The "Lee 333 Challenge"
Picture of the day
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: 5.63 mi
Duration: 3:24
Ascent: 1457ft
PATC Difficulty: 128
Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 10 of 115
Trail Miles: 31.95 of 342.5 miles
Hiked Miles: 50.28 mi
 |
| Today's Track |
Today's hike started late, it was very cold and I took a nap in the car at the trail head before I ever got started.
 |
| Start of the trail on Panhandle Road |
 |
| View of the ridge from the valley near the start of the trail, that's the destination. |
 |
| The trail begins as a forest road |
 |
| It's nice and easy going... at first. |
 |
| The trail is open sky and sunny just before the 'road' section ends, glad it's not summer or I'd hate the heat here. |
 |
| Trail starts to climb in earnest now that the road section is behind me. |
 |
| The trail has a few rocky sections, but not many and not for long |
 |
| Nice easy going....again |
 |
| Looking back down hill, a spur trail leads back down the mountain towards private property. |
To the left in the picture, I came up the trail to the right. I'll
explore the spur to the forest property line on the way back.
|
 |
| The trail gets steep as it approaches the ridge |
 |
| Almost there...the ridge is in sight |
 |
This is the ridge, the Shawl Gap trail meet the Massanutten trail.
It was cold and windy, so I didn't stay long. |
 |
| On the ridge (looking west) |
 |
| On the ridge (looking east) |
 |
| In this picture is what I think is a horse's snow shoe, it must have fallen off. |
On my way back down I took the spur trail about a mile to the forest boundary line. The trail continues onto private property, but I turned back since it was getting late. Apparently there are a lot of trail that are like this spur in the National Forest, I'm going to add them to the Lee333 challenge as I discover them.
 |
| Nice burl on the spur trail |
I didn't stop to rest the entire hike since is was too cold to be comfortable. I later paid the price with sore feet and aching calves.
 |
| A view into the valley looking east as the day lost it's light and the cold began to set in. |
