September 6, 2020 - Peters Mill Run ATV, Green Mountain Trail and Bushwhacking

 

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: 7.03
Duration: 5:55
Ascent: 1573ft
PATC Difficulty: 148

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 38 of 164
Trail Miles: 121.56 of 399.19 miles (277.63 miles to go)
Hiked Miles: 198.62 miles

Today's Track

 

     Today, I parked at Little Fort Campground to access the Peter's Mill Run ATV trail and the Green Mountain Trail.

 

Parking at Little Fort Rec Area

Start of trail at the end of the campground loop

Start of Green Mountain Trail

 

I hiked south until reaching the Green Mountain ATV Trail and headed up to the ridge. 

Looking up Green Mountain Trail

Lots O Rocks

     The Green Mountain Trail is closed to ATVs and I can see why. It's littered with loose rocks and very steep. I'm sure they want the mountain to recover from the damage caused by the ATVs over the years.

Lots of interesting Mushrooms on the trail this year

The trail got steep and more rocky

Black Trumpet Mushroom

 

     There was an abundance of black Chanterelles. I collected quite a few on my way up, picking them out among the rocks. 

 

Nearing the ridge

A nice ridge top walk

Easy Going on the Ridge

     There were more Black Trumpets on the ridge, I had plenty for a large meal. 

Perhaps too easy?....nope, no such thing...

ATV trail sign

Red Chanterelle Mushrooms

I'm not sure what this one is, growing on pine bark on the ground.

Phew, this one smelt like fish

I could not identify this one

Close up

Likely a "Baorangia bi-color", also known as the two-colored bolete

Intersection with the Walters Gap trail

      The ridge hike ended once I reached Walter's Gap trail. My plan was to take an abandoned section of the Green Mountain trail that I found on an old map off the ridge down to Peter's Mill Run ATV trail to make a loop back to the car. I back tracked a bit until I found what a thought was clearly an intersection and started off the ridge headed west. The trail petered out within 100 yards. I thought that if I just looked around a bit while heading down hill I'd find the trail again. 

 

Ahhhhh....f.....fffffff...

 

    Well, by the time I decided that I'd never find it I felt that I'd already committed to making the loop. Besides, I told myself, It was only a half mile more anyway. The next 1/2 mile was challenge! To start with, it was a bolder field at a 45 degree angle. Between worrying about snakes and trying not fall on teetering rocks I forgot about finding the trail and headed straight towards the ATV trail. the slope eventually eased but I had to fight my way through the branches and stickers.

 

Where I intersected the Peters Mill Run ATV Trail

 

      I came out of the ATV trail just where there was a perfect sitting boulder. I was exhausted by this time but knew that it was a simple matter of hiking back along the relatively flat ATV trail back to the campground.

Hmmm... another place to explore next time?

Unknown

Perhaps "Thelephora vialis"?

     When I returned to the campground, it was packed, not a single campsite site remained. I'd parked in a site not knowing that they'd be in high demand. While walking the final 50 yards, I saw two guys in a truck slowly cruising the campground loop looking for a spot. I offered my spot to them and really made their day. They asked me if I could hold it for them while they parked their boat trailer back up the road, so I waited in the car until they returned. It felt good to do a good deed for fellow outdoors-men.