Elliot Knob

I had done hike to Elliot Knob on 27th September 2014 . It is located in Virginia State.
Hike Location
Name: Elliot Knob
Distance: 115 miles from Richmond(approx)
Total hiking distance: 8.5 miles(approx).
Altitude: 2425 ft.
Hike Team: Rajesh, Sujay, Vishal and me.
Hiking Experience: Started around 10:45 am. Picked Sujay and left to destination. Reached around 12:45 pm. There was not much space for parking. Parked the car just to the side of the main road. There was a barricade at the entrance of the trail preventing vehicles along the trail. Had bananas and started the hike around 12:52 pm. It is an yellow blazed trail. The trail is wider and covered with trees on both sides. It is not dense and exposed to Sunlight. It was a bright sunny day and could see the glitters of the sun through the gaps among trees. The steep is moderate and slowly traversing around the mountain though the midst of the jungle. We could see nice fall colours along the trail and it was a good scenic view along with the shiny sunlight. The path is pretty straight forward and sometimes lead us into deep of the jungle and sometimes to an open area completely exposed to scorching heat. After hiking for around 1.5 miles the trail narrowed down. Narrow trail with thick trees on both sides and shade of the trees falling on the trail made it ideal for a hike. We crossed many empty streams along the path. Almost entire stream bed was dried up due to summer heat. There were fallen trees, huge stones across the path. Steep of the trail started increasing as we went ahead.

Around 2:20 pm we entered the gravel road leaving behind the natural trail. The gravel road is much wider and fully exposed to sunlight. The steep drastically increased and the scorching heat  added to the difficulty of the hike. It was a lengthy boring walk as it was not like a natural trail and more like a road. The gravel road was very slippery due to small stones along the path. There were electric poles all along the trail leading to the top of the mountain. The steep of the path kept on increasing at a steady pace making it more and more tough. Took couple of breaks wherever possible under the shade of the small trees enjoying the cool shade. As we hiked further, we can feel the cool strong breeze. Slowly we reached the top of the mountain after strenuous walk. There was a transmission station to our left and we went little ahead and turned left into the grassy trail. The trail is wide and is to the extreme west of the mountain and could view the entire base of the mountain. It was a very beautiful view and could see entire county from the path. Went little ahead and finally reached the Elliot knob, the highest point in the entire county around 3:15 pm. There is a watch tower at the top. we climbed up the watch tower and good glance through the entire area and it was a nice experience.

Came down the tower and sat for lunch around 3:22 pm in the camp site covered with huge trees, fully shaded and abundant constant cool breeze. Had Lunch and started descending around 3:55 pm. We felt very cold when we started. Could feel the coldness in fingers. Reached the gravel road and due to steepness of the road we were almost running while descending. The slipperiness of the trail made us cautious while coming down. We reached the natural trail to our left  around 4:22 pm. Felt so much relieved after started hiking along the natural trail. Traversed the mountain through the midst of the jungle, crossed the empty streams again. Reached intersection where we need to take a right turn(indicated by 3 diamond shaped yellow plates) around 4:33 pm. Continued walking along the trail in the midst of the jungle and reached the parking around 5:25 pm. It was a great hike overall. Had some refreshments at Starbucks on the way and reached home around 8 pm. All is Well.

                         

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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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