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: 5.83
Duration: 3.48
Ascent: 1448ft
PATC Difficulty: 129
Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 21 of 106
Trail Miles: 54.18 of 342.82 miles
Hiked Miles: 106.76 miles
Today's Track
OK, so today I planned on hiking part of the Tuscarora trail by parking at the north end of FR66 and hiking west up to the ridge via the Massanutten trail (starting at the upper X in the picture above). However, FR 66 was closed at the lower X.
Parking at the closed gate on FR 66
So instead, I parked at the stop sign near the closed gate and I hiked north on FR 66 to the Mine Gap trail. I followed the Mine Gap trail up to the Tuscarora trail. The weather was rather cool but not too bad and I warmed up quite a bit by the time I reached the ridge and the Tuscarora trail.
Nice Stream on FR 66 at the Closed Gate
Closed Gate on FR 66
Mine Gap Trail Head on FR66
FR 66 from the Mine Gap Trail
Mine Gap Trail Near FR 66
Mine Gap Trail starts the climb to the ridge
Nearing the ridge and the Massanutten Mountain Trail
Intersection of the Mine Gap and Massanutten Mountain Trails
Intersection of the Mine Gap and Massanutten Mountain Trails
Next I hiked north along the Tuscarora trail where it began to get very cold even though there was no wind. In about half a mile the trail moved just off the ridge to the eastern slope and it wasn't as cold. When I reached the intersection with the Massanutten trail, I stopped for lunch. I brought a fried chicken breast and a banana.
Looking north on the Massanutten Mountain Trail along the ridge
Fort Valley from the Massanutten Mountain Trail
Massanutten Mountain ridge is too rocky so the trail is slightly east of the ridge
More ridge rocks
Intersection of the Massanutten Mountain Trail and Doll Ridge Trails
Intersection of the Massanutten Mountain Trail and the Tuscarora Trails
A great place for a lunch break
As I ate, I got cold again prompting me to get moving. I headed back south. When I reached the Mine Gap trail I decided to go a bit farther south to lengthen today's hike and shorten the Tuscarora future hike from the south.
On the Massanutten Trail south of Mine Gap Trail
On the Massanutten Trail south of Mine Gap Trail (my turn around point)
The Tuscarora trail was flat easy walking without rocks south of Mine Gap. I picked an easy to identify spot with a rock outcropping to be my turnaround point. I wanted a place easy to spot on that future Tuscarora hike when coming from the other direction.
Mine Gap Spur at Mine Road
I made may way back to the Mine gap trail and started back down. My knees are definitely not what the once were and they were hurting by the time I had gotten off the steeper section.
At the end of Mine Road
The Mine Gap trail has a couple of spurs that lead to forest roads. By combining both of them with a bit of forest road walking and a short section of bushwhacking I zigzagged my way back to the car.
Intersection of another Mine Gap Trail Spur and Mine Mountain Road
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