B-Fick.com | Home

Three Ridges Area

Brian — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Three Ridges Hiking

13 mile roundtrip route
2130 max elevation difference
3850 climb / 3850 descent

Lowesville, VA – Just west of Charlottesville, the Appalachian Mountains rise and the Blue Ridge Parkway snakes northwards. Just off the parkway, Three Ridges rises prominently and hosts some excellent hiking and camping. The hiking loop utilizes both the Appalachian Trail and the Mau-Har Trail to form a moderate to strenuous 2-day hike. At a length of 13 miles (round-trip), this hike has a maximum elevation difference of 2130′ and features some amazing vistas.

Trail Description

Beginning at Reeds Gap on the parkway, head towards the edge of the meadow and follow the worn path south. For this short distance, the Appalachian Trail (AT) is exposed. As soon as the trail breaks into the forest, it begins the climb up and over the wooded Meadow Mountain. The section of trail here is steep in spots, but descends quickly after cresting. After a few elongated switchbacks, you’ll arrive at the Maupin Field Shelter area.

There are several good campsites here, along with a pit toilet, food hanging pole and several other rustic comforts. Take a right off the AT at the first junction and pass by the shelter to head down the Mau-Har trail. It begins in a damp valley, crossing the creek several times as well as negotiating tight clearances. Be prepared to step down over some large boulders and steep grades.

At about the midway point, the Mau-Har trail begins to climb out of the valley and up into a much drier area as it approaches its junction with the AT. At the end of the trail, turn left and follow the AT north towards the Harpers Creek Shelter.

After crossing Harpers Creek, you will come across a large camping area, with several great campsites. Follow the creek upwards to get to the shelter. The AT continues at a junction just south of the shelter, heading eastward and beginning the slow climb up the south side of Three Ridges. There are several excellent vistas along the way, as well as good campsites once past Chimney Rock

After Chimney Rock, the trail gets steeper and negotiates a series of switchbacks as it approaches the summit. The trail at the summit is brief, before it begins its gradual descent to the Maupin Field Shelter and eventual trailhead and parking area at Reeds Gap. The hike down is fairly easy, presenting only one tricky area where it is necessary to scramble down over a large boulder outcropping. Once at the Maupin Field Shelter, hike back up and over Meadow Mountain and back to the parking area.

This is an excellent weekend backpacking hike. The hike out to Harpers Creek is manageable no matter which direction you choose to hike. The hike back is probably easier using the Mau-Har trail, but can be done in either direction as well. This hike is moderate to strenuous, depending on the temperature and weather.

NOTE: When hiking this trail, my group was presented with less than ideal weather – the forecast called for rain and storms on our first day and a gradual clearing on the second. We made the decision to hike the lower elevations first in order to manage our exposure to potential afternoon storms. This meant hiking the Mau-Har Trail to the Harpers Creek Shelter on the first day and then hiking up and over Three Ridges on the second day to return. Doing the loop in this order does result in a more intense hike up Three Ridges.

Trail Map

Trail Photos

The post Three Ridges Area first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

Ramsey’s Draft Hike

Brian — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:42:02 +0000

West Augusta, VA – A short drive west on US 250 leaving Staunton, travelers will come upon another slice of the remote George Washington National Forest. Here, a rocky mountain stream and wooded valley surrounded by towering mountains help to create an awesome loop trail. At a length of 16.8 miles (round-trip), this strenuous hike ascends around 2000′ and makes a perfect weekend trip.

[link-kmz urlbase=”ramseys-draft/ramseys-draft”] [link-gpx urlbase=”ramseys-draft/ramseys-draft”] [link-maps googlemapsurl=”http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=Ramsey’s+Draft+N&hl=en&sll=36.75282,-79.989155&sspn=5.095376,8.822021&geocode=FROISAIdRwpF-w&mra=mr&t=m&z=7″ location=”the trailhead”]

Trail Description

Parking for the trailhead is at the very end of the Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness drive. An information board marks the trailhead and encourages you to sign-in before heading out. Take your first right onto the Bridge Hollow Trail. Your first draft crossing, and most challenging due to the width, is the first obstacle. The trail ascends quickly after the crossing, gaining around 700 feet before the junction with the Bald Knob Trail. Turn left here and continue upward.

The next 6 miles takes you along an undulating and wooded ridge-line. Depending upon the time of year, the ground vegetation can get a little thick. Keep a sharp eye on the trail because it is easy to miss a jog and end up on a precarious slope. Before cresting the highest elevation at Big Bald Knob, you’ll pass the Dividing Ridge junction. There is a stagnant pool of water here. After a steep climb, the trail gradually descends to it’s end at the Hiner Springs Trail. Keep an eye out for briar patches, especially on some of the higher elevations.

At the junction, take a left onto the Hiner Springs Trail. It will gradually ascend and open up at the springs. There are several really good campsites here, complete with fire pits and stone seating. The spring is nearby and is a good source for water.

Continuing through the camping area will take you to the junction with the Hardscrabble Knob trail. This is a lush trail that leads to the forested summit of Hardscrabble Knob. Here there are several large rock outcroppings that can be scaled for a better view. Keep a lookout for the fire tower ruins before heading back down.

The Ramsey’s Draft trail returns you to the parking area and is mostly down hill. While this may sound easy, it’s a challenging 7-mile trail that is littered with fallen Hemlocks and crosses the ever-growing draft 14 different times. Along the way, you’ll pass several great campsites.

A little more than halfway down, the trail becomes what looks like a very old road. According to Wikipedia, the 3 mile section of road was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1930s and existed until 1969 when it was heavily damaged by heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Camille. When returning to the parking area, don’t forget to sign-out.

This loop makes a perfect weekend backpacking destination – one can arrive Friday, hike out to Shiner Springs on Saturday and back to the parking area on Sunday. Given it’s length, remoteness and around 2000 feet of elevation climb, the hike is fairly strenuous and is not appropriate for beginners.

[link-related url=”http://www.hikingupward.com/gwnf/RamseysDraft/” subject=”Link to more info at Hiking Upward”]

Trail Data

[gps-data-up distance=”16.8″ elevationdifference=”2008″ climb=”3520″ descent=”3520″ time=”2 days total”]

Trail Map

[gps-iframe urlbase=”ramseys-draft/ramseys-draft” height=”496″]

Trail Elevation Profile

[gps-elevation trailname=”Fall Mountain Trail” urlbase=”ramseys-draft/ramseys-draft”]

Trail Photos

Ramsey's Draft Wildersness trailhead, at the end of the parking lot

First crossing of Ramsey's Draft on the Bridge Hollow Trail

Bridge Hollow Trail

Narrow ridge along the Bald Knob Trail

One of the many campsites at Hiner Springs

Ferns surrounding Hardsrabbie Knob Trail

Cabin ruins at the top of Hardscrabbie Knob - look for the fallen fire tower as well

The upper portion of the Ramsey's Draft Trail

A large fallen tree crossing Ramsey's Draft

Photo of one of the many campsites along the draft

Typical draft crossing - follow the exposed stones, but watch out for slippery ones

The lower portion of the Ramsey's Draft Trail

The post Ramsey’s Draft Hike first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

In the Bahamas

Brian — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:36:56 +0000

Janis worked really hard this past spring and earned a great trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas. We turned it into a 10 day trip thanks to Christine coming down mid-week and letting us stay with some of her family. A good time was had by all! [view-the-gallery galleryaddress=”Bahamas”]

The post In the Bahamas first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

Stairs in the Trees

Brian — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:48:30 +0000

After climbing the Shuckstack Fire Tower, you’re above the trees. Note the stark contrast between the aging steel and fresh green leaves, it’s nice.

The post Stairs in the Trees first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

Shuckstack Fire Tower

Brian — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:42:52 +0000

Fontana Dam, NC – Shortly after Appalachian Trail hikers cross the Fontana Dam, they quickly ascend onto the higher peaks of the Smokey Mountain National Park. On this ascent, one can take a short detour and explore the abandoned Shuckstack Fire Tower. Brave hikers can climb to the top of the tower for an awesome view of the surrounding valleys and Fontana Lake. At a length of 3.3 miles (one-way), this section of the Appalachian Trail ascends around 2120′ and can be finished in around 4 hours (out and back).

[link-kmz urlbase=”appalachian-trail/shuckstack-fire-tower/shuckstack-fire-tower”] [link-gpx urlbase=”appalachian-trail/shuckstack-fire-tower/shuckstack-fire-tower”] [link-maps googlemapsurl=”http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=35.46074,-83.811264&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&sll=35.455566,-83.806543&sspn=0.022967,0.043087&ie=UTF8&z=15″ location=”the trailhead”]

Trail Description

In probably one of the more remote parts of North Carolina, out of the range of most cell towers, the Fontana Dam sits at the foot of the Smokey Mountains, impounding the nearly 17-mile long Fontana Lake. It is here that the Appalachian Trail crosses into the National Park and begins its ascent onto the 6000+ foot peaks. The now abandoned Shuckstack Fire Tower is a popular out and back hike for those visiting the dam.

For those not through-hiking on the Appalachian Trail, this hike is best accessed by driving to the Fontana Dam. At the visitor center, keep straight, cross the dam, and follow the narrow National Park road about a half-mile up to the trailhead. The trail picks up elevation quickly as it meanders up to the ridge line. The next mile and a half follow that ridge line up to Little Shuckstack.

At this point, the trail follows the terrain around to the west, setting up an elongated switchback up and over the steep terrain at the summit of Shuckstack. When the trail turns back to the east, the grade increases immensely, gaining 300-400 feet in a hurry. Keep an eye out for a junction – you will follow the trail to the right and arrive shortly at the the fire tower.

Climbing the fire tower will test any fear of heights as there is little more than a set of wooden stairs and rusted metal handrail. It does sway in the wind and has not been maintained in many years, so use caution.

Trail Data

[gps-data-up distance=”3.4″ elevationdifference=”2120″ climb=”2275″ descent=”150″ time=”4 hours total”]

Trail Map

[gps-iframe urlbase=”appalachian-trail/shuckstack-fire-tower/shuckstack-fire-tower” height=”496″]

Trail Elevation Profile

[gps-elevation trailname=”Fall Mountain Trail” urlbase=”appalachian-trail/shuckstack-fire-tower/shuckstack-fire-tower”]

Trail Photos

Trailhead at National Park Road

Appalachian Trail

Typical white blazes along this portion of the trail

Southern vista from clearing in trail

Junction - AT to the left, Shuckstack Tower to the right

Shuckstack Fire Tower

Cabin ruins next to tower

Looking up at the tower

Tower stairs and lack of fall protection

Fontana Lake from the top of the Shuckstack Fire Tower

The post Shuckstack Fire Tower first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

Chestnut Knob Trail

Brian — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:29:47 +0000

Pleasant Grove, NC – The Chestnut Knob Trail is located in South Mountain State Park, just southwest of Hickory. Starting at the Jacob Fork parking area, a short hike past the picnic area and amphitheater on the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail leads to the trailhead. Although it starts out steep, the trail levels off and makes a gentle climb to the top of Chestnut Knob, before heading out to the overlook. At 1.8 miles (one-way), the trail ascends around 918′ and can be finished in around 2 hours (out and back).

[link-kmz urlbase=”south-mountain-sp/chestnut-knob-trail/chestnut-knob-trail”] [link-gpx urlbase=”south-mountain-sp/chestnut-knob-trail/chestnut-knob-trail”] [link-maps googlemapsurl=”http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=35.602689,-81.628954&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=35.599462,-81.626744&sspn=0.011463,0.021544&ie=UTF8&ll=35.600683,-81.623182&spn=0.022925,0.043087&z=15″ location=”the trailhead”]

Trail Description

Although there are many trails within the park, the Chestnut Knob Trail takes hikers to a high observation spot where one can look over the whole valley below. Starting at the Jacob Fork parking area, head to the main trailhead. Take the High Shoals Falls Loop Trail, past the picnic area, past the restrooms, past the amphitheater, until you reach the trailhead for the Chestnut Knob Trail on the right.

The first portion is fairly steep. Switchbacks wind up and around until you reach a small junction. Taking a right leads to the Jacob Fork Overlook, going left continues up the trail. After crossing a minor stream, and then climbing up a small staircase to the Chestnut knob, you will reach another junction. Taking a left here continues on to the Chestnut Knob Overlook.

At the next crest, the trail begins to head down again, this time for the last time before emerging onto an outcropping of rocks – this is the overlook you were working towards. The view is impressive and well worth the moderately strenuous hike. If hiked earlier in the day, you could certainly combine it with one of the many other trails for an entire day of hiking.

Trail Data

[gps-data-up distance=”2″ elevationdifference=”918″ climb=”1000″ descent=”180″ time=”2 hours total”]

Trail Map

[gps-iframe urlbase=”south-mountain-sp/chestnut-knob-trail/chestnut-knob-trail” height=”496″]

Trail Elevation Profile

[gps-elevation trailname=”Fall Mountain Trail” urlbase=”south-mountain-sp/chestnut-knob-trail/chestnut-knob-trail”]

Trail Photos

The High Shoals Falls Loop Trailhead

The public restrooms that accompany the picnic area

The Chestnut Knob Trailhead

General trail conditions

Lower trail junction

Upper trail junction

Directional sign before the Overlook

View from the Chestnut Knob Overlook

The post Chestnut Knob Trail first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

Hattaway Mountain Trail

Brian — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:52:30 +0000

Albemarle, NC – Hattaway Mountain is a modest mountain in central portion of Morrow Mountain State Park. As part of Uwharrie Mountains, it is one of the oldest mountains in North America. Starting at the park’s swimming pool, the trail moves counter-clockwise around the base of the mountain, before heading up to the summit and returning back down to the start . Totaling at almost 2 miles (total), the trail ascends to a point 436′ higher than where you start and can be finished in around 1 hour (total).

[link-kmz urlbase=”morrow_mountain_sp/hattaway_mountain_trail/hattaway_mtn_trail”] [link-gpx urlbase=”morrow_mountain_sp/hattaway_mountain_trail/hattaway_mtn_trail”] [link-related url=”/gps/morrow_mountain_sp/morrow_mtn_sp.gpx” subject=”Download .GPX of Morrow Mountain State Park trails”] [link-maps googlemapsurl=”http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=35.37522,-80.074067&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=35.375063,-80.073874&sspn=0.005581,0.007939&ie=UTF8&ll=35.375081,-80.073874&spn=0.005546,0.007939&t=h&z=17″ location=”the trailhead”]

Trail Description

Morrow Mountain State Park, located in the piedmont of North Carolina, preserves the remnants of the mighty Uwharrie Mountains. In the central section of the park is the modest Hattaway Mountain. The trail that summits it is a moderate hike that almost anyone can do.

Beginning at Swimming Pool, the trail begins and immediately heads into the densely wooded terrain. Shortly after starting, there is a t-junction, this is where the trail separates into the loop portion. Taking a right here, the trail follows the base for around 3/4 of a mile. The terrain here is undulating, cross over several small streams flowing away from the mountain and their subsequent ridge lines. In a bit of randomness, water line boxes litter this portion of the trail.

After a sharp left-hand turn the trail immediately heads up to the higher elevations. The trail here is very poorly designed, moving up one of the steepest slopes with no effort made to create switchbacks. At the top, it levels off for a short period before heading back down again. Switchbacks are utilized here, forging a nice, even slope down the mountain before returning to the main junction, and then back to the trailhead.

Giving some thought to the trail afterwards, we agreed that it was best to attack it by taking a right at the junction. The steepest portion of the trail averages around a 30% slope. We all agreed this was easier to walk up, as opposed to down, especially with a layer of slick leaves covering the trail. This means that at the junction you would take a right and move counter-clockwise through the loop.

Trail Data

[gps-data-up distance=”1.75″ elevationdifference=”436″ climb=”550″ descent=”480″ time=”1 hours total”]

Trail Map

[gps-iframe urlbase=”morrow_mountain_sp/hattaway_mountain_trail/hattaway_mtn_trail” height=”496″]

Trail Elevation Profile

[gps-elevation trailname=”Fall Mountain Trail” urlbase=”morrow_mountain_sp/hattaway_mountain_trail/hattaway_mtn_trail”]

Trail Photos

View of a sign at the major trail junction

View of the trail with orange square blazes

Fallen trees that litter the landscape on the lower sections of the trail

One of the many dips in the trail elevation

One of the many strange water meter boxes along the trail

View of the steep section on the east side of the mountain

View of the summit area

Leaf covered trail on the western slopes

The post Hattaway Mountain Trail first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.

New Years in New Jersey

Brian — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:31:42 +0000

Because it had been a while since our great Northeast Train Trip, Janis and I decided it would be fun to travel up to the New York City area for New Years. We embarked on the morning of the 30th, driving all day to get there, fortunately only hitting moderate traffic around DC. The next day, we set off and did some sight seeing in the town of Red Bank, hiking through the marshes of Sandy Hook, bowling in the largest bowling alley Janis and I have ever seen and watched fireworks in the city of New Brunswick. On Sunday, we closed out our trip in the city, walking through a snowy Central Park and seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center. [view-the-gallery galleryaddress=”NJForNYE”]

The post New Years in New Jersey first appeared on B-Fick.com | Home.