SUFFERFEST V3 – SNP Edition

OVERVIEW

Have you ever been hiking and just thought “man, I wish this would never end”? Well don’t we have just the trip for you! The Sufferfest started way back during my 2nd year due to a series of questionable decisions. Specifically, me drunkenly agreeing to Patrick Brown’s proposal to lead a single day Triple Crown and Jill somehow thinking it’d be a good idea to sign up. She ended up needing to bail, but came back the next fall adamant about running it back. After succeeding with an even bigger loop, I thought that would’ve gotten it out of her system and I could put this 18 hour hike business behind me. But no, and nearly everyone who came last year requested the rerun. So back by popular demand, we give you Sufferfest V3.

The route will take us on glorious tour of central Shenandoah National Park. It will summit iconic peaks such as Hawksbill, Stony Man and Old Rag for a loop that comes out to an *estimated* 37 miles with 9800’. Fall colors will be out and the weather looks great so I’m expecting full fuckin’ value Shenandoah goodness.

If you want to check out some of the trails, here’s a link to something somewhat similar to what we’re planning on doing: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/shenandoah-national-park-loop

Here are some things to keep in mind. 37 miles is long. It will be dark when we start and it will be dark again for hours before we finish. So it is important to contend with whether you feel like you have the physical fitness and grit to get through this. With that said, I strongly believe that, for activities like this, people are capable of many times what they think they are. So, don’t worry if you haven’t done anything near this length yet. There will also be many opportunities to cut off mileage or bail. If you’re ready to just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you get there, just sign up. No guarantee you won’t regret it.

Refuel point: In the past, we’ve set an aid station to pick up water/snacks that doubles as a bail car if needed. However, due to the logistical difficulties of dropping a car up on Skyline Drive, there will be no bail car. However, we will cross Skyline Drive several times, and will make a water stop at Skyland Lodge. There is also a store there that will allow you to buy more snacks if needed.
A note about Old Rag: I was not able to get passes for Old Rag. We’ll be coming into that area very late in the day, so hopefully we can just skirt around whatever usual fee collectors hang out there or ask nicely to finish our loop. But if not we’ll just bail via the Wheatley Hollow Fire Road.

Here’s approximately what the schedule would look iike:
Leave from Cville around 7:30pm on Friday
Camp for the night near the parking lot/trailhead
Wake up at around 4:30am
Suffer through 37 miles
Complete the sufferfest! (this could reasonably be anywhere 6pm-12am)
Wanyesboro Chipotle? (it’s an elite Chipotle)
Arrive in cville, could be 7pm could be 1am
Hit the sauce the following Tuesday to celebrate (mandatory)

You should bring…
Sleep kit (pad, bag, tent)
Food for the hike (LOTS of calories that can be easily packed, 4000 calories is sufficient)
3-4 Liters of water
Headlamp
Very solid shoes
Weather appropriate clothing
Money for snack refuel or dinner on the way home if you’d like
Backpack to put it all in (excluding sleeping bag and pad)

Notes: Drivers get priority off waitlist, as well as anyone who’s hiked extensively before. Drivers are reimbursed plus a 50% tip (max tip: $20)