May 31, 2020 - F1958 and Obscure Logging 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.

Today's Hike:
Distance: 4.22
Duration: 3:24
Ascent: 1008ft
PATC Difficulty: 92

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 32 of 112
Trail Miles: 96.31 of 356.65 miles (260.34 miles to go)
Hiked Miles: 180.75 miles

     On today's hike my good friend Manny hiked with me and it was a good thing. It was a bushwhacking adventure.

Our Track Today

View of Signal Knob from Yvonne's House (Manny's Mother)

    I met up with Manny in Strasburg VA at his mother Yvonne's house. She's got a perfect view of Signal knob from her deck. I wish I'd had more time to spend there and enjoy the company and the view. Perhaps I'll get the chance later this summer.

 Manny and Yvonne

Manny where F1958 becomes a trail

    I've been studying the Lee Ranger district maps on the ViewRanger App (Android) and have found a few obscure trails without names. This trail begins at the gated end of F1958 just off Edinburg Gap Road.

    We parked at the gate and hiked north along a very pleasant, grassy wide forest road, the weather was perfect. I kept a eye out for another "Obscure Logging" path that leads up to Peters Run Mill ATV trail. It should have been west to our left (see the map below). I never did spot it so we continued north.

    Eventually the F1958 turned north/west then after about 0.3 miles suddenly ended and became a path that headed up hill very steeply and then began to peter out the higher we climbed. I spotted what I thought might be the northern end of a another obscure logging trail. Perhaps we could return via that route and intersect the the missing southern end of the trail I couldn't spot earlier.

Just a nice trail picture

Heading up the obscure Logging Trail before it got too steep to take pictures

    At some point we were probably only following deer trails but we were determined to get to some vista or at least to a ridge. It was getting dangerously steep and rocky. We finally decided we'd had enough and struck out north again to try to get off the scree and into the woods.

    Once in the woods we were still on very steep terrain. Manny in the lead with me following we headed directly down hill until I tripped and rolled over at least twice down towards Manny. I lost my glasses as a branch flung them off my face. I remember grabbing on to a log as I rolled but could not get a grip. I stopped on my own then once on my feet again Manny said he was ready for me, "There was no way you were getting past me" he said. It's nice to have a friend at my back....or in front. I only got a few scratches.

The best view of the day

Manny near the highest point of the hike

Fire pit rest break

    We regained the real trail at an old fire pit and took a needed break. Continuing down hill, once back at the north end of the obscure logging trail I/we decided to bushwhack our way south. The trail was highly overgrown but by spotting the road cuts in the soil and using the GPS. It was straightforward going until we reached a creek where all signs of the trail disappeared.

Nice pic of the Mountain Laurel

Someone lost this high up on the steep section

I'm not sure what it is, not a bracelet.

This is where the Peters Mill ATV Connector should have been

    We continued through the trees using the GPS and our wits until Manny found the trail again. The overgrowth became even worse as we approached the point where we should have found the other trail (The Peters Mill ATV connector) that would lead back to F1958. There was no sign of it. We simply bushwhacked our way back to F1958.

    Back on F1958 we search around for the missing trail to no avail, it's just simply overgrown. I'd thought that I'd be hiking the Peters Mill ATV connector north west to Peters Run Mill ATV trail on a future trip. I can cross that one off the list.

Back on F1958

    It was an easy walk back to the car from there to end an interesting day. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Arby's before I dropped Manny back at Yvonne's house.

    A really great day. I probably would not have hiked as far up this trail if I didn't have Manny with me. I enjoyed the challenge of this short overgrown steep logging trail.