Picture of the Day - Emerald Pond
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: 4.87
Duration: 2:58
Ascent: 621ft
PATC Difficulty: 77
Lee 333 Progress Summary:
Trails: 46 of 169
Trail Miles: 135.31 of 407.05 miles (271.74 miles to go)
Hiked Miles: 242.87 miles
Today's Track
A nice flat trail...for once...
Today's hike took me out to the Great North Mtn area again. The hike was not a long one. It's quite a drive up a long dirt road over rocks and through a narrow canyon.
The start of the hike on Forest Access Road (AKA Massanutten South Trail?)
Once
the forest road reaches the ridge it heads north ending just below an unnamed peak with a radio tower. The road up to the tower is gated. I parked on a bend in the road just before the gate.
The trail is gated
The
forest access road continues north, accessible only by foot from here.
It roughly parallels the Bird Knob trail which is just to the west.
Easy walking
After about 15
minutes of hiking it began to lightly rain. It didn't last long and all I
did was open my umbrella for a mile or so.
A minor side trail leads to this small meadow
Huge Ant Hills
The night before this hike, I watched a you-tube
video about the large ant colonies on this trail and I didn't want to miss
them. There was no chance of that! When I stopped at one of the larger
ones the ants started to crawl up my boots.
So easy...even in the rain
Northern Intersection of Massanutten Mtn South and Bird Knob Trails
Another Intersection of Massanutten Mtn South and Bird Knob Trails
There is one short cross over
trail to the Bird Knob trail. I did not take it, deciding to cover it
on the return trip via Bird Knob.
A few rocks on the Bird Knob Trail
The shape of the rocks here are like pillows
Perfect trail..no, really
Trail on smooth flat rock
Lots of Indian Pipe today
Out into a meadow just before the trail turns east to Emerald Pond
A better view of the meadow
Nice Fern beds between the meadow and Emerald Pond
The trail to Emerald Pond
A fish or frog in the pond
I put my feet in for a few minutes before bushwhacking my way the rest of the way around the pond before heading back to the car.
Trail up to the Forest Access road gate
Hiking up the forest access road back to the car.
This section was the hardest of the trip, it must have been because I was tired and forgot that it was up hill in this final stretch of the hike.
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