Griffin
Hike:
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Date: 06/27/09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: I extended the trail somewhat since we were going to
have 4 days there. We did Red creek - Little StoneCoal -
Dunkenbarger - Big StoneCoal - Blackbird Knob - Red Creek -
Rocky Point - Big StoneCoal - Red Creek. Hands down the most
diverse and beautiful scenery I have ever seen. The stream
crossing on Dunkenbarger looked more like a Botanical Garden
than wilderness! We camped there our first night. We found a
nice campsite in a pine forest north of the creek crossing on
BlackBird Knob. We put in a long day on day 3 to see Lion's Head
which did not disappoint. We spent the night on a nice open area
along the junction of Big Stonecoal and red creek our last
night.
Tips - Make sure you wear comfortable shoes/boots. The rocky
trails are no joke and can make the hike unpleasant if you are
not careful. There were signs of bears, make sure you are
prepared to hang your food, etc. Try to avoid filtering water on
the stream/creek at Blackbird Knob - the iron content is so high
that it pretty much ruined a brand new filter. I wouldn't bring
kids on this adventure, I have a 7 year old that I normally take
with me. Glad I didn't on this one, some of the trails are a
little to physically demanding I think.
The only reason I will not give it a 5 out of 5 at this point is
because I am sure there is a true 5 out there that I have not
been able to visit yet.
Thank you Mr. Hyker for all of the good info. It made navigation
very easy. I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone
looking for a nice mixture of solitude and scenery!

Name: Steven
Powers
Hike:
Cat Rock Circuit
Date: 6/27/2009
Rating: 4
Critique: Definitely a great hike... Not Old Rag great... but
still great.
The only critique I have about this is that the first leg of the
hike (Fisherman's Path) is a little vague, hard to find, and not
an official maintained trail.
Better directions would be to simply follow the stream or the
road to the cat rock trail head.
The fisherman's path itself is overgrown in most areas and
impossible to follow.
Another problem I had in following these directions was that the
gravel path that was supposedly near the falls is no longer
there. Its all boardwalk now a days. If you do follow the only
existing gravel path you will end up at the lake... which is not
where your supposed to go.
Do watch out for snakes... I saw 3 (1 rattler) within the first
2 miles.

Name: Jimmy
Bair
Hike:
Dolly Sods circumnavigation Mod 1 (sort of)
Date: June 5-7, 2009
Rating: 4
Critique: My 12yo son and I set out to complete this walk the
first weekend after school let out for the summer. Little did I
know that the days leading up to our hike would bring heavy rain
to the sods. On Friday morning we drove up the fire road in
driving rain and fog. We delayed our hike until the afternoon
which was only slightly better with steady mist and visibility
of about 20 yards.
As we moved off the fire road we found the trail nearly
impassable about 200 yards in. after an hour detour around
several run-offs, we came upon the trail and followed it up the
ridge. The trail condition improved and we rambled on to the
intersection of Bear Rocks Trail and Dobbin Glade Trial.
We took a break since the rain and mist kind of stopped. We
could hear Red Creek off in the distace, but visibility hadn't
improved so we didn't know what lay ahead.
We found Red Creek to be rushing over its banks. The stepping
stones marking the trail lay 3 or 4 feet below the rushing
water. After checking up and down stream with no luck finding a
better ford, we decided to head down Dobbin Grade trail to see
what we would find.
Dobbin Grade trail was impassable about a quarter mile from Bear
Rocks Trail.
We decided to head back to Bear Rocks Trail, turn right head up
to the ridge and find a camp. We settled in and sacked out in
the fog.
The next morning we awoke to brilliant clear skies and perfect
temperatures. We headed down the trail to find Red creek
passable and set off for Rocky Ridge. the scenery and weather
were beautiful. After lunching at the rocks on the ridge we
decided to stay on the ridge for the evening. We made camp at a
very cool campsite below a giant boulder about five minute walk
before the trail takes you over the boulder hop. We spent the
rest of the day exploring the ridge. We hiked down to the
intersection with the Dobbin Grade Trail, then back to the ridge
for dinner.
Sunday morning dawned just as beautifully as Saturday. We took
our time backtracking over the last two days' hike and returned
to our car by 1pm.
This is a beautiful hike, and even though the weather thwarted
our attempt at circumnavigation, we had a wonderful time. We
will surely be back.
I found the trail conditions to be just what we expected. One
observation (criticism?) I have is the seemingly lack of
forethought to trail signage. I have no problem with the lack of
signs, (We wanted to go to the NF to practice our navigation)
but I don't understand why areas like the glades going up Raven
Ridge Trail where you can easily identify the trail from a half
mile away are heavily signed, but when going through Spruce
groves where you can't easily identify the correct trails aren't
signed at all.
Thanks to Mr. Hyker for the advice and a great website!]

Name: Strawman
Hike:
Hogback Mountain/Knob Mountain Loop
Date: 6/27/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Did the 10.3 mile loop version of this hike on a
beautiful June day. The hike was quite nice, with some great
overlook views. Also plenty of wildlife to watch, including a
rattlesnake sunning itself on the Keyser Fire Road, and a black
bear with her two cubs between Elkwallow and Matthews Arm. The
only downside of the trail was its frequent proximity to Skyline
Drive, and the associated noise. Overall a very nice hike that I
would do again.

Name: Brandon
Hike:
Grayson Highlands - 2
Date: 5/29/2009
Rating: 5
Critique: I did this the Friday after Memorial Day. I was
planning on making it a 2-3 day excursion earlier in the week,
but all it did was rain and I really didn't want to deal with
it. So Friday's forecast was non-rainy, so I did this simply as
a dayhike.
I did the route described, except I also hiked out to the top of
Mt. Rogers, and I did this counter-clockwise. So it was 15-16
miles. Thankfully the elevation change was never anything crazy
- I never needed to stop for a break, just for the many many
photo ops.
I'd say the most "boring" area was Little Wilson Creek
Wilderness - just a walk in the woods. Don't shortcut it though,
because north of it is Stone Mountain and the best
landscape/views of the hike.
Sadly the rhododendrons were still prepping when I was there, as
I didn't see any blooms. The ponies didn't disappoint though! On
this day, they were pretty much all around the Wilburn Ridge and
Thomas Knob shelter areas. I'm not sure how many hikes feature
the sounds of a hiker begging a pony to stop chewing on his
tent.

Name: Rob
Hike:
Old Rag Mountain
Date: 6-21-09
Rating: 5
Critique: I have lived in Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. While
this may not have the solitude of a hike into the southern
entrance of Yellowstone Park, it was one of the best hikes I
ever had east of the Mississippi.
I went by myself and got there at 1pm on a Sunday. This was a
perfect time and I was able to park in the upper lot.
The trail up to the scramble is a consistent incline and very
easy. The rock scramble was awesome and much more impressive in
person than described anywhere I have read.
However, I was not able to complete the circuit and I got rock
jammed at the minor summit. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure
out how to get through a crevice/fissure that was narrow, tight,
and slick on the sides. I tried over and over to put my back
against one side and use my feet to push up against the other
side to no avail. I was so pissed as I wanted to get to the top
badly. I did not run into anyone while struggling so I am not
sure if I was lost or what though the blue blazes were all over
the walls of this thing. So I turned around and went back.
Despite not summiting, I still enjoyed the trek!

Name: Jason
Hike:
Rocky Mount
Date: 6/17/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Definetly a strenous day hike but the two major climbs
are spaced out nicely, so you don't get too worn down. Hike to
the peak on Rocky Mount is the most strenous section, but views
from the cliffs at the top are great. If you parked at Two Mile
Overlook you can even see your car from one of the cliffs.
Hike down Rocky Mount into Gap Run is very non descript but the
Gap Run tributary is a nice reward. The tributary is an idyllic
oasis after coming down the rocky slopes of Rocky Mount. Trail
was muddy at times in the Gap Run area and while initial
crossing of Gap Run could result in some wet feet if the water
is high, other crossings you can almost jump over.
Stopped for lunch near Gap Run and had a black bear come up
within 25 feet of us. I'm not sure if it noticed us, if it did
it cleary was not interested.
Hiked this on a beautiful Friday and saw one other hiker the
whole day, so expect isolation, as this hike is only for those
looking for a hardy day hike. There are a couple nice camping
spots in the Gap Run area so this would make a nice short
backpack as well. One other thing, hike this is the direction
stated on the website. The hike up Rocky Mount the other way
seems brutally steep.

Name: Dave &
Tina
Hike:
Cold Mountain Loop
Date: 06-20-09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: This is a great hike. Not too hard not too easy. Great
views. The only thing is the whole accessibility issue. The
roads to get to the trail head are horrible especially if you
have a low car. Must enter/exit from the west end of Wiggins
Springs Road, else you will get stuck or on a dead end!!

Name: Matt Janes
Hike:
Kelly's Run-Pinnacle Overlook
Date: 6/19/09
Rating: 5
Critique: Awesome hike! The views of Lake Aldred and Kelly's Run
were great. I did this hike a day after some rain, which made the
hike up the Connestoga Tr., and crossing Kelly's Run, a little
precarious. My suggestion would be do this hike at least 2 or 3 days
after rain, so the rocks have time to dry. I managed it alright
regardless, but a less experienced person may have problems. The
only down point was the short stint on the Pinnacle Tr.; which was
very thorny as it mentions in the notes. Overall, I think this was
the most beautiful hike I've done this season!

Name:
Matt Janes
Hike:
Susquehanna State Park
Date: 6/6/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Great circuit. The info on the trail notes was very much
needed at some of the more confusing parts. The giant beech tree,
and oak tree were awesome! I took my time talking to people, and
taking pictures; and still completed this in about 5 hours. Thanks
for all the info!

Name: Mark
Hike:
Rohrbaugh Plains/Dolly Sods Shuttle
Date: 6/13-14/2009
Rating: 5
Critique: We made roughly the same hike as the other reviewer,
making this hike into a 2-day loop hike by camping at the un-named
overlook. This is great hike as an introduction to Dolly Sods and
backpacking, as we took my brother-in-law for his first trip out. I
think the climb up Fisher Spring wiped him out, but the view made up
for it. Plus we met some fellow campers at the Fisher Spring
trailhead and they gave us a lift back to my truck at the Blackbird
Knob trailhead. I didn't use the GPS on this one as we have hiked
almost all these trails before, so I was familiar with the
intersections. The overlook was spectacular as usual, we watched it
rain all around us Saturday evening but never felt a drop. The only
disappointment was I wish there was a trail connecting Fisher Spring
to Blackbird Knob on the east side of red creek so road hiking
wouldn't be necessary, but I guess getting a lift makes that easier.
After the hike we had another great pizza dinner at Sirianni's Cafe
in Davis.

Name: Vern
Hike:
Catoctin Mountain Loop
Date: 6/13/09
Rating: 4
Critique: I also did the 8.5 mile walk advertised on the NPS web site.
The route is basically the same, with the exception of the walk along
the stream and Route 77.
I set out early in the morning, and for a few hours, I had the park to
myself. Until I reached the trail that leads up to the falls, other
hikers were very few and far between. Basically, I ran into people at
each vista, and of course there was a mob scene at the falls.
Of all of the vistas, Hog Rock was the best view in my opinion. Chimney
Rocks had the most interesting rock formations. Be careful not to drop
your glasses at Wolf Rock. Some of those crevices are very deep. Lucky
mine ended up in one that was only two feet deep, but others looked like
they might be more then twenty feet.
This was a very pleasant hike, and the moderate rating is right on.
There are a very few areas that might be called strenuous, particularly
when the moss-covered rocks are wet. My guess is that this will be a
beautiful hike in the fall, when the leaves are changing colors.
Catoctin is a beautiful park and is well worth the trip.

Name: Anne
Hike:
Kelly's Run- Pinnacle Overlook
Date: 6/13/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Great hike!
Some areas were poorly blazed, which made things confusing, and the
cornfield is now filled with wheat, but it was certainly a fun day-hike.

Name: Susan Neill
Hike: Buck Hollow-Buck Ridge
Loop
Date: 6/13/09
Rating: 3.5
Critique: This is an interesting trail, but doesn't have as much variety
that I like, so I'm giving it a rating of 3.5. The descent into Buck
Hollow is a bit steep (though nothing like what's to come). The site is
humid/moist and there are lots of beautiful old tulip poplar and some
white oak, among many other hardwoods. The place had a tropical feel to
it. The day was not hot but very muggy and buggy, which obviously added
to the atmosphere. As I walked, I wished the trail got closer to the
run, which is close enough for pictures but a ways off until about mile
2.8, where the trail crosses a wide section of the stream. Human traffic
along the descent was a bit heavy for my liking.
The ascent up Buck Ridge: I'm really a novice hiker (I don't even have a
walking stick yet) and this was the most strenous trail I've been on.
There are terraced steps for about a third, which help. Eventually,
though, the steps end and the trail's surface becomes very rockier and
the slope steeper. I'm probably exaggerating but it felt like a 60
degree angle. The sloap does become more gradual but the trail goes up
and down until the end. The ridge is pretty (but no full views) and the
trail winds in and out of boulder fields among a lot of mt. laurel. In a
less rocky section, a bear crossed the trail behind me. The trail
eventually narrows a lot. Lots of berry shrubs along here; bear food
when they ripen.

Name: Mark
Hike:
Dolly Sods North BP
Date: 5/24-25/09
Rating: 5
Critique: This hike made me realize how out of shape I am coming
out of winter, but my burning legs couldn't dampen my spirits on
this beautiful hike. Absolutely outstanding. Dolly Sods is like
no other area in the Mid-Atlantic, and this hike really shows
it. The only disappointment was at Harmon Knob where we noticed
a larger than normal group of people and a bench. Upon walking
down to the overlook we found a road and trail just below;
somewhat disheartening after hiking in roughly 6 miles the hard
way. The campsite area was very nice, with 4 nice sites and
several other spots you could stay if it filled up. We will
definitely make this trip again.

Name: Ryan Culloty
Hike:
Catoctin Mountain Loop
Date: 6/6/2009
Rating: 4
Critique: I did the 8.5 mile hike starting at the visitor's
center and heading north on the trail in lieu of walking along
the road/stream. This is the map:
http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/upload/8mileL.pdf
I found the hike to be strenuous at times and the trail somewhat
rocky, but a very enjoyable experience. Most of the vistas had
poor visibility due to trees blocking the view - I suggest
visiting in the winter after all the leaves have fallen.

Name: Peter
Hike:
Laurel Run - Falls Ridge
Date: 06/08/09
Rating: 4
Critique: After parking, Falls Run (little stream) is to the right
of the single family home located at the end of the road. There is a
trail to the left of the single family home which is not where you
want to go.
Beyond that, follow the provided directions and enjoy your outing.
If you plan to backpack and camp, the last water stop, that is easy
to access on the route, is just before the small pond (could be dry
in late summer?). It's a little spring next to the trail. We filled
up before the spring near the recommended break-point. After the
break the trail climbs away from Laurel Run to SR691.
Have fun, great hike.
Thanks Mike

Name: Garrett Socling
Hike:
Black Forest Trail - Southern Loop
Date: 6/6/09 - 6/7/09
Rating: 5
Critique: Enjoyed every portion of this hike. We did it in two days,
13 miles from parking to Little Slate Run on day one, 11 miles from
Little Slate Run back to the parking on day two.
The weather was perfect if just a tad warm at around 80'F down in
the valley bottom. Thankfully a little cooler up top!
Only wildlife we saw was two turkeys we scared out of trees at
various points, and one rattlesnake that we scared off the trail on
day two.
I took extensive photos to enhance the guide and the Black Forest
Trail - South description.
Photos can be viewed here.
The new management of The Waterville Tavern and the poor ambiance at
the Pine Creek Lodge chased us down into Jersey Shore. We highly
recommend The Tiadaghton Inn in Jersey Shore for good food, good
service and an excellent ambiance. They have two dining rooms and a
separated bar, so reservations are rarely necessary.

Name: Steve
Weber
Hike:
St. Mary's Wilderness
Date: 5/30-31, 2009
Rating: 4
Critique: The Rhodos and mountain laurel were in full bloom
making for a picturesque trip. Your trail notes and topo were a
huge help. The side trip to St. Mary's Falls made this a perfect
length for a weekend backpack. The group campsite you suggested
was fantastic. Day 2 with the road walk was less exciting than
the hike on Day 1, but someone or group must have cleaned up the
fire road, there was very little litter. Thanks again for all
you do, Mike.

Name: Reid
Hike:
BFT (total loop - 42 mile)
Date: 5/21/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Great hike, tough as nails though. The elevation
changes are no joke, and the steep inclines can be treacherous
with a full pack and will slow you down. Overall a great hike,
though, and the weather was perfect but for a sprinkle on the
third day in.
We did the whole loop over the Memorial Day weekend, in on
Thursday, May 21, and out on Monday, Memorial Day. Did the route
backwards from the prescribed route, and saw few hikers coming
the opposite direction, and had little trouble finding space at
the campsites.
WATCH OUT FOR RATTLESNAKES. We surprised at least two big
suckers right on the trail during the hike. Other than some wild
turkeys and the rattlesnakes, we did not encounter much wildlife
to speak of.
Only complaint: when we hiked out, we were all hankering for our
post-hike burgers and beers, and headed immediately for the
former Waterville Hotel (now the Waterville Tavern) that had
been suggested by many other hikers. We had nine campers in our
group, and they wouldn't push two tables together to accommodate
us, because "the owners don't want us to push tables together"
as the waitress told us. Needless to say, they lost our business
(well over $300) to the Pine Creek Lodge (I think is the name?)
down the street. DO NOT GO TO THE WATERVILLE TAVERN, as it seems
they don't care for hikers' business anymore. The Pine Creek
Lodge served us wonderfully, and all future hikers of the BFT
should take their business here instead of the Waterville
Tavern.

Name: Noah
Hike:
Ramsey's Draft
Date: 01/30-02/01 2009
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Went with a group of 5. Numerous camp sites right at
the head of the trail so driving up after work on Friday and
spending the night is very easily done. The draft was flowing
well but iced over in a lot of places. The numerous crossings
proved a little difficult in some places cause of the ice but we
managed. Camped at Hiner Spring. Lots of bear tracks, saw a few
deer. Hiked out the next day along with some very nice vistas,
but also very icy along the trail. Was a great hike, will be
back with my fly rod for some of those native wild brook trout I
saw crossing the draft.

Name: Keith
Lehman
Hike:
Big Schloss
Date: 5/17 - 5/18/09
Rating: 5
Critique: What a completely wonderful hike! Had a little trouble
finding my way in as FR92 isn't marked from the intersection
with 675. You'll know you made the right (left) turn if you come
to a relatively fresh logging clearcut on the left as you go up
the road.
The first section along Little Stony Creek trail was rather
muddy from the weeks of rain prior to my trip. I expect it would
be fine any other time and the mud wasn't deep and could be
avoided. There are no stream crossings so the high water wasn't
a problem.
The trail was beautiful with the creek views at first giving way
to blooming laurel as I ascended to the Sugar Knob cabin.
After the haul up to the ridge to Mill Mountain Trail the going
was pretty easy. The campsites really aren't that great until
you get to the one's near Sandstone Spring. They all looked
really nice. However, I wanted to camp on the ridge so I filled
up on water at the spring (necessary as there was no more water
even with the heavy rains).
The campsite at the overlook about a mile beyond the spring was
outstanding. The nearby cliff overlook gave me a great view of
the valley and the sunset. The winds were high but the campsite
is relatively protected so it wasn't bad at all. You could
probably squeeze two tents in at this site.
The views from Big Schloss are the best in the area. What a
marvelous place to relax for a nice lunch. There is a small
campsite at the peak but it may not be all that private as I met
a few day hikers even on Monday.
The hike back to the car from the peak was a little bit brutal
as it's fairly steep and the last half mile or so is in the sun
while walking on the road.
This is now one of the few hikes that I will definitely do again
and will use to hook my friends on backpacking. It's probably
the best hike within easy reach of DC.

Name: Vern
Hike:
Sugarloaf Mountain
Date: May 24, 2009
Rating: 3
Critique: This was a fun little hike. The only problem is that
it was over way too soon! There are a lot of good views, for
very little effort.
It was Memorial Day weekend, with temps in the eighties, so the
mountain was busy and full of families with young children.
There sure was a lot of noise going on at White Rocks, so we
only stayed long enough to choke our lunch down. Of course the
noise did not prevent us from getting some great photos.
Most of the trails are quite rocky, but all in all, they are
well maintained and well blazed. The views from each of the
vistas are outstanding.
Please note that a map or some other navigational aid is
necessary. The trails are a bit confusing, and I ran across one
person who was just plain lost. The trail description and map
provided here makes it easy.
Sugarloaf is worth the trip, I'm just not sure I would go out of
my way to repeat.

Name: Ian
Hike:
Morgan Run Loop
Date: 5/16/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Good hike and of good duration given the proximity to
suburbia. The trail description here is very accurate and makes
navigating the numerous intersections easy. Pretty stream
crossings and water views abound. The ferns and other
groundcover in the pine plantations is a verdant green in
spring. Had it been warmer we may have enjoyed the swimming
hole; our dog certainly did!
Two minor downsides: Ticks. There are numerous grassy areas. We
easily picked up 6 or more per person on this one and our dog
came home with several new "friends" despite her Frontline
treatments. The second is the 1/2 mile on Rt 32 to complete the
loop. There is not much of a shoulder on the bridge and cars fly
past at 50mph.

Name: Brandon
Hike:
Red Creek/Big
Stonecoal Circuit
05-10-09
Rating: 5
Critique: I did this as a day hike.
The best thing about this hike are all the waterworks. And even
though it was a very nice Sunday, the solitude as well. Only saw 1
large group the whole 7-hr day.
The worst thing is that Rocky Point trail is a spirit killer. You
have to endure a mile of basically walking on a rock bed. I stubbed
my toes and had awkward landings many times while on it.
I have yet to find an "official" trail to the Lion's Head, and today
was no different. Thankfully bushwhacking here is easy.
Also, note that fording Red Creek @ Big Stonecoal is a little deeper
than at Little Stonecoal or the fording at the Red Creek trail.

Name: RMS
Hike:
Kelly's run/Pinnacle overlook
Date: 5/9/09
Rating: 5
Critique: What a great hike! Good job on the description. Kelly's
Run was very high due to the recent rains making the crossings very
interesting. The hike is of varied terrain and is strenuous when
taken at a good pace.

Name: Vern
Hike:
Susquehanna SP
Date: 05-10-2009
Rating: 5
Critique: I never knew about this park until I saw it here. This one
ended up being a fantastic hike. It started off along the river on
the Mason/Dixon trail. The first couple of miles were all very
level, and it was a fairly easy hike except in the few sections
where the rail bed had been washed away. After turning away from the
river, there were some impressive elevation changes. In fact, at the
very end of the hike the trail seems to tower over the treetops at
the river level.
Along the way, the trail passed through several pastures, and also
some very dense foliage. It was a beautiful day, and we had lunch
under the pine trees near the maintenance buildings. The sun was
shining, and there was a great breeze blowing. One of those rare
days in Maryland where it is not too hot or too cold.
We missed the old white oak, but did see the beech tree and the
flint tower. The tree was very impressive. The hike took about four
hours total, and it was time well spent. I really enjoyed this one,
and will definitely be doing it again very soon.

Name: Jeff Mitchell
Hike:
Loyalsock-Link Loop
Date: xxxx
Rating: 4.5
Critique: This is a perfect weekend loop, not too easy or difficult.
Some climbs are steep, but are generally short. It has waterfalls,
nice views, great camping, rock outcrops, beautiful mountain
streams, Sones Pond and the impressive Haystacks Rapids, which are
Burgoon sandstone boulders in the Loyalsock Creek. I've done this
loop several times and I simply don't get tired of it. This is also
a great summer hike, since the trail has several superb swimming
holes.
Afterwards, stop by the Forksville Inn, a great place to eat with
local flavor, big portions, and very reasonable prices.

Name: Matt Alford
Hike:
AT- Matt's Creek to Devils Marbleyard
Date: 5/1-5/3/09
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Great hike. My girlfriend and I hiked into Matt's Creek
shelter on the AT on Friday afternoon and on Saturday hiked out to
Devils Marbleyard. Great Hike out and back. Marbleyard was awesome.
Lots of wildflowers in bloom, Rhododendrons included. Saw lots of
skinks and the biggest fence lizards I've ever seen at the
Marbleyard.
Great hike. A bit crowed.

Name: Vern
Hike:
Sweathouse Branch-Wildlands Loop
Date: 4/26/09
Rating: 3
Critique: This hike is a little gem. This morning, there
were huge patches of Virginia Blue Bells and Periwinkle in
full bloom. The trees are also starting to "green" up. The
trail along the river is really muddy in patches, but once
you get beyond that, they are really well groomed and well
cared for.
The first water crossing (on the yellow trail) was a lot of
fun. There are two ways to do it. I took the first route,
which is the stepping stones across the stream. My wife took
the second route, which is a large tree that fell in a
perfect spot just upstream. Of course, my waterproof boots
ended up filled with water, and my wife arrived on the other
side high and dry. If you insist on remaining dry, I'd
recommend the tree.
The rest of the hike had some small hills. We passed through
a portion that was lined with hemlocks, but the remainder
was mostly hardwoods. Along the route, there are some
private residences visible just beyond the park boundaries.
The parking lot on the northbound side of Belair road was
completely full when we arrived at nine o'clock on Sunday.
There is a commuter lot directly across Belair road that was
mostly empty. If you walk down the hill in front of the old
(closed up?) bar, there is great access to the trail and the
tunnel crossing Belair road, making this a great first
choice for parking.
Based on the parking situation, I expected the trail to be
packed, but that really was not the case. Mostly dog
walkers, but also a few serious hikers, who I assume are
breaking in their new footwear. For a proper hike, I would
suggest combining the Sweathouse Branch loop with the trail
on the opposite side of Belair road. All-in-all, this hike
was a nice surprise and well worth a trip from anywhere in
the Baltimore area.

Name: Keith Lehman
Hike:
Pond Run-Racer Camp Hollow/White Rocks
Date: 4/17-19/2009
Rating: 5
Critique: I did this loop in the reverse direction
from the description given on a sunny weekend in
mid-April taking three days with only 3.5-4.5 miles
a day. I found the trail conditions to be pretty
good with very few blowdowns but a good bit of mud
and some trail damage from horses. There were
virtually no bugs, including no ticks. The trail was
often sunny because the leaves hadn't popped yet. It
would be better in mid-May and probably great in
September.
The first intersection from Wilson Cove Tr. to Old
Mail Trail was a little tricky. The obvious path
goes down the hill following a hunter's path with
orange ribbon markings. The real trail actually
parallels the forest road for a few hundred feet and
is easy to miss. It gets very muddy in that area.
The footbridge over the creek will be the last
reliable water you find until you are on the other
side of the loop so fill up here. The climb to the
top of the ridge is reasonably easy. There is a
small spring right before you hit Tuscarora Trail
but I wouldn't rely on it running year round.
The campsite at White Rocks is outstanding and there
is room for two or three tents. There is also a
bigger campsite at the intersection with the White
Rocks Tr. and Tusc. Tr. if the one at the cliff is
full.
The southeast part of the loop is a gentle amble
downhill. Look for the small overlook on the right
for a good view of the valley. At the intersection
with Racer Camp Hollow Tr. there is a small stagnant
pond but I wouldn't trust the water with all the
horses using it. The hike up the forest road to
Little Stony Run is the steepest climb you'll have
going this direction. The spring beyond the cabin on
the Stony Run Tr. is a good place to refill your
water supply but you don't need to top off because
water is more plentiful on the rest of the loop.
There is a crude and rocky campsite to the left just
before the intersection with Mill Mt. Tr. There is a
better site up Mill Mt. Tr. but it is up the hill
about 1/3 mile or so.
The overlook at the intersection with Halfmoon Tr.
is really nice and there is a campsite at the
intersection. If you camp here, go a few hundred
feet down Tusc. Tr. over a boardwalk to find a
decent spring that looks like it would be reliable.
If it's not, then water may be found within a mile
down Tusc. Tr.
The rest of the loop is easy except the eight water
crossings get progressively deeper. Don't be cocky
and try to cross to the tantalizing forest road just
over Waite's Run. It's running faster and is deeper
than you think.
Overall, this is a varied and scenic trip. It would
be best done when the leaves are out as the shade
would be welcomed especially on the forest road
sections. Highly recommended!

Name:
Dominic Frasca
Hike:
White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run
Date: 04/18/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Good hike, however: DO NOT USE the Google
maps directions. They are totally, completely,
horribly inaccurare. Directions on the trail notes
are correct.

Name: Brian Vallelunga
Hike:
Green Ridge North Circuit
Date: April 11-12, 2009
Rating: 3.5
Critique: My wife and I hiked a version of this on a
short overnight trip to test out some new gear. We
started from the visitor center and hiked up to
Campsite #5, about 5 miles away. Once there we set
up camp, left our packs and walked a mile north
across the Maryland/Pennsylvania border. The next
morning we followed the Twin Oaks trail back down,
eventually meeting up with Pine Lick, which we took
back to the visitor center.
Overall, this was a nice, easy hike. The first two
miles from the visitor center closely follows the
freeway (which you walk under at one point). This
took away from the nice atmosphere and I think I'd
skip this part in the future. It was also the least
maintained part of the trail and was in need of
maintenance. The rest of the trail was enjoyable,
but shouldn't be mistaken for "back-country" hiking.
Early April is a bit too early to recommend this
hike to people. The trees were still barren, and the
morning temperature was very close to freezing.
Also, there was enough water that we had to take off
our boots and wade a single stream four times on the
first day. For some reason, the trail designers felt
it needed to criss-cross multiple times within a
single mile.
If you're looking for a short one-night hike to test
some gear and live nearby, the park was quite
enjoyable. If we go back, we'll likely try one of
the other trails that are farther from the freeway
and a bit longer.

Name: Keith Lehman
Hike:
Bucktail Trail-Halfmoon Lookout Loop
Date: 4/4/09 - 4/5/09
Rating: 5
Critique: I did this loop in reverse from the
directions given and I think that made it a bit
easier than it would have been going the other way.
The climb to the peak is more gradual and the sun
was more hidden on the last few miles on Bucktail
Trail. Going in on the Bucktail Connector offered a
few nice views since the trees hadn't budded in
early April when I did this trip. One note, be sure
fill up on water at the intersection with Halfmoon
Trail (yellow blazes). There is a nice campsite
there if needed and the stream will be the last
water you see until you come off the peak on the
other side.
There is a wonderful campsite at the "Cliffside"
area about 200ft from the peak. The site at the peak
is really only suitible for a bevy tent. Even in
high winds (gusts to 40mph) the Cliffside site was
shielded well due to the terrain deflection.
Heading out the German Wilson Trail was very rocky
and you need to be very careful about rolling a rock
under your boot. But it is definitely easier going
down than up. The blow-downs mentioned in trail
notes are cleared with only about 4 or 5 to
negotiate. There are plenty of springs and streams
for water on this half of the loop.
The first half of Bucktail Trail following the creek
was very muddy and torn up with horse prints. The
stream crossings were mid-calf level and you'll
definitely have some wet feet by the time you get to
the bridge at Capon Trail. After that it's an easy
amble back to the start point with only a very
gradual climb and then a gradual descent.
Overall, I recommend this hike if done in the
direction I went. I definitely would have liked it
less the other way around. This loop would be
suitable for a nice family excursion especially in
Spring or Fall.

Name: Matt
Hike:
Hemlock Gorge
Date: 4-5-09
Rating: 4
Critique: I picked a perfect day to do this hike. It was mid 60s and
sunny all day. I started around 12:30 and was back at the car by 4.
Since Spring has just started, nothing was really blooming yet. I
think in a couple weeks the hike will be much more alive. Recent
rains made the streams nice and full. Since it's still early in
Spring and nothing is overgrown, the trail was really easy to follow
by the streams. I had forgotten the trail description but managed
well because I downloaded the GPX data, loaded it onto my Garmin
60CSx and just walked from waypoint to waypoint. It's a really great
hike and the gorge is a really nice place to relax and eat.
Unfortunately the hike is fairly easy from Gunpowder Rd. so there is
a bit of trash here and there around the gorge. If I had a bag with
me I would've cleaned up some of it. It's really a great hike
otherwise.
My GPS data can be
seen
here

Name: Galen
Hike:
Dolly Sods
Date: 3/27-3/28-2009
Rating: 2
Critique: With my wife and two dogs, we originally planned on setting
out from up by Bear Rocks, but we arrived to find that P.R.75 was
closed. Maybe I overlooked it, but it needs to be emphasized that it's
closed until April. We altered the trip to start out from the south, up
Red Creek Trail. No big deal, but I was hoping to start out with the
Dolly Sods North scenery.
The hike along Red Creek was very nice, although you have to pay
attention to the trail. We lost about a half-hour trying to find the
unblazed paths that tend to disappear. The terrain is pretty rugged if
you're lugging 25+ lbs of gear. A lot of ups and downs and detours
around fallen trees. The creek itself was vigorous this day. We had to
carry both dogs across in cold, knee-deep currents.
With cold, wet, tired feet we didn't make it as far as we had wanted
too. Our campsite near Blackbird knob was very nice though, as were many
of the campsites that we passed that day. Right next to a running creek
on flat ground and a stone fire pit. It rained all night though and we
had no desire to slog around on already muddy trails the next day, so we
hiked out to the road and walked all the way back to the car in
super-thick fog.
So if there's any wisdom to pass along, it would be to keep an open mind
and be flexible enough when exploring the Sods. This is a big place with
a variety of terrains and ever-changing weather. That, and bring a few
extra pairs of socks.

Name: Jordan & Allison
Hike:
Kelly's Run - Pinnacle Overlook
Date: 3/27/09
Rating: 4
Critique: We took the advice of this site to do this hike in reverse,
and it was a great decision! We were really able to take in all the
great scenery going that direction. The overlook at Pinnacle is amazing.
We set up our hammock and made some hot chocolate on the picnic tables
after cooling down from the steep hike up. The second half of the hike
along Kelly's Run was definitely the highlight. We were glad that doing
the loop in reverse allowed us to end with Kelly's Run. The mileage
given seemed pretty accurate. We were definitely tired after this one,
but it was totally worth it! Thanks for the great info!

Name: Ryan Mitchell Hike:
Overall Run Falls-Heiskell Hollow
Date: 1/21/09 - 1/22/09
Rating: 4
Critique: My roommate and I hiked and camped using the planned trip
from the NPS with a couple extra miles added. Our goal, as two guys
who hike regularly, was to complete the three day trip in less than
two days. We successfully did at the cost of sore legs from both us
and our dogs. The trip begins downhill all the way to the great
views at the falls and surrounding area. The uphill back to 3,500 ft
from the valley is what makes this hike strenuous. The trail was
rocky and covered with leaves in many locations and crossing streams
with dogs was interesting at times. After about 13-14 miles we
camped in the 20 degree weather and woke the next morning to another
uphill hike of 5+ miles.
Overall, it was a very good hike that was as good as any other trip
we have taken in the northern portion of the Shenandoah. The lack of
spectacular views on the Heiskell Hollow trail, even with the
leafless trees of winter, keep this from being a 5.

Name: Natasha
Hike:
Riprap Hollow
Date: 02/09/09
Rating: 5
Critique: We did this hike late winter and were treated to amazing
views. To think if we had hiked this trail during the summer we
would not have observed the really neat geological formations in the
area and appreciated the descent into and climb out of the valley. A
summer hike would treat visitors to a number of pools along the
stream, which were flowing well due to recent snowmelt. I thought
the trail one of the rockiest around and highly recommend harder
soled boots to avoid sore feet (I was regretting my boot decision a
few miles in). The climb out of the valley is tough but lots of logs
and rocks along the way serve as great places to take a break and
enjoy the view. We liked finishing up on the AT to cool down before
getting into the car.

Name: Bumpkin
Hike:
Gunpowder West Circuit
Date: February 21, 2009 Rating: 4.5
Critique: Very nice hike. The little detour up to Prettyboy
reservoir ended up being a bit of a challenge. The trail turns into
nothing but huge boulders, and if you stray off the blazed trail, it
can include a few steep climbs. This was loads of fun, considering
how close to Baltimore it is. It was a beautiful February day, and I
enjoyed every minute of it.

Name: Gerard Viau
Hike:
Black Forest Trail - complete
Date: 10/3/08 10/6/08
Rating: 5
Critique: Three of us did the full BFT loop (North and South) in the
fall as the leaves were turning and it was amazing. We started at
the trailhead near the Hotel Manor and hiked counter-clockwise for
the full loop. The vistas got better as the hike progressed leaving
some of the most amazing views for the end of the hike a nice reward
for our hard work. Why didn't we do this hike sooner!
Day 1: 15 miles (17 if you including our rocky start). Started out a
bit rough by going the wrong way obviously it would have been fine
since the BFT is a loop, but we wanted to go counter-clockwise and
we were still groggy from the night before. After one mile in the
wrong direction, we figured it out and turned around. It rained a
bit in the morning and cleared up by 2pm, so our wet feet had a
chance to dry out by the end of the day. We saw three other hikers
on this first day (2 of which were planning to do the full loop.) We
had lunch by a stream and camped for the evening at a relatively
small campsite. Starting a fire that night was a challenge because
all of the wood was wet, my friend donated some of the pages from
his Ernest Hemingway book to get it started what a lifesaver.
Temperature dropped to around 34 degrees at night, but we all slept
well after a long day.
Day 2: 12 miles. We enjoyed some varied terrain: boulders, heavily
wooded forest, an open meadow, and some clear flats. The morning
gave us a little stretch of hiking downhill, but then we quickly
came to a steep incline at mile 16.5 (about 500 feet in half a
mile); that gave the legs a good wake up call. Mid-morning we came
across a black bear and her two cubs about 15 yards in front of us;
thankfully, there was some brush and trees between us so they did
not feel threatened and just moseyed on. We stayed at a great
campsite at mile 27 with a water source right next to us (Callahan
Run). Temperature crept up a bit to around 37 degrees.
Day 3: 12 miles. Easily the hardest day of the trip, partly because
we started out with a 1,000 ft incline over 1.3 miles brutal. We
stumbled upon a Ruffed Grouse (PA state bird) in the late morning
before we stopped for lunch at an amazing vista it was the boost we
needed. We planned to only do 9 miles today, but a lack of water
forced us to keep pushing on and it was worth it. We camped at
Foster Hollow Pond with unobstructed views of the stars and enjoyed
our last night on the BFT. Temperature stayed up at around 38
degrees.
Day 4: 3 miles. This last day was easy given we only had a handful
of miles to finish up so we took our time packing up camp and
hitting the trail, and still finished up before 11am. And on the way
home, we got burgers at the Waterville Hotel.
If you haven't done this hike and you're looking for a challenging
and amazing trail this is it. Enjoy.

Name: Michael Eckert
Hike:
Hull School/Thornton River
Date: 2/9/09
Rating: 4
Critique: Another nice mid-winter hike on a relatively warm day.
Great views, even in the valleys, as trees are somewhat less dense
through this area.
One mishap on the trail while crossing the Thornton River, as I
slipped while crossing and took an unwelcome plunge into the river.
There was no ice on the rocks, so I am assuming just some bad luck.
I was using hiking poles and one bent as I tried to save myself.
Very, Very cold water and I was completely soaked. Fell in backwards
into a pool that was about 2 feet deep. Air temperature was around
50 and water probably in the middle 30s as ice/snow was along the
banks. I can't say enough about wearing water wicking clothing. I
quickly undressed, wrung the water out and redressed and then
drudged uphill for about 3 miles. Within 30 minutes I had warmed
backup. I did have an extra light jacket/wind breaker in my pack
that was dry. Most items in my pack stayed dry as I got out very
quickly. I was fortunate that I only hit my hip and wrist on rocks
as I fell down. It could of been worse.

Name: Treebeard
Hike:
Weverton to Maryland Heights
Date: 2/8/09
Rating: 4
Critique: I did this hike on an unusually warm (64 degree) blue-sky
Sunday in February.
I did the shorter version of what is mapped (I will do the longer
version at some point in time) and it took me 3 3/4 hours to
complete with 2 very quick stops.
I started the hike at 8:35 am and it was a good thing. I had
virtually no company during the hike to the overlook. However as I
started down, I passed more than 25 - 30 people heading up the
trail.
This was a very pleasant walk. Just strolling down the C&O Canal
next to the river was wonderful. The hike up to Maryland Heights was
very nice and the views through the leafless trees were beautiful.
Idiot me forgot my camera! Coming down I stopped to watch two rock
climbers belaying 250+ feet up the jagged rocks over the train
tunnel - wow!
I would recommend this hike in the winter time due to less trail
traffic and extra viewing without the leaves on the trees.
I don't think my grading would be a 4 on a nice Sunday in June.
Thanks MRHyker for the map.

Name: Craig Hardy
Hike: North
Fork Mountain (Entire Trail)
Date: 1/9/09-1/10/09
Rating: 4
We had a group of six do this hike from the south to north in early
January. We started hiking Friday night around 9:30 pm once we got
our vehicles situated. We shuttled ourselves. It was a clear night
for the most part, and the snow cover of 2-4inches actually helped
us navigate the trail. We hiked in about 6 miles before setting up
camp. Temps were cold but normal for that time of year, (mid20's I
recall.) Saturday morning, we woke up to partly cloudy skies and a
great view on both sides of the ridge. As we hiked, we made our way
past the glider launch and down to the mid-way parking lot. Then it
started to rain, and then freezing rain. By this time we were almost
out of water. I carried about 4 liters in, and the rest of us had
various amounts. Our biggest mistake was hoping to rely on snow melt
for our water source. (The rain melted the snow along the way.) The
one really big drawback to this hike is that there is no water along
this trail whatsoever. We almost made do with a couple of puddles
near the top of the mountain by the tower, but I don't think that
any of us were that desperate at that point. We trudged through
Chimney Rocks and down to our vehicles after a 17+mile day. We
originally were going to camp Saturday night, but with the freezing
rain and no solid water source, we opted for the truck and a hotel
in Franklin. Great trip overall, but I cannot emphasize enough, that
you must pack in enough water or stash it midway to do the trip as
there is no source along this ridge trail. What awesome views of the
valley below on both sides most of the way. You can even see Seneca
Rocks below you.

Name: Michael Eckert
Hike:
Piney Ridge-Piney Branch Loop
Date: 1/13/09
Rating: 5
Critique: Added some distance ~2 miles by parking at Hogback, picking up
AT to Piney Ridge then down to Hull School and up Piney Branch toward
the top of Little Devils, but then turned onto Sugarloaf to AT and
Hogback. Would give it a 4, but water was high from last week's 1.5" of
rain and every rock I stepped on was ice covered. Crossing Piney Branch
was difficult at best and I did slip & get wet. Water is very cold.
Crossing without walking sticks would be nearly impossible. Few deer on
the trail and saw two hardy campers where Piney Ridge/Hull School trails
met.

Name: Michael Eckert Hike:
Beecher Ridge/Overall Run
Date: 1/3/09 Rating: 5++
Critique: Great, Great Hike. Parked at Hogback overlook and took AT and
several other short trails to Beecher then hooked up with Overall Run
and back to top. Beecher is more of a culvert in many areas and leaves
are knee deep. Can't see where/what you are stepping on so be very
careful. Hike up to Overall Run Falls was a burner. Legs are still
ground beef tonight. Overall Run Falls is frozen.

Name: Michael Eckert
Hike:AT/Laurel
Prong Loop (Camp Hoover)
Date: 12/26/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Took Laurel Prong and veered off to right and up mountain,
then down to The Sag and then down to Hoover's Camp. Back up Mill Prong
to AT then back to car. Only problem was that this took me out of the
park and hunters were tracking a bear with dogs. Hunting season is over
as of 1/3/09. Beautiful day with temps rising into 60s. Moderate workout
with plenty of ups and downs.

Name: Cliff
Hike:
Devil's Marbleyard/Gunter Ridge Loop
Date: 9/20/2008
Rating: 5
Critique: Awesome hike for the Scouts. We even found a rock that looked
like the scout sign! No other rocks were worn patterns like this. Three
fingers extended, pinkie and thumb folded and touching.

Name: Matt Culbertson
Hike:
Gifford Pinchot SP
Date: 9/1/2008
Rating: 3
Critique: Fun, but not wise in the summer when everything is overgrown.
The trail is hardly maintained, and hard to follow in many places.
Fortunately, no ticks.

Name: blueridgetreks
Hike:
Turk
Mountain
Date: 12/23/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: Started this hike around 9am with the temps around 19F but it
warmed up to 29F!! I did this hike in reverse from published directions
but I don't think it makes a difference either way, you'll get a great
workout. The creeks were flowing really good due to recent rains making
some of the crossings tricky. Not sure how the flow will be in mid-July
after no rain for awhile. I forgot to pack my hiking poles. Did I
mention the crossings were tricky? I lost my balance crossing Moormans
River near the Turk Branch trail intersection and proceeded to soak my
left foot. Trail shoe off, foot freezing, sock wrung out, and I was back
on the trail in 5 minutes. The views at the top of Turk Mt were
excellent so don't bypass the out and back to Turk Mt. On a warmer day I
could imagine having a nice leisurely lunch at the top. I gobbled mine
down quickly on the way back to the AT Intersection. I did the hike in
just under 5 hrs but only because I kept going to stay warm and didn't
stop for lunch. A worthwhile hike and especially pleasant today being
the only one on the trail besides the company of my dog.

Name: paknees
Hike:
Old Loggers Path
Date: 5.4.08-5.7.08
Rating: 5
Critique: I loved this hike! first week of may was a
great time to go, although there tons of bugs flying
around. Went clockwise from Masten, and spent the
first night at the Pleasant Run campsite. Day two
was great and we spent the night at Rock Run where I
took a dip in the cool water and than thawed out on
a rock in the middle of the stream. I must say I had
two of the most peaceful nights ever in the
wilderness at both these sites. Must of been the
sound of the water. Sounds like this place dries up
in the summer but late spring there was water
everywhere. day three was pretty sweet. We trail ran
the final 6.5 miles or so and than splashed around
in Pleasant Stream before heading back to Leheigh
valley. Perfect hike!

Name: Michael Eckert
Hike:
Rose River/Dark Hollow
Date: 12/9/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Decided on a relatively short mid-winter
hike to view the frozen falls. Most falls were about
50% frozen as temps warmed above freezing at higher
elevations. Very nice and quiet morning (no one else
on trail), but very, very windy with some branches
falling down around me. Cleared all blockages. Hiked
into Big Meadow to view/photograph deer and when I
got to the lodge, fire trucks were parked in front.
Talked to the guy in charge and found out the
sprinklers went off in the lodge (There was no
fire.). Looks like a major mess with water
everywhere.

Name: Naz
Hike:
Hemlock Gorge
Date: 11-29-08
Rating: 5
Critique: Updates: The Cotter road is now open with no problems.
I did only the Hemlock Gorge part of the figure 8 yesterday due
to time constraints. This is an excellent shorter hike in itself
and well worth it. It still took more than one hour with quite a
bit of scrambling done on the stream bank and of course some
stops for photos. The Gorge is beautiful and unique for this
area, and there were no other hikers on this sunny and
relatively warm November Saturday afternoon.
The instructions are very easy to follow. The only part that
could not be identified was the "sandy and weedy" portion of the
bench- this must have become altered in the years this was
written. There were weedy parts but no sand. The trail is easy
to follow until you reach the scrambling part in the gorge. Then
you can just follow the stream and you will not get lost.
Also found a small cave filled with cans and trash. Thankfully
they are not spread around and confined to this cave, but I plan
to return with a garbage bag.
Thank you for this site and this very good description of this
gem. This one is an excellent late fall/winter walk because the
hemlocks are green year round. I plan to go back when it snows
and the stream is frozen!

Name: zach
Hike:
Black Forest Trail North and
South
Date:11/22-24/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: Great hike in all.
Cold cold cold. Had two nights of sub 20 degree weather and 5
inches of snow. had to really push myself to finish on the last
day. I went left from the Slate Run trail head and was able to
return in 3 full days of trekking. Scenery was beautiful but
wouldn't recommend hiking it this late in the year (November
22-24) unless you want a challenge and are prepared for the
cold.
Ran into bear hunters throughout the final day, all were
friendly and surprised to see a hiker.

Name: Jeff
Hike:
Neighbor Mt-Jeremy's Run
Date: 11/ 15-16/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: We took a Boy Scout patrol of 13 and 14 year olds on
an overnight trip. We hiked it clockwise, ie. from Elkwallow
Picnic area south on the Appalachian trail to Neighbor Mt.
Trail, etc. First day was a total of 9 miles in about 7 hours
with a half hour for lunch. We camped at the waterfalls about .4
miles up Jeremy's Run. Nice level site but very rocky. There had
been two days of rain before we started and heavy rain while we
hiked on Saturday, but we were able to negotiate the stream
crossing on Sunday. However, between the uphill grade and the
stream crossings, it took us 6 hours, including an hour for
lunch, to hike the 5 miles up Jeremy's Run. Since the leaves
were off the trees, we had wonderful views of panoramas and of
the Run and cascades. Great hike, but be prepared for the 14
stream crossings.

Name: Tag-Alongs
Hike:
Difficult Run Loop
Date: 11/07/2008 Rating: 4
Critique: This was my fiancé's, brothers', and my first hike in
Maryland and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day. It
was late enough in the year that the trails were not overly busy and
the hike itself was great. We ended up taking a wrong turn while
heading north along the Potomac and had to "rough it" over a hill to
get back on trail. All in all, this is a great hike that is
refreshing to find so close to the district!

Name: Travis
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: ?
Rating: 5
Critique: I have hiked this mountain over a dozen times starting
from when I was just a kid. I absolutely love it and never get tired
of it. There is always something to see when you're: there, bear,
deer, and of course the scenic overlooks. If you're into landscape
photography like I am I highly recommend a fall/winter hike. You can
get some really great shots during the winter season even though the
hike is a little more treacherous due to snow and ice.
All in All a must hike for any outdoor enthusiast.

Name: somewhere
Hike:
Chimney Rocks
Date: 11/02/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: We did the 6.8 miles hike. The colorful mountain top view
from Chimney Rocks was splendid. The stream on the way down was very
pleasant as well. We really enjoyed the day. Thank you very much for
the information!

Name: Shari
Hike:
Cowan's Gap-Tuscarora Trail
Date: October 12, 2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique: This was a really great trail with some fabulous views and
lots of variety. The changing leaves were beautiful (and there were
lots of them!). It was a fairly challenging hike that covered
several miles and had some steep uphill and downhill sections. It
was worth it though!

Name: Charlie Hike:
Piney Ridge - Piney Branch Loop
Date: 11/02/2008 Rating: 3.5
Critique: We did this hike starting from the parking lot at Little
Devil's Stairs, and followed Piney Ridge up and Piney Branch back down.
This was a very nice hike with changing terrain. The stream crossings
weren't bad, though would be challenging with higher water. We also saw
two bears. The hike doesn't have sweeping vistas but offers quiet
solitude with a very nice workout.

Name: Brad
Hike:
Hog Camp Gap to Reeds Gap Shuttle (modified)ate: 10/10-10/12/2008
Rating: 5
Critique: Started this hike on Friday evening at Hog Camp Gap
after sunset. Hiked up the Tar Jacket Ridge in the dark and made
camp at the top. It was a cold and windy night, but very clear
with a bright moon.
The next day we awoke at sunrise and got warm by the fire, ate
some food, and then headed northward. Many great vistas along
this stretch of the trail and overall this part of the hike was
not too difficult with gradual ascents and descents. The fall
colors had begun to show on many of the trees and temperatures
were in the 70s with bright sunshine. We did see a bear about a
mile before crossing the North Fork. It took off running from
the left side of the trail; not full-sized but not a cub either.
We stopped by the Seeley-Woodworth shelter and took a break for
lunch. We then continued northward. Beware of the yellow jackets
about a half mile beyond the shelter heading northward! There
are several nests in the ground around a stretch of the trail
that goes through a small grove of apple trees. We had to walk
quickly through this area to avoid being stung.
We then continued on and made camp at Spy Rock. A few others
were camping at the campsite below us, but we actually made camp
up on the rock and had a good fire going to stay warm. It became
very windy and cold up here at night. Some of the other hikers
came and hung out around our fire for a while. The sunset, and
sunrise the next morning, at Spy Rock were amazing! This has to
be one of the best vistas I have ever seen!
After getting warmed up in the morning by the fire, we continued
northward on the AT and climbed over Maintop Mountain and then
continued toward the Priest. The climb up the Priest from
Crabtree Road was the hardest part of this trek so far, but
still much easier than climbing up the Priest from Rt. 56 would
be. We stopped at the top of the Priest for lunch and enjoyed
the overview to the west from boulders to the left side of the
trail.
We then began the steep descent of the Priest which became
difficult for me after pulling a tendon in my left knee earlier
in the day on some rocks. We had left our second vehicle at the
parking area by the Tye River and not at Reed's Gap as we had
decided that we may not want to do Chimney Rock based on time
restrictions. By the time I got to the base of the Priest I
could not bend my left leg, so we decided we made a smart move
in leaving the truck here.
Overall this hike was a 5 for the views and the overall scenery
of the woods. Spy Rock and the Priest were the highlights of
this hike for me and I plan to complete the last portion of this
hike at a later time.

Name: Marty
Hike:
Patapsco Valley SP
Date: 10-04-2008
Rating: 4
Critique: The State Park is heavily wooded with lots of trails
with a mixture of streams, forest, pasture and respectable
hills. It's easy to get to, but the drawback is that there are
lots of people hiking and biking - not enough to be truly
annoying, but you are never totally alone.
We picked the area because our son is going to the Naval Academy
and is severely limited in the range he is allowed to travel. We
were pleasantly surprised at the area, which was especially nice
in fall weather, and will go back. Even better, entrance to park
is free for parties with service people.
We didn't have much difficulty following the trails although
they could be better marked.

Name: Leslie
Ann Jones, DVM
Hike:
Mount Pleasant Loop
Date: 10/4/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Wonderful, but a bit challenging. We really enjoyed
the Mount Pleasant 6+ mile loop, however, we found out the hard
way that the road from 60 that should take us up to the trail
head (North Fork Road- VA Rte 635) has been washed out about 4
miles up. That left us to hike in an additional 2.5 miles to
just get to the trail head! Now that we've done some serious
Google-Earthing of the region and the topography, I think we
have figured out how to get to the trail head off Wiggins Road,
but DON'T try to get to the trail head from North Fork Road, as
what should have been about a 3-4 hr hike was the bulk of 6 hrs
and we almost got lost after dark! yikes!
Looking forward to trying some more of these hikes soon, but
need to recover from Saturday first!

Name: John S
Hike:
Mt. Pleasant Loop
Date: 9/27-9/28/08
Rating: 5+
Critique: An absolutely fantastic, excellent hike. I think Mt.
Pleasant might have the best vistas of any hike I've done to
date. I believe it blows other hikes I've done, i.e. Gregory
Bald and Mt. Cammerer (in the Smokies), out of the water, and
it's a much easier, more rewarding hike. I'd highly suggest this
hike for those fellow backpackers who find it impossible to get
a significant other to tag along or find it hard to find a nice
hike because of their dogs; it's not terribly difficult (but no
spring chicken) and it's incredibly rewarding. Hike this one as
suggested - starting towards Pompey mountain first. Once you
head down Mt. Pleasant, you'll understand why - the trail is
pretty demanding in the opposite direction.
I would highly suggest that anyone wishing to do this hike
consider doing it as an overnight. It is short, but there are at
least four EXCELLENT campsites at the summit of Mt. Pleasant.
The trail summary here and on hikingupward.com make it seem as
if there is only one campsite at the summit, but there are
indeed four! Some reviews have said that the campsite along the
sister hike to Mt. Pleasant, Cold Mountain, is the best site in
GWNF, but I think I disagree. We stayed at an awesome site just
below the east vista. There were two sites near the west vista
and two near the east vista. All sites had their own fire pit,
and enough room for a 2/3 person tent + fly.
When the weather finally cooperated, the vistas were amazing.
The west vista is slightly better, but the sunrise can only be
seen from the east vista, and it was fantastic. Make sure to see
all of the west vista, as there are a couple extra trails in the
area to other rock vistas. The east vista is about 180° and the
west vista is about 270°. There is plenty of room at both vistas
for people and animals - it is impossible to hog these vistas
(contrary to the other review) so don't worry about this. The
only better vista I can remember better than this one might be
atop Flat Top at the Peaks of Otter (and only because it is
360°). Again, I can't express the beauty of the vistas, they
were fantastic. I am a backpacker/hiker that enjoys mountain
hikes to good vistas, and this one is the cream of the crop!

Name: Matt
Hike:
Laurel Fork
Date: 9/20/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: Great hike. The last part on Buck Run is challenging
but really nice with the beaver pond and the Red Spruce stand.
The fords of Laurel Run provide some great options for camping.

Name: Michael
Eckert
Hike:
Signal Knob /Meneka Peak loop
Date: 9/19/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Great hike with nobody on the trail but me and
squirrels. There is a bear around Signal Knob, per tree
scratches, fresh scat and large rocks overturned, but did not
see him/her. Good elevation gain but very, very rocky. Not a
good hike for trail shoes. I would not go without hiking boots
that give you ankle support, and bring walking poles for
stability coming downhill.

Name: Sonya
Hike:
AT-Sunset Rocks Circuit
Date: 9/20/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Against the advice of the author, Fido and I took this
hike on this past Saturday. I have to agree with the comments
that the first 4 miles are pretty dull. There was quite a bit of
road walking. On a positive note, I only passed one other group
of people on THE ENTIRE HIKE! I couldn't believe it since it was
a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. It was so quiet my footsteps
seemed to echo through the forest. That made up for the
dullness. If a hike is crowded, it doesn't matter how pretty it
is, it takes away from the entire point of hiking - to get away
from people!
Other than the rock scramble and the knee popping descent, the
hike would be classified as easy as the trail really just
rambles along. The scramble definitely added an element of
difficulty. My dog has climbed Mt. Washington without problem
but I had to pull her up at a few spots on this one. Also, as an
avid solo hiker, I really wish I had brought someone along since
the chance of taking a fall or twisting an ankle is pretty good
up here. You have to posses good balance and flexibility to
maneuver across the boulder field. I would not attempt this hike
with small children, someone in less than good shape, or with
dogs that can't jump 3+ ft.
I will definitely do this hike again in the fall and will
probably bring the dog and another person along.
p.s. Watch where you put your hands/feet.. this place is prime
ground for sunning snakes.

Name: Larry
Hike:
Jeremy's Run/Neighbor Mountain
Date: 9/21/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Varied inclines, declines and flat. Neighbor Mtn.,
Trail, a bit overgrown, and some branches. Streams easily
crossed today. Few hikers. Time 4 3/4 hrs. with short breaks.
Directions generally good, except that you turn right onto
Neighbor Mtn. Trail from AT.

Name: Paul
Denbow
Hike:
Fair Hill NRMA-2
Date: Sept. 21, 2008
Rating: 3.5
Critique: I thought this was a good hike, but being a sunny,
warm day ( near 80 ), that you spent too much time in the open
with the sun beating down. This would probably be better in the
late fall or early spring. The hike directions were very good.

Name: Alia
Hike:
Ironhorse Trail
Date: 30 August 2008
Rating: 3
Critique: The hike is better done clockwise than anti-clockwise:
clockwise means the return trip is easier and very flat and
pleasant.
2 comments from
hiking the trail anti-clockwise: 2 main areas need better trail
markings: where the trail continues after Epy's cemetery as well
as as the section of the trail that goes on the dirt road where
it seemed part of the old trail has become private property. It
looked like the trail has been maintained as we did not have
problem with overgrown bushes.

Name: Laurie
Hike:
AT/Bluff Trail Loop
Date: 9/13/08
Rating: 3
Critique: Hiked this loop and as suggested by the Park Ranger to camp
near the entrance to Big Devil Stairs where there are a couple sights
already cleared for tents. Saw lots of animal droppings and only sighted
1 deer. Not much for views, might be more scenic after leaves fall.
Trail was pretty rocky and it had rained Saturday night which made for
slippery walking.

Name: CRaig
Hike:
AT- Mau-Har Trail loop
Date: Aug 10-12, 2008
Rating: 5
Critique: This was a great experience! MY brother and I hiked it (began
mid-day Sun and ended mid-day on Tues) and broke it up over 3days and
two evenings. This allowed us to stop when we wanted to and enjoy the
incredible views and scenery. This also allowed us to go hit the "hay"
early and wake up late each morning (later than a work day). Like the
other postings here, it is a tough workout on your legs (I couldn't
imagine doing it in a single day, unless you are hiking for a
workout/exercise and not for pleasure.
All the trails were marked well and all but two places were difficult to
maneuver due to a downed tree.
We took the AT trail first then met up with the Mau-Har Trail the second
part. The toughest part of the trail was between Harpers Creek Shelter
and second Campbell Creek campsite, then it leveled out on the way back
to Maupin Field Shelter.
We saw deer our first morning at the Maupin Field Shelter area (lots of
separated camp sites) and then in the same area the next afternoon.
Plenty of wild animals passed by during the night at Campbell Creek camp
site. Possibly due to Campbell Creek actually having cascading water for
us and the local inhabitants to drink from. My brother's dog alerted us
during the evening.
Due to little rain the previous weeks, Harper's Creek was virtually dry
except for a small pool of water due to light rains on our first
evening. IF the area doesn't get much rains you may want to stock up on
your water supply for the Hike along the AT.
IF you are allergic to bees, don't stop at Bee Mountain to see the
views, You don't want to have any medical conditions while on the trail.
Enjoy your hike!

Name: WaldoAR15
Hike:
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Date: Sept. 8-10 2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique:
Nice hike!
The rocks were kind of hard on the old ankles though. ;) Saw a few deer,
kicked up a grouse, coyotes at night. No Bears, but quite a bit of scat
on little Stonecoal as the white oaks were dropping acorns. Good mast
crop in that area. If you want to see bears, this is where to go right
now as they will pretty much forego anything else for the acorns.
The upper end of Big Stonecoal was still loaded with ripe blueberries
everywhere you look.
No water crossing problems.

Name: John S
Hike:
Cowans Gap SP - Tuscarora Trail
Date: 9/9/2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique: I did not do the hike along the ridge that overlooks
the scenic lake at Cowan's Gap SP - I did a shuttle along the
Tuscarora Trail. I did this hike during a Tuesday just after a
heavy rain. It was absolutely deserted, and I assume in the fall
that this hike is rarely traveled. I was the only person out
during the entire 9 mile hike along the Tuscarora Trail to the
overlook on Big Mountain and back. There are two great overlooks
on the Cowan's Gap SP side of the Tuscrarora Trail, and the
overlook at Big Mountain is incredible. I was highly impressed
that a trail in PA would have as great an overlook as this. I
wish I could have done this later in the Fall, as the changing
leaves will provide and absolutely incredible scene from each of
the overlooks and I'd highly recommend this hike to everyone who
enjoys ridgeline/overlook type hikes.
Note: Be careful along this trail, on the way up to the crest of
Tuscarora Ridge, the rocks can be incredibly slippery,
especially after a good downpour. There are several rock
scrambles and I'd advise you to bring hiking poles or pick up a
walking stick at the trail head for insurance during your hike.

Name: Matt Reeser
Hike:
Chuck Keiper East Loop
Date: 8/30/08 to 8/31/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Excellent trail notes! One correction is that the last
wet campsite you refer to is also illegal as it is in the Renovo
watershed (this is not clearly signed off; there is a sign at
the top of the last incline by the jeep road). We also never saw
the campsites at Cranberry Swamp. We hiked it in two days in
counter-clockwise direction and saw a tremendous amount of
wildlife (bear evidence all over the trail, two cubs in a tree,
porcupine quills on the trail, pileated woodpeckers, newts,
turkeys and grouse by the dozens). You could subsist on the
blueberries alone on the first half of the loop! This is an
excellent hike about one hour from State College- highly
recommended.

Name: Barry
Wolfe
Hike:
Iron Horse Trail
Date: Many between 1977 and 1983
Rating: 5
Critique: Iron Horse Trail was laid out and constructed between 1977 and
1980 by two crews of United States Conservation Corps (YCC) led by
Charlie Krout and John Sanderson. The crews worked out of the Bryner
Ranger Station, Tuscarora State Forest and I was their Project Director.
It was an interesting project as it involved research into the two
railroads. The Path Valley Railroad came first and was to include the
tunnel but trains never operated on the line. Later, the Perry Lumber
Company ran their railroad on the Path Valley grade from New Germantown
to the Briner Farm (now the Ranger Station) where it left the Path
Valley Grade and followed Shermans Creek to what is now Big Spring State
Park. The YCC crews were comprised of local high school students whose
names were drawn from a hat. Each crew had four boys and four girls and
worked for eight weeks each summer. It was a great project for them.
Until I left the area in 1983, Iron Horse Trail, along with the Tunnel
Trail, was one of the favorite hikes for family and friends when they
came to visit us at our home at the Bryner Ranger Station. Barry, Kathy,
and Jenny Wolfe.

Name: Carol Branscome
Hike:
Overall Run Hike
Date: 8/1/08 Rating: 3.5
Critique: Started at the parking lot at the entrance to Matthews
Arms Campground and did the long loop counter clockwise. Falls were
very low and most of the creek was dried up. It was a hazy day so
views of the valley were limited. Also agree on Heiskell Trail -
basically an old road with years worth of leaves on it. Saw lots of
bear scat. Would not recommend this hike for mid-summer. Take lots
of water.

Name: Carol Branscome Hike:
Neighbor Mt - Jeremy's Run
Date: 7/18/08 Rating: 4.5
Critique: On a beautiful summer Friday, did the longer loop
clockwise as a day hike. Saw only 4 other hikers all on the AT
section and a bear on Neighbor Mt. Loved the Neighbor Mt. ridge part
of this hike and plan to do it as an out and back during fall
foliage. Definitely rated as one of our top hikes in Shenandoah.

Name: S. Helberg
Hike:
Bull Run Mountain Conservancy
Date: August 2, 2008
Rating: 5
Critique: This hike is very scenic with much history behind it.
Located in the Thoroughfare gap, it was the site of Civil War
battles and staging. Mountain Rd that traverses the 800 acres also
has a rich history associated with it.
Downsides include the restrictions placed on pets, and an extensive
waiver that you are requested to sign before hiking if you are not a
BRMC member.
The trails are lightly used as you would imagine for a park that has
no roadway signs that would indicate you are near the trail head, or
that you have arrived until you reach the stone house at the dead
end of the road. Keep searching, the hike is worth it! You will
enjoy mountain views without wasting a drive to the Appalachian
mountains for a several hour nature outing.

Name: Matt
Hike:
AT/ Bluff Trail Loop
Date: 08-02-2008
Rating: 4
Critique: I didn't do this entire loop. I only hiked the first
section of the Appalachian Trail up to Mt Marshall and back as a
short day trip. I just wanted to note that I encountered 3 bears
while hiking this short section. There was lots of evidence of
recent bear activity along the AT (scat, berry bushes, overturned
rocks, etc). I just wanted to make a note of the recent bear
activity in that area for anyone considering this hike.
Even though I didn't do the entire loop, I enjoyed this portion a
lot. The views from Mt Marshall are great. I hope to go back and do
the entire loop sometime later this year.

Name: Natasha
Hike:
WORNT-North River Gorge
Date: 8/02-03/08
Rating: 4
Critique: Due to time constraints we did this hike in reverse, so we
had the first day along the river and the second day on the ridge.
The water level was low and many times didn't seem to be moving,
which made the stream crossings very easy. We found the campsites
under the pines and fortunately found plenty of water nearby, with a
nice pool to freshen up in. There were some good sized fish in there
that were very interested in us. With the exception of a few loud
passing cars on FR95, it was very quiet. We had a couple camp nearby
that night, otherwise we hadn't seen anyone that first day. The
second day we headed up the ridge and saw a lot more people
(mountain bikers, horseback riders, and fellow hikers). The climb to
the ridge was definitely a workout and required a few stops to catch
our breaths. We only wished there was a really nice view at the very
top to reward us for the grueling climb. The descent was nice though
a bit cumbersome with a few blowdowns. By the time we made it to the
car our legs felt like Jello. We finished the day with ice cream at
the Tastee Freeze outside Churchville. Yum! Not sure this hike would
have been any less grueling in the other direction. Either way, one
needs to climb about 1000 ft.

Name: Faye
Hike:
Old Rag
Date: 7-29-2008
Rating: 5
Critique: Loved this hike...but very strenuous. I would not
advise for a person out of shape. The rock scramble was a great
challenge. There are some nice shady areas to enjoy your lunch.
A lot of different areas to look out over. Once you get to the
summit its all worth it. It was very breathtaking.
On our way down it was nice to stop at the two shelters to take
a breather. It does seem to take a while to get back to the
parking lot... It was the easier way to go but a little longer.
We did see one bear cub on the side of the fire road. So so
cute. We were sure the mother was close so we kept a steady
pace.
I'm happy to say I hiked the Old Rag.

Name: Richmond
Hiker
Hike:
Big Run Loop Trail
Date: 7/ 27/08
Rating: 3
Critique: This is a nice short day hike. The uphill portions were not
bad at all. The only reason I did not give this hike a 5 would be a lack
of a lot of nice vistas or waterfalls, although there were tons of wild
blueberries to eat. The biggest problem I had with this trail was the
large number of black bears I encountered. Within 20 minutes of leaving
the overlook, I stumbled upon a black bear 20 yards away. 30 minutes
after that I came across a much larger bear who stood up on its hind
legs. That absolutely terrified me. Would make a great winter hike with
the leaves off the trees and bears hibernating.

Name: Dave Watts
Hike:
Cranberry Backcountry backpack
Date: 7-19 to 20-2008
Rating: 4.9
Critique: This hike is exactly as described and just incredible for a
mid-summer venture. The temperatures were quite comfortable for a
mid-July hike. I am not sure I have ever seen a prettier hike than the
Kennison mountain trail. Numerous blow downs made for some extra work
but it is worth it. My only nit and reason for not giving a perfect
rating is the stinging nettles are quite bothersome on the South Fork
trail this time of year. Overall I would rate this hike a MUST DO. I
plan to repeat it with friends.

Name: Faye
Hike:
Big Schloss
Date: 7/12 - 7/13 2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique: Overall a very good hike. We arrived around 11am. Steady
incline. Rock hopping at times. 1st stream very low but still able to
get water. Very buggie at times. We came across a very nice grassy
campsite.. thinking about staying there but were pretty far away from
water. We decided to go on and stay at one of the three campsites by the
2nd stream. It was a great place to soak your feet after a long hike.
Came across 5 other hikers passing through. We arrived at the campsite
around 4pm. Some bad flies there. Mt. drainage was low, caused some
stagnant water around. Nice and open. There was a calming breeze at
night very peaceful.
We did come across some bear droppings but didn't run into any bears or
any wildlife for that matter.
Nice and easy hike once initial incline out of the way. Beautiful views
from top of the mountain... be sure to go out its worth it.
Would do it again.

Name: Peter
Hike:
Big Schloss
Date: 07/12/2008
Rating: 5
Critique: I got to the parking lot around 3pm Friday afternoon. There
were only two cars in the lot. I was able to fast pack it to the first
scenic view at about 7 miles, about a mile past the last water stop.
There is enough space for a couple campsites and the view was
magnificent. The bugs were terrible, and I didn't have bug spray, so I
built a small fire in the rock fire ring. This really helped.
The next morning I took the trek up to Big Schloss, a little over 2 hike
(out and back). The view was worth it.
This rates as one of the most beautiful hikes I've been on in the
mid-Atlantic area. I'm going to do this hike next spring when the
Rhododendrons are blooming.
Beware: I did see signs of Black Bear (large scat and diggings) while
hiking the Mill Mountain Trail.

Name: Matt
Hike:
Gunpowder Falls East
Date: 7/13/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: Headed out to the start of this hike a little late on a Sunday
at about 3:30pm. I downloaded the gpx data from the hike description and
loaded it onto my Garmin 60CSx. The hike up to the bridge at falls rd
was sunny and humid. There were a bunch of storm clouds rolling in and
just before the road it started to rain. Luckily I was sort of training
with a full pack on so I grabbed the tarp to my tent and 4 of us huddled
underneath it until the nasty storm passed. The bridge at falls rd is
under construction, but there is a footbridge made of 2 steel i-beam
girders that you can walk across. It gets a little bouncy once you get
halfway, so one person at a time crossing wouldn't be a bad idea. Due to
the heavy rain, the remaining trails were wet, muddy, and full of
puddles. The stream crossings over Panther Branch were a little more
difficult because the water level rose a couple inches due to the rain.
Some spots were muddy enough to cause a couple falls. Overall it was a
cool hike. I'd do it again. Here is a link to my GPS data:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6240089

Name: Brandon
Hike:
Pocosin-South River Falls Circuit
Date: 7/12/2008
Rating: 3
Critique: Not as much stream walking as you'd hope. All there is the
waterfall (which is nice!), but the best part of the stream is if you
bushwhack. Also, more than half of this is on fire roads and horse
trails.
So that's one point deducted, the other point is because there was less
solitude than I expected, even away from the falls. I saw no one on the
AT, but I didn't even get to photograph/look at the mission and its
cemetery. There was this huge party of about 20 people, ALL with horses
just hanging out there, all over the trail just standing, with some dog
that tried to bite me twice.
Nice assortment of families at the falls, as you'd expect.
Parking note: there are 3 hunks of parking in the loop - you want the
third one.
Also shortly after the high point of the AT, someone drew a 900 on a
fallen tree, with a note of encouragement for thru-hikers at the midway
point. Nice touch.

Name: Bill
Hike:
Black Forest South
Date: 7/5/08
Rating: 5
Critique: We did a reverse trek according to the narrative we found
here. This was a tough trail, but the payoff was great! This trail
traverse numerous different forest ecologies, including thick
vegetation, high brush and ferns, nice blooming rhododendrons, plenty of
pines, and some great camping areas.
On the first day we trekked down to Naval Run from the Di Shay parking
area atop the map. Since we got off to a slow start, we had to blaze
through this portion of the trail. This was very difficult and I don't
recommend pushing as fast as we did. However, we arrived in plenty of
time to set up camp and relax for a bit.
Day two, we trekked out, past the pump house and set up camp underneath
the pines. On day two, we passed an incredible potential camping spot
atop the first vista when walking south from Naval Run. A word of
warning, we descended the "final" climb according to the written
narrative above. This was a straight drop down without any switchbacks.
Day three, we broke camp and hiked back to our car. The night before the
hike, I took some travel equipment with me so I could do some stargazing
at the Astronomy Park in Cherry Springs. While, I do not recommend
leaving anything valuable in your car during any hike, we thankfully
didn't have a problem.
Beautiful sights, fun hike and some great camping areas!!

Name: Morgantown hikers
Hike:
Otter Creek NW Loop
Date: 7/5-6/08
Rating: 4
Critique: A good hike through some wet terrain. We hiked the route in
the reverse direction as it had rained quite a bit before we hiked in
and we didn't want to get caught at the fords of Otter Creek. Turkey Run
and Moore Run trails were nice, but nothing special. The trail along
Otter Creek was just wonderful. I think that is some the slowest hiking
I have been on as we just kept stopping to appreciate the beauty of the
stream. Overall, a very good hike that lends itself to waterproof boots.
There is a problem with the directions to the trailhead: Fox's Pizza no
longer has a sign (that we could see), so it isn't the best reference.
Here are some better directions:
Following US Route 219 South into Parsons: As you come into town you
will make a sharp left turn next to a car dealership. Immediately after
this look for a small sign on the left side of the road for Otter Creek.
Turn left just past the sign onto Central Avenue then immediately left
again onto Billings Avenue (If you come to a bridge over Shavers Fork
you have gone too far). Continue below.
Following US Route 219 North into Parsons: At the stoplight, turn left
to continue on Route 219 North past Sheetz, McDonalds and over a bridge
over Shavers Fork. After the bridge take the first right onto Central
Avenue then immediately left again onto Billings Avenue.
DIRECTIONS CONTINUED
Follow this road through town, past a cemetery, and onto a chip-sealed
road. At the intersection with 2 gravel roads, turn right. You should
see a sign for the Experimental Forest after you round a curve. Follow
this road and take the left fork when it splits above the reservoir. A
parking lot with a trailhead sign in a sharp curve is Big Springs Gap
trailhead. Turkey Run trailhead is a little further up the road.

Name: Rehingd
Hike:
Dolly Sods Circumnavigation - mod1
Date: 6/30/08-7/3/08
Rating: 5
Critique: A friend and I did this hike mid-week and saw only 2 people
until the Forks, and even there things were not busy at all. I would not
consider this hike difficult. Just enough elevation change to get your
heart beating once or twice per day. Otherwise the only difficulty of
the terrain is walking on rocks and wet ground. This was a relaxing and
absolutely beautiful hike with great campsites. I definitely hope to
return.
If you have the luxury of timing your trip with the weather, try for
clear skies on Day 1. We had a lot of fog and mist on Day 1 that blocked
most of the D.S. North landscape, which otherwise would have been the
most impressive views of the trip.
There is a great variety of landscape in both the North and South
sections of this hike. The North is more unusual and impressive. The
South, while very nice, is more typical of mid-Atlantic hikes.
Navigation notes:
We only had a couple of difficulties, both of which may have been solved
if we relied on our GPS throughout:
At the beginning of Day 3, we had trouble figuring out which of the many
small trails through The Forks camping area was the continuation of Red
Creek Trail. It's a left turn, maybe 30 yards past the Red Creek
crossing that ends Day 2.
Also, I don't think we ever found the correct stumps where we were to
leave Raven Ridge Trail on Day 3. We ended up doing a 1mile bushwhack
East back to Dobbins Grade. Happily we were not blown to smithereens by
any undetonated munitions. And we found a great swimming hole.
Some Q/A from my first visit to Dolly Sods... maybe helpful to others:
Availability of drinkable water? Not a problem on our trip, and I
wouldn't expect a problem even in dryer conditions. Much of Day 1 is
dry, but otherwise we did not need replenish water on most of our
chances to do so.
Low Temps? As expected, it's colder here than in surrounding areas. It
was down to the upper 40's one night. Plant-life is weeks behind other
mid-Atlantic areas.
Hammock camping? Yes! The camping areas have plenty of trees to hang
from. Prepare for the cool nights. I was quite happy in a Hennessy
Ultralight with half a Walmart blue pad under my torso and a down vest
stretched under my legs.
Biting Insects? Basically none on our visit. Repellant did not leave the
backpack.
Footwear? I made out ok in trail running shoes. Those with ankle
concerns will want boots to account for the rocky terrain. A little more
sole protection may have been nice for the same reason. Your shoes will
get wet.
Travel by Motorcycle? FR75 has some rocks, but is no problem for any car
with average clearance. My motorcycle is made for some light
off-pavement riding and was fine. My friend was on a large Harley
Duo-glide and had a little more challenge, but he made it without
incident.
An exceptional trip. Thank you!

Name: DAVID M.
WATTS
Hike:
Red Creek/Dunkenbarger Loop
Date: 6. - 20 to 21-2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique: This is a wonderful loop hike that has just the right mix of
everything. It seemed to be easier than I expected from the "difficult"
rating but the description of the hike above is perfect and makes
following the route easy. The campsite at Dunkenbarger run is one of the
prettiest I have ever seen. Unfortunately I arrived at that site at 1:30
in the afternoon and decided to hike on to the finish. Please heed the
ford information and I recommend a good set of Keen sandals for the
crossing. Trekking poles are useful for this as well.

Name: MDRaven
Hike:
Old Logger's Path
Date: 06-13 to 15-2008
Rating: 4.5
Critique: We tackled this loop going clockwise from Masten. I'm
convinced it may be a little easier to do this counterclockwise, but
I'm still glad we did it the way we did, using Pleasant Stream as
the first night campsite and Rock Run as the second. The scenery
exceeded my expectations. The vistas were outstanding, accompanied
by the blooming mountain laurel. Rock Run was spectacular. I could
see where later in the summer this trail could get very dry. Other
than Rock Run and Pleasant Stream, there wasn't much water flow. I
thought the trail was very well-marked and easy to follow. The Trail
Notes posted on this site were excellent. We saw a very large Scout
group on the trail, but few others, even at Rock Run on Saturday
night. Overall, I was impressed with The Logs and will consider
doing it again someday.

Name:
Blueridgetreks
Hike:
Austin Mt-Furnace Mt Loop
Date: 6/21/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: This is one tough hike full of rock slides, great views
(especially at the end of the Furnace Mtn Spur Trail, don't miss it)
and wild rock formations on Blackrock Mtn. Bring plenty of water on
this trip during the summer as you'll need it especially going up
Furnace Mtn Trail after crossing Madison Run. After reaching
Blackrock Mtn, the rest of the trail on the AT back to Brown's Gap
is fairly "flat", a nice reprieve after the climb up Furnace Mtn.
Directions from this site were great, we started/ended at the
Brown's Gap Parking area, close to MP83 on Skyline Drive.

Name: Tony Van Vugt
Hike:
Austin Mt-Furnace Mt Loop
Date: 6/21/2008
Rating: 5
Critique: The Austin/Furnace Mountains hike is a challenging day
hike at over 13 miles. The Austin Mountain trail offers beautiful
views to the south and peak of Furnace Mountain. There are also
great vistas from the Furnace Mountain summit back towards Austin
Mountain, as well as a panoramic view from the Blackrock area.
We did this hike a couple of weeks after MRHyker, and I strongly
agree that doing this circuit counterclockwise is the best route.
And as MRHyker recommends, make sure to wear good sun protection,
like a hat and sunscreen for the long hike up the exposed Furnace
Mountain ridge. One last note: If you do this hike in the warmer
summer months make sure to cover yourself with Deet. The trails are
very grassy, and are covered in ticks.

Name: John
Hike:
Ramsey's Draft
Date: 06/21-22/08
Rating: 4
Critique: This was a fantastic hike, a little challenging for
beginners, but a good experience nonetheless. We started hiking up
the draft as suggested but ran into heavy rain with lightning on the
last push to Hiner Spring Meadow. This dampened the spirits of my
friends and the following day we decided to follow the same trail
down instead of the longer ridge trail with promises of more
elevation gains, so I cant comment on that part of the trail. We did
meet other people at the meadow campsites that complained about the
lack of reliable water sources and recommended stocking up before
continuing. As far as the draft trail there were several patches of
shoulder high poison ivy but luckily the water level was low making
for very easy crossings (and the number of crossings gave us many
opportunities to wash off). Look out for the cairns for crossings,
as someone else mentioned, they are not always visible being
obscured by growth. Most of the trail following the old graded road
is bordered by stinging nettles and I would highly recommend pants
for this segment. Following the washed out bridge the elevation gain
is more consistent and the forests encroachment of the trail begins
to become more evident with several off-trail excursions to find
routes around fallen trees. All-in-all this is a great experience
that reminded us of trails we had done on Washington's Olympic
Peninsula with all the moss and growth. Highly recommended, I will
return to Ramsey's Draft to complete the loop as soon as possible.

Name: shuntphl
Hike:
Pole Steeple
Date: 6/21/2008
Rating: 4
Critique: Thanks for a very enjoyable day hike to around Pole
Steeple! The first part to Pole Steeple was fairly strenuous due to
the summer heat. I had some difficulties finding the black-blazed
trail (blue?) up the mountain to the outlook. The view from Pole
Steeple is magnificent. After a short snack, I was back on my feet,
but where to go now? I looked at my GPS and thought to myself that
this can't be right, because the way down on the other side of Pole
Steeple went almost vertically down for about 300ft. After some
debating, I made my way down (not easy with a 10lbs. pack) and was
greeted by a fair amount of people who came up the short and easy 1m
trail from Laurel Lake.
The remaining part of the loop was through a fairly populated area
with log cabins and the YMCA camp until I hit the orange-blazed Buck
Ridge Trail. The final red-blazed Koperhaven Trail is fairly level,
but adventurous. I haven't crossed a creek over a log in a while and
it took me about 5 minutes to find the courage to make an successful
attempt. Again, fairly challenging with a day pack, but very, very
enjoyable.
I went through a good 90oz of water on this summer day hike and
proper hydration for this trip is mandatory. There is a fair amount
of lakes, ponds and creeks to refill for those who don't want to
carry a lot of water.
The directions were right on the spot. Thanks for a very enjoyable
hike!

Name: Jonny
Hike:
Black Forest trail North and
South
Date: 6-19-08 to 6-20
Rating: 5
Critique: This is a beautiful hike with many vistas. Many streams to
cross, we did the entire BFT in 2 days. I parked just off rt44 at
the county line start/end point. we started at noon on day 1 and
decided to camp at the campsite on Slate Run, which was .77miles
past the old quarry rd. We got their at 6:00pm very nice camp site,
lots of pines.
Day 2 we left campsite at 10:30am. After crossing a forest rd
climbing up to the top is the hardest climb, but it is the best
overlook on the trip. plus we saw 2 rattlesnakes laying on the rocks
on the edge. My friend was able to catch one and hold it. Perfect
place to rest or eat lunch, just watch were you walk rattlesnakes
blend in well up there. We got back to the truck at 5:15pm. I
wouldn't recommend doing the entire loop in 2 days unless you're in
good shape. It is a advanced trail.