Black Rock Summit and Turk Mountain Summit- Sunday, August 25th

OVERVIEW

All-
Let’s hike Turk Mountain Summit and Black Rock Summit on Sunday, August 25th. Since it’s Sunday, and Saturday will be a longer day hike day, let’s check out two of the smaller loops in the area that are relatively close to each other.

Black Rock Summit
This is a 1.7 mile Easy Hike. The trail begins at Mile 84.8 on Skyline Drive at the Blackrock Summit parking lot on the west side of the drive. Blackrock was a huge cliff, which cracked thousands of years ago. It tumbled down the mountain’s slopes to become the incredible jumble of rocks that awaits you atop the summit. In 1781, Thomas Jefferson apparently expressed concern about the sagfety of Virginia’s great seal and the state’s archives. Accordingly, Jefferson gave them to a friend who hid them in a cave at Blackrock until the war’s end.

Turk Mountain Summit
This is a 2.2 out and back Moderate Hike. The trail begins at Mile 94.1 on the west side of Skyline drive across the road from the Turk Gap Parking area. Upon reaching what is essentially the trail’s end, we will simply scramble over rocks for a short distance. This hike will provide views across the south west where you can see the Shenandoah Valley and a bit to the south, Sawmill Ridge and Scott Mountain. This hike starts off downhill and then switches to ascend Turk Mountain. At the top, there is a bit of a rock scramble for a short distance.
These hikes are open to those experienced or inexperienced or even those who recently joined the club.

Carpooling: If you are interested in carpooling or being a driver for carpooling, please let me know. If there is enough interest, carpool will leave at 9AM at Ben and Jerry’s at Barracks road. If there is anyone who is not able to get to Ben and Jerry’s and needs a ride, please also let me know.

Since these hikes are located in Shenandoah National Park, it will require a pass which is $10 for 1-7day pass or the annual pass for $30. I currently have the annual pass however.

What to Bring: Please be sure to bring lots of water, comfortable sturdy shoes, sunscreen, a camera and a lunch/snack for when we reach the summits!

Please keep in mind that you are responsible for you own safety and the activities you choose to participate in while on the hike.

Below are the links to the actual hikes for further information. http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/TurkMountain/ http://www.trailz.org/tr16.html

Note, I am also referencing “A Falcon Guide to the Shenandoah National Park” for specific details of the hike. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

See you on Sunday!
Andrea