Sunday, December 20, 2020

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


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