November 15, 2020 - Massanutten Connector Trail, Massanutten Trail and an abandoned Massanutten Spur Trail

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.

    I recently decided to include all the ATV trails in the challenge too. That raises the total mileage to almost 400 miles and affects the stats below and from this point onward. I guess I'll keep calling it the Lee333 until I have a real total number of miles and come up with a snappy name.

Today's Hike:
Distance: 4.92
Duration: 3:28
Ascent: 1124ft
PATC Difficulty: 105

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 41 of 167
Trail Miles: 126.44 of 402.41 miles (275.97 miles to go)
Hiked Miles: 209.39 miles

Today's Track

    Today I hiked the Massanutten connector trail from the route 211 "park and ride" lot up to the Massanutten trail. Continuing south on the Massanutten trail for another 1/2 mile, I made a sharp right turn onto an abandoned spur trail. The spur trail was in fantastic shape for the first half mile or so then completely petered out leaving me to bushwhack my way forward. I eventually worked my way back onto an abandoned logging road and from there reconnected with the Massanutten connector trail and returned to the car just after dark.

 

Route 211 Park and Ride Lot

 Massanutten connector trail just across route 211

 Massanutten connector Trailhead

 

Never heard of it before. Is it dangerous?

The trail was quite nice easy walking

 

 A nice view of Strickler Knob in the distance

 

It was a pleasure walking on such a nice easy going trail

  I past three backpackers on their way back to the parking lot and had a short chat

The trail skirts this small meadow

The trail finally started going uphill a bit

 

It looks looks like I'm headed into this Gap

Strickler knob, a bit closer now

Intersection with Massanutten Trail

 

 The trail got a little more interesting here, it left the old road bed and became an actual trail

 

 Trail headed downhill a bit and cross the small stream. I took a short break here.

 

 I took a short break at the stream crossing

 ...and the trail began to climb 

 Massanutten Trail became a bit undefined 450 yards or so

The abandon Trail headed off to the right while the Massanutten Trail went to the left

 

 wow, the abandoned trail looks really good

Nice walking

 After the abandoned trail petered out I didn't take too many pictures, this is one of the last ones I got

 

 After some bushwhacking, I found this abandoned logging road

 It was in pretty good shape, it must get used by hunters

  The road meandered its way back to the Massanutten connector trail

 

Here's where the Massanutten connector trail left the Old Logging Road.  

I didn't take a picture on my way up, so I snapped this one on my way back.

 Massanutten connector trail, it's getting dark now.

Here I am back at Route 211.  

It was after dark at this point, so here is a picture I took at the beginning of the hike

October 31, 2020 - Massanutten Trail, Old Massanutten Trail, Kern Trail Extended

 Picture of the Day
This pond and spring are the source of Passage Creek.
Passage Creek runs the entire length of Fort Valley.

     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.

    I recently decided to include all the ATV trails in the challenge too. That raises the total mileage to almost 400 miles and affects the stats below and from this point onward. I guess I'll keep calling it the Lee333 until I have a real total number of miles and come up with a snappy name.

Today's Hike:
Distance: 4.29
Duration: 2:54
Ascent: 615ft
PATC Difficulty: 72

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 41 of 165
Trail Miles: 124.13 of 400.56 miles (276.43 miles to go)
Hiked Miles: 204.47 miles

Today's Track 

Parking along Crisman Hollow Road

 

   Today I wanted a short hike.I'd been looking at some old map over lays and saw that there was logging road extension of the Kern Trail that continued south along the ridge. After exploring by the car a bit I parked near what looked like an unmarked trail, it turned out to be a campsite. 

 

Massanutten Trail at Crisman Hollow Road (west side)

 

   Since I was already out of the car I just walked south on Crisman Hollow Road until I came to the Kern trail.

 

Massanutten Trail marker just off Crisman Hollow Road

Climbing up the short section of the Massanutten trail to Kern Ridge from Crisman Hollow Road

 

Massanutten Trail heading north on Kern Ridge

 

The abandon Kern Ridge trail heading south on Kern Ridge

 

     I hiked up to the ridge and when the trail turned north I bushwhacked my way south on a barely discernible abandoned logging road.

Where is that old Kern Trail?

 

Old Kern Ridge trail is hard to make out in some places

Old Kern Ridge trail is easy to make out in some other places

 

Just keep to the ridge

 

This is as far as I went on Kern Ridge, the ridge started downhill after this point.

     After a while the road/trail petered out and began to go down hill. I turned back and edged by way back north again this time angling off the east side of the ridge in the bush. I was hoping to pick up another logging road on my map. I did not see it on my way south.

Looking for the old logging road that goes back to Crisman Hollow Road. 

I finally spotted it, looking up towards the ridge.

The old logging road, looking down towards Crisman Hollow road.

 

     I soon intersected it heading straight down hill towards Crisman Hollow Road. 

 Where the logging road meets Crisman Hollow Road.

    Once back on Crisman Hollow Road, I headed south again looking for a 'trail' on my map overlay labeled storybook trail up waterfall mountain. I explored around in the trees and stream a bit but could find nothing. I think that trail never existed where it is on the map. Some map makers include false roads and trails to insure that they can defend their copyrights.

One last look up the old logging road from Crisman Hollow Road

Along Crisman Hollow Road

I found the old Massanutten Trail

 

     I headed north on Crisman Hollow Road back towards the car. I, by chance, picked out the old abandoned route of the Massanutten Trail angling off to my right. Taking that turn I walked on what was the best trail of the day, clear and level.

 

It was in pretty decent shape

Easy going, parallel to Crisman Hollow Road.

An Unexpected Pond

Muddy around the pond

A trail back to the road from the pond?

Shallow but nice, too chilly for mosquitoes today.

    I followed the old Massanutten Trail until I reached a small pond then again bushwhacked my way back to Crisman Hollow Road then south back to the car.