Big Devils Stairs

We had done hike to Big Devils Stairs  on 24th July 2016 . It is located in Virginia State in Shenandoah National Park.
Hike Location
Name: Big Devils Stairs
Distance: 100 miles from Richmond(approx)
Total hiking distance: 5.5 miles.
Altitude: 1055 ft.
Hike Team: Deepak and me
Hiking Experience:Started around 7:35 am in the morning, picked up Deepak and set off for the Destination on Skyline Drive(Gravel Springs Gap Parking).We reached by 10:46 am. There was one car in the parking lot by the time we reached. Had our breakfast at the parking lot on rocks under the shade. It was very sunny day. Around 11:05 am we started our hike. We followed the yellow blaze trail which was very wide initially. There were so many trees on both sides of the trail which kept the place cool. In few mins we reached an intersection where we took left and continued on our yellow blazed trail. The trail is narrowed and lead us to the middle of the jungle. There was a water stream which was dried. We crossed it and continued further. We are traversing down the hill. With cool breeze and little sunshine through the gaps of the leaves of big trees we had the perfect weather for a hike and enjoyed the nature. The trail is covered with small stones and experienced little ascent slope while we hiked. we reached an intersection and then continued on blue blazed trail. The trail was very narrow and has lot of curves. Could not see the trail ahead until we reach the end point of the curve. We were descending down the trail with much ease and reached big stone steps (Stairs as the name suggests). After climbing down the stairs and hiked for few yards we reached our first view point. It was amazing to see the valley of the mountain covered with huge trees and bushes. We descended further reached the second point and our last point of the trek by 12:07 pm. It was almost the similar view as of the first.

We sat on the huge rock over there in the shade of huge trees. There was constant cool breeze all over the place and we relaxed there to have our lunch. we enjoyed the view, cool breeze, nature while having lunch. We started back to our parking around 12:35 pm. now we were ascending the narrow trail and could feel the heaviness due to lunch. Slowly we ascended the trail, sweating due to heavy lunch. We crossed all the intersections once again. we were hiking with ease as we reached the easy patch( straight trail with shade). The slope increased as we were reaching the destination and our pace was reduced. Slowly we continued further and reached the parking lot around 1:41 pm. we did few exercises for stretching and then left for home. We saw a small bear on the hill while we were driving along Skyline Drive. We halted near a local store on one of the state roads for a cold fruit juice. As we were on state highway we saw a fox on the passing-by farms. After a long time was lucky enough to see one. we reached home around 4:35 pm. It was a memorable trek with great views. All is Well.

                         

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Big Meadows Camp

we had done camp on 9th July 2016. It is located in Virginia State in Shenandoah National Park.
Camp Location
Name: Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park
Distance: 100 miles from Richmond(approx)
Camp Team: me and my wife.
Camp Items: Camp Stove, Gas, Charcoal, Lighter, Food items, Table Cloth, fire wood, tent, Sleeping bag, Cutlery, Trays, Water, Torches, Lantern, Cards.
Camping Experience: We started around 11:30am from home. Stopped at Kroger to buy items necessary for camping. Around 12:10 pm left for campsite from Kroger after filling gas. Around 2:30pm we reached our campsite in Big Meadows after registering at the Skyline Drive Ranger station. we purchased firewood at the entrance of the Campsite. our campsite(A 088) is very near to the firewood shop. It was hot sunny day however due to the shade of large trees at the campground we have not felt the heat. Campsite has a clean area for tent, wooden picnic table(having place to sit as well as place food items on it), fire-pit and grill on top of it for barbecue and place for car parking. First we pitched up our tent in the designated area in between two large trees thus always covered with leaves. We placed comforters and sleeping bag in the tent as base for additional softness. Around 3:30pm after tent pitching, we covered the picnic table with cloth and then arranged all the items we brought on the table. We prepared tomato soup with the small gas stove. With cool breeze flowing, being in the nature and having such a hot soup was a great experience. After enjoying the soup and the climate for sometime we then decided to make paneer tikka. we unpacked all the the necessary stuff for marination, cut all the veggies along with paneer and allowed for marination for around 1.5 hours. We took some rest in the shade of the trees.

Cleaned the unwanted stuff from the table and then took the coal and firewood for paneer tikka. Lighted the coal and firewood using the lighter fuel. Covered the grill with aluminium foil. Once the grill is heated enough, placed paneer tikka sticks(skewers having veggies along with paneer) on the grill. In between added coal to have the consistency of heat. The paneer tikka was ready to eat by 6:00pm. Took them into a plate. Sat on the table and enjoyed the dish in the nature with the smoke of charcoal. It was very delicious and life time experience to be with nature and have food in the middle of a jungle. we felt that we need additional firewood in the night and so got one more pack from the nearby firewood shop. We sat on the table for sometime and felt the pleasant roaring of the birds on the trees along with the winds.It was getting dark slowly. Around 8:00pm we prepared Maggie with the small stove and by 8:30pm we were done with our dinner. Having hot Maggie in dark jungle with just the light of the burning firewood was very thrilling. With torches we went for a walk on the campground. It was a clear sky with moon and so many stars. It was a perfect view for star gazing. Walking in the woods, in the dark time with couple of campfires on both sides of the road was awesome. we came back to our tent around 9:30pm. We then put the second pack of firewood for campfire. It was getting cold as it was getting dark. We took the warmth of the campfire. Stting infron of the campfire in between large trees reminded of childhood days when we used to put the fire in the night for festival. We then went inside tent, lit the lantern and played cards. There were little noises in the woods which went off as we slept. We got up around 7:30am in the morning and freshened up. Had hot bournvita and then warmed the Teplas with the small stove around 9:30am. We spent sometime observing the shiny rays of sunlight falling on the grass from the gaps of leaves of large trees.  Then slowly cleaned our campsite, packed our tent and placed all the things in the car. We dumped the trash in the large metal container placed at the end of the road to protect from bears. Around 11:45am we left the campsite. We saw a huge herd of horses going along the horse trail on the Skyline Drive. Reached home by 2:00pm. This was first camp for my wife. We enjoyed the camp experience(cooking in woods, walking in dark and playing cards in tent in the jungle). It was very memorable. All is Well.

                         

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White Oak Waterfalls

We had done hike on white oak Waterfalls on 26th june 2016 . It is located in shenandoah national in Virginia State.

Hike Location
Name: white oak Waterfalls
Distance: 100 miles from Richmond(approx)
Total hiking distance: 4.8 miles(approx).
Altitude: 1200 ft.
Hike Members: Me and my wife.

Hiking Experience: We started around 7:30 am in the morning. It was sunny climate with cool breeze. We reached the destination (parking lot of White oak) by 9:48 am.  There were lot of cars in the parking lot by the time we reached there. The start of the trail was good and it was leading direct into the jungle. The trail is covered by huge trees on both the sides. Initially we hiked down the path and soon we could feel ourselves in the middle of the jungle. We have not found many people during the hike even though there were lot of cars at the parking. Due to heavy rainfall the previous two days, the trail was little slippery and the wet stones on the path glittered with sun rays coming through the gaps of the big tree leaves.  We followed the blue trail mark and slowly the slope of the trail increased. After hiking for another 0.6 miles we reached the a wooden bridge and water flowing beneath it. The climate is sunny but due to the shady trees it was a very good atmosphere for hiking. we soon reach intersection with another trail(horse trail). We continued on our trail . we were able to hear the sound of water in the stream that was flowing on the left side of trail. As we hiked further, there were wooden steps bit steep. We climbed the steps slowly enjoying the scenic view of the forest. We reached a big spectacular wooden bridge with a huge water stream flowing under it. we crossed the bridge and hiked further. There were huge rocks on both sides of the trail and now the trail got little wider and we could feel the elevation gain.

We could hear the sound of the waterfalls as we hiked.  We could see water from water falls flowing on the huge rocks towards our right( after crossing the bridge the waterfalls are now towards our right). We went ahead enjoying the water splashing on the huge rocks covered with moss. We came across another small bridge and view of waterfalls from this bridge was amazing. After hiking for quite sometime along the straight path we reached the top of the mountain (start poing of the falls) by 11:52 am. The waterfalls is huge and the altitude is great. It was awesome view of the waterfalls with water flowing like thunders on the big stones and glittering due to sunshine. We could see couple of fellow hikers at the top . we sat at one of the huge stones just beside the falls and had our lunch around 12:00 noon. The water in the falls was very cold, clean and pure. The falls were very beautiful and enjoyed watching them while having lunch. We could feel the water sprinkles of the splashing water on the rocks. It was a great experience and delight to be there on such a wonderful day. we started back around 12:29 pm and just before reaching the parking lot (around 0.5 miles from parking lot) we saw a small bear in the jungle walking slowly into the jungle. It might not have noticed us. We reached parking lot around 2:30 pm. We left to our home and reached by 4:56 pm . Overall it was a good hike, great view of the waterfalls and thoroughly enjoyed. All is Well. 

                           

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