November 26, 2017 - Sidewinder and Mudhole Gap (partial)

The "Lee 333 Challenge"

Intersection of Sidewinder and Mudhole Gap Trails

    This blog chronicles the hikes I've completed in the "Lee 333 Challenge". I haven't set a challenge deadline because I can't dedicate myself 100% to it. However, if the SNAP500 (or SHEN500) can be done in one year, I don't see any reason why a dedicated enthusiast couldn't complete the "Lee 333" in under a year also.

Today's Hike:     
     Distance: 3.79 mi
     Time: 2:05
     Ascent: 795ft
     PATC Difficulty: 78

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
     Trails: 7 of 114
     Trail Miles:  25.6 of 339.22 miles
     Hiked Miles:  38.52 mi
     
    Today's hike was a nice uneventful day with perfect weather. I'm just easing myself back into hiking again. It's going to take a while to get my climbing legs back into shape. This loop, just under 4 miles, was just the thing to get me out there again and at the same time complete one of the 114 trails in the Lee 333 (Sidewinder).

     A note on the "Ascent" and "PATC difficulty" numbers above: I'm using the GPS on my Android phone now but I'm not sure how accurate these numbers are yet. I'll bring my Garmin next time to compare the results. I think the Garmin is more accurate but I'm not using it anymore since the Android ViewRanger app. is easier to use and has a bigger screen. BTW: I've already downloaded all the maps for the Lee Ranger District so don't need a network signal to use it. FYI: I have 5 extra cell phone batteries with me and a paper map.

     The yellow dot on the map below was supposed to be a trail to the "Glass House" cabin but I couldn't find the trail. On a later date, I'll rent the cabin and hike up to Mudhole Gap to find the intersection. I know there's one there because the PATC cabin description says there is one.

Today's Track

Mudhole Gap Trail at the Parking lot on Fort Valley Road (678) 

just across from the Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground

Intersection of Bear Wallow Spur and Tuscarora Trails

Fine Views on a Perfect Day

Tuscarora - Bear climbing towards Sidewinder

Descending Sidewinder Trail, see the trail outlined in leaves below.

A dry creek on the Sidewinder Trail

The Mudhole Gap Trail is actually a forest road

Mudhole Gap Trail

Mudhole Gap Trail

Mudhole Gap Trail

Mudhole Gap Trail

November 19, 2017 - My first actual "Lee 333" Hike (Elizabeth Furnace - Botts, Charcoal, Pig Iron Trails and the Woodstock Tower Trail)

    Today's hike was just a warm up for the Lee 333, I wanted to get started hiking but also to drive around a bit in Fort Valley. I hiked three very short trails in the Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area and kept out of the back country. It's hunting season and I do not yet know the area and hunting rules/dates well enough to feel safe.

Elizabeth Furnace Track

     I tried parking in the outer lot of the recreation area but it was full with mountain biker's cars. So instead, I parked in the camp ground and walked through the amphitheater into the recreation area. After crossing the suspension foot bridge over Passage Creek, I joined the Botts trail and headed south. From the Botts trail I made a turn onto the Charcoal trail loop and then the Pig Iron trail and finally finished up by rejoining the Botts trail near the auto bridge. It was a short 1.91 miles. 

  

Cabin at Elizabeth Furnace

Suspension Bridge over Passage Creek

Charcoal Trail

Pig Iron Trail

Forge at Elizabeth Furnace

Forge at Elizabeth Furnace

The trail ended far too soon

Auto Bridge over Passage Creek

    After the Elizabeth Furnace trails, I explored the Fort Valley by car and eventually drove up onto the western Massanutten Ridge and then north along F66 to the gate just north of Little Fort Valley taking note of where trails cross the road for future trips. I passed many elaborate hunting camps including camper trailer and generators.




Woodstock Tower Track

    Turning around and heading south again, I eventually ended up at the Woodstock Tower parking area. Just after I pulled in, another car stopped. A very energenic guy immeadately engaged me in converastion. However, his english was not too good and my spanish is almost nonexistent.


Me at the top of Woodstock Tower

Me at the bottom of Woodstock Tower

     After a few minutes, we walked to the Tower together attempting to chat along the way. We climbed the tower and took a few pictures but it was too cold and windy to stay long and soon were forced back down to ground level. We returned to the cars and parted ways. After that I drove towards Luray to complete a loop back to my home near Warrenton having drove out via Front Royal. 




Amother Hiker I Met in the Parking Area

A cold, windy but short climb

View from Woodstock Tower (East)

View from Woodstock Tower (West)

View from Woodstock Tower (West)

November 20, 2017 - Defining the "Lee 333" Challenge

I've finished the preliminary research for the "Lee 333" and have a summary of the number of trails and their distances:

Massanutten Mountain Area: 
         Trails: 57
         Miles: 181.15

Great North Mountain Area: 
         Trails: 47
         Miles: 154.45

Campground  Loops Etc:
         Trails: 7
         Miles: Unknown

All ATV Trails (skipping these):
         Trails: 26
         Miles: 36.15

Totals (without ATV trails):
         Trails:111
         Miles: 335.6

     Since the total number of miles is about 333, I've decided to call this the "Lee 333 Challenge".
I'm sure it's been done many times by many people, this is just my way of motivating myself to get out there and hike.       

Dave

A head start: Signal Knob, Bear Wallow Spur, Buzzard Rock, Meneka, and Sherman Gap Trails

     During the run up to my AT attempt I hiked a few of the trails in the Elizabeth Furnace area so I have a small head start with this new challenge. On the other side of the coin, my knees are not what the used to be so let's hope that I can build them up again.

     I've already hiked some part or all of these trails: Signal Knob, Bear Wallow Spur, Buzzard Rock, Meneka, and Sherman Gap.

                     

Staring the "Lee 333" Challenge - George Washington National Forest Lee Ranger District Hiking Challenge

     It's been quite a while since I've finished the SNAP 500 (http://davessnap500.blogspot.com/) and made my AT hike attempt (https://scifiat.blogspot.com/). It's long past time to get moving again and so I'm starting a new hiking challenge. I'm going to attempt to hike all the trails in the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest.

    I'm still working out the details, but it seems that the Lee Ranger District is composed of two areas: The Massanutten Mountain area and the Great North Mountain area. The list I've compiled so far has at least 57 trails in the Massanutten area and 42 in the Great North Mountain area and that's not counting the ATV trails. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to include the ATV trails in this challenge yet.

     As far as mileage goes, the count is at 181 miles for the Massanutten Mountain area and 134 miles for the Great North Mountain area, for a total of 315 miles. The ATV trails could add another to 36.1 miles. Of course, these counts are just a work in progress and will change. I'm using the PATC books: "Massanutten Mountain Hiking Trails" and "Great North Mountain Trails" as a starting point however I don't yet know if they cover everything in the Lee Ranger District.

Dave

PS, thanks to all who followed and supported me on my AT hike, especially Christy.