Shenandoah Mountain

I had done two day hike to Shenandoah Mountain on 30th and 31st August 2014 . It is located in Virginia State.
Hike Location
Name: Shenandoah Mountain
Distance: 125 miles from Richmond(approx)
Total hiking distance: 18.2 miles.
Altitude: 2810 ft
Trek Items: Backpack(45 L), Food, Water(4 L approx), Camps Stove, Sleeping bag, Tent(1 person), Lantern, Head Torch, Swiss knife, Compass, Matchbox, Medical Kit and floaters.
Hiking Experience: Started around 9:07 am on 30th. Reached the parking spot around 11:09 am. Entered my details in the trail register and set out for hike. The trail started behind the trail register area. It was a very narrow trail. Soon there was a diversion for bridge hollow trail. I followed the Ramsey's Draft trail. The trail is not well maintained and no markings on the trail. All along the trail there were fell down trees obstructing the path. Continued on the narrow trail surrounded by huge trees. it was very hot sunny climate and even the trees could not stop the sunlight from penetrating through the gaps in leaves. Slowly there was gradual increase in the slope of the trail. There were so many Stream crossings on the way but the stream has very little water flow. The trail lead into the middle of the forest and small rock patches were there. Crossed another intersection, Jerry's Run after hiking for 45 mins. Scorching heat and heavy backpack(stuffed for two day hiking) made the trek really a great physical challenge. After the intersection, the slope increased and sunlight directly on the trail.  Slowly hiked further. Halted for lunch around 1:17 pm. Had lunch and again started around 1:36 pm.It was again a gradual slope and trail was little wider and had many crossings. Soon reached a great campsite with river stream nearby. It is at the intersection of Bald Ridge trail.One can camp here as well. I went ahead and reached another intersection around 2:20 pm. It was HardScrabble Knob trail. Went along the Knob trail for 0.5 miles to reach the HardScrabble knob near the old abandoned shack. However the shack is completely down and could not get to the knob(huge rocks from which we can get nice view of the terrain and surrounding mountains). Just saw the rocks and returned back to the intersection around 2:40 pm and continued hike along Ramsey's Draft. Finally reached the campsite around 3:18 pm which has great center fire pit and huge tree with sign "Shenandoah Mountain Trail". Pitched the tent by 3:40 pm. Took rest for half an hour so inside the tent. Then had snacks. Quickly changed to floaters and set out for evening sight seeing and found water source near the big tree.
                                                   
The campsite is surrounded by four large trees preventing sunlight and also covered rain which I came to know sometime later. It started drizzling and I came back to my tent and had a nap until 7:30 pm.  Rain was stopped but there was cool breeze. Area near my tent was not wet as the four trees were giving shelter. Prepared hot soup and maggie with the camp stove just outside the tent. It was great fun to cook in the woods in night and have it in nature. I forgot to carry spoon/fork. Used the nature's wood as chopsticks. It was a good experience. Then closed the tent and switched on the lantern and made arrangements for sleep. Could hear laud noise of the breeze all through the night along with small rattling sound of insects. It was again drizzling. After sometime rain stopped. Put head torch and went for night watch. After rain, watching the sky in so nice calm atmosphere is really a great view. It was pitch dark outside. Just went few meters ahead and started drizzling again. Came back to my tent around 10:30 pm. Did some meditation to kill the time and then went off to sleep inside my sleeping bag. Slept in the warm temperature inside sleeping bag inside tent under four big trees by 11:15 pm. Got up around 6:30 am on Sunday morning. No rain but it was still not fully light and fully covered with fog. Slept again for half an hour and got up around 7:00 am. Now fog is bit cleared and could find trails. Packed everything including tent, got freshen up and set out for second day hike along the Shenandoah Mountain trail around 7:50 am.                                                                

 It was so nice climate outside , perfect for hiking with fresh green plants on earth, thick mist in the air and few droplets of water from tree leaves. Followed the Mountain trail. The trail was narrow and no marks on the trail and not well maintained. So many huge trees fell down blocking the route. Soon reached an intersection with Sinclair Hollow Trail in 15 mins Continued on Mountain trail. The trail is very steep down the hill and fully covered with small plants and lot of cobweb all along the path. Still there is no sign of sunlight along the woods. The trail led into the middle of the jungle. Reached another intersection with Jerry's Run around 9:25 am. Continued on Mountain trail for another half an hour and reached Road Hollow Trail. Followed the Road hollow trail on left. This trail had yellow marks and very steep trail and was almost running down the hill due to the steepness. Saw little sunshine amidst thick forest trees. Cool breeze still continued. There were so many crossings along the path with no water. most of the trail was in the middle of the jungle. There was a huge tree on the path which is completely uprooted. Could see huge roots of the tree and looked like an old abandoned hut. After hiking for 30 mins could see the main road and hear the sounds of vehicles passing by. Reached the parking lot by 10:45 am. Entered the end date in trail register and started from parking around 11:00 am. Reached home by 1:00 pm. Overall it was a great wonderful memorable experience to live in the woods for entire 24 hours. Awesome way to live the life. All is Well.

                                  

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Sherando Camp

We had done Car Camping at Sherando Lake on 26th and 27th July 2014 . It is located in Virginia State.
Camp Location
Name: Sherando Lake
Distance: 100 miles from Richmond(approx), 55 miles from Lynchburg
Camping days: 26th and 27th.
Camp Team: 16 adults, 2 kids
Camp Equipment: 1-8 person tent, 2-6 person tent, 1-4 person tent, 1-2 person tent, electric cooker, camp stove, 2-electric Griddle, music system, lamps, 2-lanterns, 2-tarps, extension box, chairs, torches, firewood, fuel, food, water, bedding.
Camping Experience: we reached campsite around 2:30 pm . Few of our team had done hiking in the morning and were first to reach the campsite by 2:15 pm. Total of 6 cars reached the camping site with all the necessary items. The campground at Sherando lake drive has 3 loops each loop having multiple camp sites. we have booked two campsites, one electric and other non electric(little far away from the electric). The electric campsite is larger in area and has a pole with sockets for electricity at one corner of the campsite. The electric campsite is a large rectangular area covered by thick trees providing cool shade all through the day and it is properly cleaned and leveled by the camp office. There was a river stream at the backside of the campsite. There was place for barbecue at one corner. For every 3-4 campsites, water tap is provided and big trash disposal and restrooms are provided for each loop. Only two cars were allowed per each campsite. We emptied the cars and parked the extra two cars in overflow parking. Few of us started with tent pitching. Few others started preparation for lunch(plugged in the electric appliances for heating) and rest arranging other camp items. we were done tent pitching around 3:30 pm at electric campsite(1-8 person and 1-6 person). Setup the music system. we went to get the firewood from nearby store which is 8 miles from campsite. Had lunch.

Few of us went to other campsite to pitch the tent. The non electric campsite is also rectangular and leveled properly. there was food storage box at one corner of the site and had a water tap near by. It is not much covered by trees. we pitched two tents(1-6 person and 1-4 person). Tent pitching was fun and interesting. Returned to main campsite(electric) around 4:00 pm. Had nice Lassi. Collected the firewood and started campfire for barbecue. Then few of us went to nearby beach which is half a mile from campsite around 5:00 pm. Others started preparations for evening snacks and dinner. It is an artificial beach surrounded by huge trees. Water and beach sand are very clean. Water was cold but not deep though and ideal conditions for swimming. We played volleyball for sometime. There is a lawn near the beach to relax and enjoy the nature. We returned to campsite around 7:30 pm. By the time we reached, Curries(1- veg and 1-non-veg) for dinner are ready. We had hot fish, veggies for snacks. Used the camp stove for preparing tea. Had biscuits, chips along with it. We placed the tarp in the center of the campsite for everyone to sit on it and few sat on chairs. Few of us had hard drinks while others had soft drinks. Cooked rice in rice cooker. Warmed milk for kids on camp stove on timely basis. Few continued to have drinks near the river stream and others were sitting on the tarp, deeply engrossed in their own gossiping. Rice was ready and started having dinner. It started raining while we were almost about to complete our dinner. Rain was not predicted until 27th afternoon but it was surprise for us from sky. We covered all the food and other camp items with the tarp. Few went inside the tents, few completing the dinner and others were washing the utensils.Rain stopped after half an hour. Everyone sat on the tarp.              

 It was completely dark outside except for the lights at campsite. Played game(Mafia, Angels and Villagers). It was very interesting and everyone were so much involved in the game that we didn't realized the time. It was 1:00 am. Packed the remaining things in the car as no item should be left unattended on the campsite. Few of us left to the other campsite for sleeping. Arranged all the bedding. we setup the 2-person tent as well in the night. It was a good experience figuring way to pitch it up in the night with just lantern light. Then we went inside the tents around 2:30 am and after few minutes it started raining heavily with thunderstorm. Around 3 pm we were done with gossiping and slept. It was raining whole night and around 6:00 am in the morning few of us got up to see that the entire site was wet, it was still drizzling and water droplets dripping inside the tent. We went to the main campsite to observe the situation there. The lamps were off not sure when, we removed the electric plug. Tarp and chairs were fully drenched in water. we returned to other campsite and started wrapping up the tents. we woke up others, got freshen up and packed the tents, cleared the area and returned to main campsite around 8:30 am. Then started winding up at the main campsite. Packing the tent took more time than pitching it and the tents are went and covered with dirt. We actually planned for morning tea and breakfast but due to unfavourable climate conditions we dropped the plan. Around 11:00 am we were done packing and ready to leave. Left the campground and reached home around 1:30 pm. All is well.
Photo Courtesy : Amit and Gaurav.

                                 

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