Duncan and Strickler Knob Hike + Barbecue????

OVERVIEW

The agenda

Saturday 10/24
8:30am – Depart Echols
10:15am – Begin hike up to Duncan Knob – 1.7 miles including rock scramble to summit
~11:30pm – Break for lunch on Duncan Knob, take in the views
~12:00pm – Backtrack 0.5 miles, and continue on to Strickler Knob via Scothorn Gap and Massanutten Trails for another 3 miles
~2:00pm – Break on top of Strickler Knob
~2:30pm – Head back to trailhead, ~4 miles (all downhill)
~4:15pm – Arrive back at trailhead, depart towards home
~5:15pm – Potentially stop for dinner at Log Cabin Barbecue in Elkton
7pm – Arrive back to Echols

Come hike Duncan and Strickler Knob in the George Washington National Forest! Peak fall foliage + hopefully less crowds than Shenandoah on a Saturday should make this one a good time. No parks pass required. This is an intermediate, 9.4 mile out and back hike with ~1900 feet of elevation gain and two rock scrambles up to the Knobs, so some moderate hiking experience is preferable. Estimated moving time is about 5 hours, but we might do a faster pace + more breaks. Map to Gap Creek Trailhead, ~1hr 40 from UVA
All trails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/duncan-s-knob-to-strickler-knob?p=-1&sh=rsye2a&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

Additionally – there is a fire barbecue spot called the Log Cabin Barbecue in Elkton which has great + relatively cheap post-hike food plus 3 dollar ice cream if the group wants to stop there on the way back for dinner. Right now I can take up to 4 other people in my car, but if we get another driver I can accept more people.

You bring:
Minimum 2 liters of water, I am bringing 3
Sturdy footwear
Packed lunch/snacks, we could also stop at Wawa to grab sandwiches on way there
$ for dinner potentially
Appropriate clothing (layers) – Weather is sunny with a high in the low 60s, but might get cold on the summits

I bring:
First aid kit
Car

Let’s do it!