Tag: George Washington National Forest

Virginia hikes: Woodstock Reservoir via Little Stony Creek, May 15 2021

August 15, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Continuing from our previous hike report of Tibbet Knob, we spent the weekend camped out along Forest Road 92 in the George Washington National Forest. 

21_5_15_Tibbet_Knob-23

After our early dinner following our short hike to Tibbet Knob, we decided to explore downstream on the Stony Creek Trail next to our campsite. As the Chinese proverb goes “飯後百步走，活到九十九” or after dinner 100 steps, live to 99. Well, a little more than 100 steps in our case but the stroll out to Woodstock Reservoir was the perfect fit for that sentiment.

21_5_15_Tibbet_Knob-28

Read More

Virginia & West Virginia hikes: Tibbet Knob, May 15 2021

August 4, 2021.Reading time 7 minutes.

The area around Stony Creek in the Lee Ranger District of George Washington National Forest is an go to for car camping or semi-car camping ever since we moved to D.C. Typically, we’d make the mile long hike up Little Stony Creek for our own isolated spot, but there are plenty along Forest Road 92 itself. We decided to grab one of those this time around on a last minute trip

21_5_15_Tibbet_Knob-36

with a new mix of friends now that we’ve all had the jab. Hopefully this is the first of many more excursions.

21_5_15_Tibbet_Knob-1

While here, we explored a couple of the smaller hikes. The first being Tibbet Knob, the lesser known outcrop on the same ridge as the popular Big Schloss.

Read More

virginia hikes: Little Schloss – September 19, 2020

September 27, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

When a group of friends were looking for some camping time near D.C., I remembered some prime spots along Little Stoney Creek during our hike of the Big Schloss, Mill Mountain, and Little Stoney Creek loop. While the discussion begin as car camping, they didn’t mind the mile walk along Stoney Creek to reach the best campsite

Our group included Audrey, Dave, Bradley, & Brenna.

along the creek.

20_9_19_Little_Schloss-42

Don’t worry, our food choices were still inline with car camping.

20_9_19_Little_Schloss-37

We ended up base camping for two night giving us a free day to do a hike in the area, which ended up being Little Schloss. What was a surprise with the amount of wildflowers along the trail from a recent burn.

Read More

virginia hikes: Buzzard Rock North – August 18, 2020

September 20, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

Here in Virginia, especially northern Virginia within the reaches of Washington D.C., the best way to avoid crowds on the popular hikes is to hike over the weekdays. So we visited the popular Buzzard Rock to break up the drive down I-81 on a Tuesday.

20_8_18_Buzzard_Rock-16

Read More

virginia hikes: Sherando Lake, Torry Ridge, & White Rock Falls loop, June 27 2020

July 2, 2020.Reading time 17 minutes.

Being opportunistic is a good way to avoid the crowds when it comes to popular trails. It may mean getting up before sunrise, starting out late in the day, or still heading out when it’s rainy. With many of the frontcountry campgrounds still closed, certain trails are a little less crowded than normal. This included the Sherando Lake area, which is known as the jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains and typically sees hundreds of campers a day.

20_6_27_White_Rock_Falls-25

Read More

virginia hikes: Ramsey’s Draft & Jerry’s Run loop, June 7 2020

June 24, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

There is nothing like having to cross a knee high stream to keep you cool on a hot and humid summer day in Virginia. Ramsey’s Draft provided exactly that as the trail cross the stream several times. While there are a couple longer backpacking loops here, we chose a moderate day hike loop that included Jerry’s Run.

20_6_7_Ramseys_Draft_Jerry_Run-81-2

Read More

virginia hikes: Big Schloss, Mill Mountain, & Stony Creek loop, May 30 2020

June 10, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

It is clear how the popular peak of Big Schloss got its name, for schloss is German for castle. The peak appeared very much like one on our approach from the north on the Mill Mountain trail. It was indeed the highpoint in this popular area for backpackers, which is otherwise a monotonous green tunnel during the early parts of summer.

20_05_30_big_schloss-18

Read More

virginia hikes: Fridley Gap loop, May 23 2020

May 30, 2020.Reading time 13 minutes.

If you’ve read enough of these hike reports, a common theme you’ll find is that I love hiking next to running creeks, streams, and rivers. As we get into the summer in Virginia, they can also provide a perfect respite to the hot and humid weather in the form of swimming holes. So after a week of none stop rain, I was excited to go check out a hike featuring some swollen creeks and wide swimming holes.

2020_5_23_fridley_gap-1-3

Read More

virginia hikes: Mount Pleasant loop, October 24 2019

October 25, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

Again I was making the good ole I-81 drive, so time for another update on the fall foliage here in Southwest Virginia. In comparison to my report last week in the Northern Park of the Shenandoah, the regions here in Southwest Virginia is reported to change earlier. For my hike, I saw plenty of yellow leaves in the process of changing while others have already fallen. There weren’t too many red and orange yet. This lead to a generally muted, but still good foliage. I would guess the peak is still to come, but soon.

For weekly reports, you can also check out Virginia.org,  Virginia Department of Forestry reports, or Shenandoah National Park.

19_10_24_mt_pleasant-7.jpg

Read More

virginia hikes: North Mountain & Pete’s Cave, April 27 2019

May 30, 2019.Reading time 9 minutes.

Getting started can be the most difficult part about anything. Whether it is me getting these entries out there or getting back on the trail after a long layoff due to injury or other circumstances. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the hardest or most perfect, you just have to get going. On a beautiful Saturday, Katherine joined me to get back on the trail as North Mountain & Pete’s Cave between Lexington and Covington, VA next to I-64 was the perfect combination of reward and ease.

Read More