Feburary 25, 2018 - Veach Gap (Eastern Half) and Massanutten Trail to Little Crease Shelter

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: 5.39 mi
     Duration: 4:42
     Ascent: 1695ft
     PATC Difficulty: 135

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
     Trails: 11 of 107
     Trail Miles:  37.24 of 342.45 miles
     Hiked Miles:  60.81 mi

Today's Track

Trail head on Panhandle Road (taken at 6pm at the end of the hike)

The trail starts of easy and flat as do most of the trail I've hiked that start of on the eastern slope

I starting hiking about 2pm, I had waited in the car for about an hour hoping the rain would stop and convincing myself to get out there and start. 

I had a very large umbrella tired to my pack that kept me dry all day.

The trail was not too steep and easy to hike.

But as I continue the grade increased and the fog did too. No views today.

I bet there are some good view to the east on a clear day.

Getting closer to the ridge the terrain became much rockier but not for long

This is the intersection where the Veach Gap trail turn right (north) and joins the Massasnutten trail until reaching Veach Gap and Little Crease Shelter. 

Heading down off the ridge into Veach Gap Little Crease

A quick picture as I passed Little Crease Shelter (only 200 yards to go)

I passed the shelter and reached the Gap where the trail crosses Mill Run, I forgot to take a picture. 

Then headed back to the shelter for lunch.

The shelter was fantastic, dry new and clean, I spent about 40 minutes there. 

Oh.. and a new clean out house too.

Here is a video of the shelter on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j37DrIgIFfQ

Heading back to the ridge and the car. It was tough to leave the shelter and get back out into the rain especially when I had just eaten. It's hard to get going and climb back to the ridge all over again.

Janurary 21, 2018 - Finished Sherman Gap 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: 5.14 mi
     Duration: 4:17
     Ascent: 1794ft
     PATC Difficulty: 136

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
     Trails: 11 of 115
     Trail Miles:  34.36 of 342.45 miles
     Hiked Miles:  55.42 mi

Today's Track

    Today's trip took me from the Sherman Gap trailhead on Panhandle road up to the Massasnutten Trail on the ridge and then following the Massasnutten trail north to where the Sherman Gap trail heads down the western slope, from there I returned to the car the way I'd come.

 

Trying to stitch together 2 panoramic shots, didn't really work that well.

Trailhead on Panhandle Road

     There was no parking area, I just pulled off the road as far as I could.

Trail starts out flat and easy to navigate

Here you can see the ridge and Sherman Gap

Looking back east you can make out the south fork of the Shenandoah River

The trail slowly begins to wind up hill

Now, the climbing begins...

Looking back you can appreciate the incline better then looking ahead.

and on it goes... up, up and ...

...up

Ah, now I could see Sherman's Gap ahead.

As the trail approaches the Gap it becomes rocky...

and still more rocky

A view back towards the Shenandoah valley.

...more climbing...

Getting some altitude now...

The final few yards before the ridge (gap).

Intersection with the Massasnutten Trail

     Once I reached the ridge and the Massasnutten trail, I turned north and continued to the point where the Sherman Gap trail heads down the western slope of the ridge. 

The first Sherman Gap trail intersection with the Massasnutten Trail

The car is back down there somewhere.

The second intersection of the Massasnutten trail and the Sherman Gap trail

     Here is my destination for the day, the point where Massasnutten trail and the Sherman Gap trail parts ways and Sherman Gap Trail heads down the western slope of the ridge. I spent about 30 minutes here having lunch and resting before heading back to the car.

View from my lunch spot.

December 30, 2017 - Shawl Gap Trail and Shawl Gap Spur

The "Lee 333 Challenge"

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: 5.63 mi
     Duration: 3:24
     Ascent: 1457ft
     PATC Difficulty: 128

Lee 333 Progress Summary:
     Trails: 10 of 115
     Trail Miles:  31.95 of 342.5 miles
     Hiked Miles:  50.28 mi

Today's Track

     Today's hike started late, it was very cold and I took a nap in the car at the trail head before I ever got started.

Start of the trail on Panhandle Road

View of the ridge from the valley near the start of the trail, that's the destination.

The trail begins as a forest road

It's nice and easy going... at first.

The trail is open sky and sunny just before the 'road' section ends, glad it's not summer or I'd hate the heat here.

Trail starts to climb in earnest now that the road section is behind me.

The trail has a few rocky sections, but not many and not for long

Nice easy going....again

Looking back down hill, a spur trail leads back down the mountain towards private property.

    To the left in the picture, I came up the trail to the right. I'll explore the spur to the forest property line on the way back.

The trail gets steep as it approaches the ridge

Almost there...the ridge is in sight

This is the ridge, the Shawl Gap trail meet the Massanutten trail.
It was cold and windy, so I didn't stay long.

On the ridge (looking west)

On the ridge (looking east)

In this picture is what I think is a horse's snow shoe, it must have fallen off. 

    On my way back down I took the spur trail about a mile to the forest boundary line. The trail continues onto private property, but I turned back since it was getting late. Apparently there are a lot of trail that are like this spur in the National Forest, I'm going to add them to the Lee333 challenge as I discover them.

Nice burl on the spur trail

I didn't stop to rest the entire hike since is was too cold to be comfortable. I later paid the price with sore feet and aching calves.

A view into the valley looking east as the day lost it's light and the cold began to set in.