Tried of the usual backpacking trips where we just slog between known campsites on well-marked trails and then head back to the car? Well, this Spice Run trip is the answer. We’ll leave town Friday, May 28th (say 5pm-ish) for the newly designated Spice Run Wilderness Area in West Virginia. The first night, we’ll car camp at Watoga State Park. …
Announcements
Humpback Rocks Saturday Morning
Let’s go to Humpback Rocks on Saturday! If you haven’t done it, it’s one of those hikes you have to do when you’re in Charlottesville, very uphill but short with a rewarding view… Also not far away. It’s very popular so be prepared to see a lot of people but the view is still amazing at the top! You bring: …
Three Ridges Day Hike
Lets meet at echols at 1230, hike for 14-16 miles, and head back to cville Bring: water–2 liters, snacks/lunch, money for dinner possibly, headlamp. The club includes: first aid kit and gas. here is the description of the hike: Three Ridges is one of Virginia’s most popular backpacking circuits. Situated in Central Virginia, just 30 miles southwest of Charlottesville, the …
Short Three Ridges Hike
Instead of hiking the whole Three Ridges Loop we will hike down to the trail shelter and follow the Mau-Har trail down to Campbell Creek and to a small swimming hole that is refreshing, but a bit cool! We may also identify a few of the abundant wild edible plants and animal tracks along the way as we pass some …
Hiking at Mint Springs!
Mint Springs is a park near Crozet with some sweet trails. AAAND, it’s closer than Shenandoah! I’m going to head out there late Monday morning, hike a few miles (probably 3-5), and head on back. It will be a shorter trip, a great study break, and a chance to explore a new place if you haven’t been! You’ll need: Hiking …
South River Falls Hike
Need a break from studying? Come out for a short enjoyable hike to the third largest waterfall at Shenandoah National Forest. We will depart from Bonnycastle circle at 10 AM. The hike will start from mile 62.8 on skyline drive at South River Picnic Area parking lot. The trail is 4.5 miles long and moderate in skill level. This may …
Hike at the Creekathon
Come out for a short hike in the woods at Walnut Creek before enjoying all the good food! We will hike from the parking lot towards a creek crossing where we should be able to identify nature’s antidote for poison ivy and some animal tracks if we’re lucky and maybe some wild onions to add to the burgers and take …
Hiking at Mint Springs!
Mint Springs is a park in Crozet with some sweet trails. AAAND, it’s closer than Shenandoah! I’m going to head out there late Saturday morning, hike a few miles (probably 3-5), and head on back. It will be a shorter trip and a chance to explore a new place if you haven’t been! You’ll need: Hiking shoes Water Loads of …
Seaside Playtime
Outdoors style beach week for dirt cheap!?! Want to go to Beach Week? Don’t want to spend loads of money? Saturday May 15th we are going to travel down to Outer Banks. There is a SWEET campground right on the beach. Most of the costs for lodging, food and gas will be covered by the Outdoors Club. Some activities might …
Cheat River Festival!
Whitewater, music, gear, and great folks – could it get any better? Let’s go to the 16th Annual Cheat River Festival! Cheat Fest has been described as “the biggest little river festival in the country”. For more details out the following sites: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/30719/display/full/ http://cheat.org/festival Activities: The emphasis of this trip will be to enjoy whitewater.There is plenty of class III-V …
Backpacking at Dolly Sods!
Foxfields Shmoxfields…let’s go backpacking instead! We’re heading to Dolly Sods- an amazingly beautiful wilderness area in the mountains of West Virginia. Check it out: http://potomacappalachian.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=317&Itemid=43 We’ll leave Friday afternoon, drive 3 hours there, grab some dinner and hike the 1-2 miles to the campsite. Saturday, we’ll hike 8-10 miles and camp out. On Sunday we’ll make the 5-6 mile trek …
Hike at Riprap Hollow!
It’s going to be Saturday again soon…let’s go hiking! Riprap Hollow is a 9.5 mile loop in Shenandoah. We’ll leave at 9, drive there, hike about, eat some lunch, hike about some more, maybe even go swimming if it’s warm enough and people are interested, and come back! Check it out: http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/RiprapHollow/ You bring: Plenty of water Lunch Something to …
Brms Discount Night #2
Hello fellow gearheads, Our discount night at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports is coming up fast! Mon April 12th from 8:15-9:15pm you’ll be part of an exclusive 20% sale to Outdoors at UVa members only. **Don’t forget: If you plan on buying gear that you’ll need to get fitted for (e.g. shoes, packs, etc.) you must go in this week prior …
Pilgrimage to Ragged Mountain
Incase you havent celebrated Easter in another way so far which is far to common in college students as there are no traditions of particular interest to college students connected with Easter. Anyway back to what i was saying, come Pilgrimage to Ragged Mountain with me. Feel free to bring painted eggs along preferably those yogurt covered chocolate ones. So …
Sherando Lake and Rock Scramble
If you’re looking for a hike to really get you in shape for spring and summer fun this might be the one for you! We will start on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hike to Sherando Lake, scramble up the rocks to Torry Ridge, drop down to Mill Creek, climb up towards Bald Mtn. and complete the loop back along the …
Devil’s Marbleyard!
I’ve been waiting for it to warm up enough to go to Devil’s Marbleyard, and if the weather holds out it’s gonna be AMAZING! This is my favorite hike! The drive to Devil’s Marbleyard will take around 1.5-2 hours, and we’ll start up with a moderately easy 1.5 mile hike through the woods. From there, the mountain opens up into …
Cedar Run & Whiteoak Canyon Hike
Get ready to hike a trail which boasts a series of six waterfalls, with the uppermost fall being the highest at 86 feet. We will depart from Bonnycastle Circle around 9:00AM and start hiking the Whiteoak Canyon Area at Shenandoah National Park by 10:30-10:45 AM. Its going to be strenuous 8.2 mile circuit hike for 5-6 hours. The waterfalls on …
Saturday Traipse Down/Up the Rocky Mount Trial!!
For those of you that cant make it out for the Sunday hike for whatever reason (mine being that 9am would be the apocalypse on this particular Sun.) here is Saturday hike of similar caliber. So I have heard lots of good things about this trail. It no doubt has some awesome views to gawk at and possibly have some …
~Shenandoah Sunday: Trayfoot Mountain/Paine Run Loop~
Yawwwn… Yeah right… time to wake up and start your week off right with a great Sunday hike through the beautifual Shenandoah National Forest! This week’s loop is the: Trayfoot Mountain / Paine Run Loop The plan is to depart from Bonnycastle Circle around 9:00a Drive to the Paine Trail parking lot in Shenandoah National Forest Then to hit the …
Riprap Take 2
I can make the hikes Saturday, so I want to hike this Sunday! The riprap loop is not too far away, although we will have to avoid skyline drive, and it is about a 9.5 mile loop. So the plan: leave from echols at 11am (sleep in!), hike a decent pace (not too fast, But this is not a beginners …
Lets Hike Ragged Mountain!
The weather is finally nice again, let’s go outdoors to enjoy it! We will do the 3-1/2 mile main trail at Ragged Mountain Natural Area, which is only about 15 minutes outside of Charlottesville. Make sure that you bring: 1. Appropriate hiking shoes 2. Either a snack or a light lunch if you cannot wait for campus to eat (for …
~ Riprap Hollow Loop: 3/20 ~
I don’t know about y’all but it’s definitely time to lace up those hiking shoes and go out for a beautiful day hike, hangovers welcome! The plan is to depart from Bonnycastle Circle around 9:00a Drive to the Riprap Hollow Trail in Shenandoah National Park Then to hit the trail and have a great time hiking and viewing the two …
A Glorious, Gallent, Imposing, and Monumental Adventure to Cumberland Island
This trip is gonna be hopping for sure and you wont want to miss out on this journey of a lifetime. Spring break on an island in the southern reaches of the U.S. its gonna be goodies for sure. This is an awesome chance to hit up some warm weather and beaches without having to sell yourself out on the …
Winter Survival Skills
Have you ever wanted to learn how to find shelter, food and water and start a fire in the winter without all of the modern camping gear we are used to having? In this adventure we will make a basic snow survival shelter, unless it rains a lot between now and Sunday in which case we’ll use forest debris, start …
Intermediate/Advanced Weekend (Snowshoeing) Backpacking to Laurel Fork!
Whoops! Trip Canceled! Come join Becca (one of the cook’s outstanding cooks) and me for a backpacking trip this weekend! We’ll convene at 4pm on Friday, pack up at Becca’s, and head towards West Virginia and backpack/hike/camp at Laurel Fork. Some info about the area is at http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/SlabcampRunLocustSpring/ http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/LaurelFork/ All details of this trip are variable. We will use our …
Outdoor Survival Skills and Crafts Rescheduled
Since I had to cancel the adventure last Sunday due to snow conditions, it’s been rescheduled for Wednsday. If you are still in the area and would like to practice some fun winter survival skills such as making snow shelters, starting a campfire in snow and how to make a fire-sculpted wooden bowl come out for this winter wonderland adventure. …
Outdoor Crafts and Survival Skills
If you’re still around during break and would like to try your hand at being creative with natural materials from the woods this might be the adventure for you! We will travel up to some wooded land my family owns up in Madison County, hike a short ways into the woods, and build a campfire. We can then use materials …
Tramp Through the Woods.
So I am sure you are all as burnt out on Clem as I am. So lets get outside on Sat. for a little roaming through the woods. We will go hit up Ragged Mountain Area to keep time to a minimum. So not sure about how far we will hike but it shouldnt be more than 3 miles. We …
Moderate Dayhike: Bear Church Rock in Snp
New Plan: Park at the end of 662. Plan A: hike at 12 mile loop passing Bear Church Rock. Plan B: hike out and back to BCR for a total of 7-8 miles. Plan C: Hike somewhere else. In full disclosure, I’ve planned this hike with Sergei. Despite what you may have heard about him or his trips, this trip …
Hiking Around Moorman’s River
Hey Guys! here is what we are doing: Drive out to Moormans River Reservoir, hike up the Turk gap branch to AT and continue to Turk Mt summit with a great view, have lunch at the summit, return the same way. About 2500 ft Elevation gain, around 12mi total distance. There is a 20% of rain, so rain gear is …
Ramsey’s Draft Day Hike
Awesome hiking weather in the forecast for tomorrow! This will be a 14mi loop. Bring water, lunch, snacks, HEADLAMP/FLASHLIGHT, and crocs/sandals for numerous stream crossings. Drivers get off the waitlist first. Club provides gas money/seat in a car.
Intro to Rock Climbing
Come to the local rock climbing gym and learn how to climb! I will teach some basics of rock climbing and how to belay another climber and we will spend the rest of the time going at it. Climbing is an awesome sport and I’m hoping we can get lots more people to join us on peak trips and outdoors …
Bike to Old Rag Trailhead/Hike Old Rag
The plan is to drive to Madison, leave the cars at the house of a club member, Carolyn Farnsworth, and bike to the Old Rag trailhead on scenic backroads (approximately 20 miles one way), hike the 9mi loop on Old Rag, and bike back to Madison. Carolyn graciously offered to host a post-ride dinner, hence late end time. Drivers will …
Meteor Shower for Those Who Like to Go to Bed Before 2!
Hey guys! So peak time for the leonid meteor shower is from 11pm to 4am. I want to hit the earlier part, as i am old and like to go to bed a decent hour. 🙂 so here is the plan: Meet at echols at 1030 so we can hop in cars and head to Humpback rocks. We will take …
Meteor Shower for Those Who Like to Go to Bed Before 2!
Hey guys! So peak time for the leonid meteor shower is from 11pm to 4am. I want to hit the earlier part, as i am old and like to go to bed a decent hour. 🙂 so here is the plan: Meet at echols at 1030 so we can hop in cars and head to Humpback rocks. We will take …
Meteor Shower on Humpback Rocks!
Humpback Rocks, for those who don’t know, provide an amazing view during the day, and would provide for some awesome stargazing at night. So let’s make use of them for the Leonids meteor shower. The Leonids meteor shower is supposed to be a pretty brilliant display this year, mostly for viewers in Asia, but North America may not be left …
Hike at White Oak Canyon
This hike follows a beautiful stretch of White Oak Canyon as it descends the Blue Ridge in Shenandoah Park, with waterfalls and deep pools. We will start at the base of the mountain on the edge of the park near the town of Syria in Madison County and hike approximately five miles out and back with a lunch stop at …
Beginner Backpacking at Dolly Sods, Wv
Come stretch your legs in West Virginia. We will hike in 1-2 miles Friday night, camp out. On Saturday, we’ll hike 8-10 miles to our second campsite near Red Creek. We’ll plan on getting to camp early so that we can make a nice, big fire early since it’ll be dark early and rather cold. Sunday, we’ll pack up, hike …
House Mountain Trip.
Lets go check out House Mountain Becca told me about this looks like a pretty sweet beginnerish backpacking trip. It is about a 3 mile hike with packs to a saddle where we would camp. Then there is 2 different out and back hikes two to three mile each from the saddle. These go to Big and Little House Mountains …
Brms Discount Night
Hello fellow gearheads, Our discount night at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports is coming up fast! Next Wed Nov 4th from 8:15-9:15pm you’ll be part of an exclusive 20% sale to Outdoors at UVa members only. **Don’t forget: If you plan on buying gear that you’ll need to get fitted for (e.g. shoes, packs, etc.) you must go in this week …
Ramsey’s Draft Hike
Probably the last foliage hike of the season. Based on previous club trips to Ramsey’s Draft, very high likelihood of getting lost/bushwacking through a sea of stinging nettles, hence long pants recommended. This is a 16mi loop (longer if we get lost) on mostly undeveloped trail, previous hiking experience strongly recommended. Flashlight/headlamp required as the last hour (or two) we’ll …
Introduction to Outdoor Survival Skills
Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of outdoor survival in cold weather without all of your modern camping gear? In this adventure we will walk a ways in from the trailhead at Love Gap and then build a shelter out of forest debris, learn some of the basics of tracking animals and humans and how to start a …
Ragged Mountain Sunday Hike
In the mood for a day hike? Sunday is supposed to be 63 degrees and partly sunny, so it’s the perfect weather for a hike. We will do the 3-1/2 mile main trail at Ragged Mountain Natural Area, which is only about 15 minutes outside of Charlottesville. Bring water, a light jacket, and snacks/a light lunch, since we’ll be hiking …
Hike with a Rock Scramble
We will start on Blue Ridge Parkway, hike to Sherando Lake, scramble up to the Torry Ridge, follow it to the Mount Torry Furnace, drop into the Mills Creek drainage, climb back up towards the Bald Mtn and complete the loop along the Slacks Trail. The loop is 16mi long. Bring lunch, water, and a flashlight. Club provides gas money/seat …
Friendly Saturday Morning Hike
Hey guys, I have heard a lot about the views from this trail, and though it is short, it promises to be worth it. The Blackrock summit trail itself is only about a mile long, though there is a section of talus which makes the trail more tricky than it would otherwise be. However, I am also looking into a …
Three Ridges Dayhike
Ever popular 13-mi loop hike off Blue Ridge Parkway. 2 great overlooks, waterfalls, and the foliage should be spectacular. Bring water, lunch, snacks. Club provides gas money/seat in a car. Will expand the group size as drivers sign on.
Austin Mtn/Furnace Mtn Loop
This is a 12mi loop hike in the Southern section of Shenandoah National park. Bring water, lunch, snacks. Club provides seat in a car/gas money Will expand the group as drivers sign on
Apple Picking!
It’s finally starting to feel like fall, and there’s no better place to celebrate the change of the season than at Carter’s Mountain. At the top of the mountain is a historic apple barn which is the center of our activities. There you’ll find the market, gift shop and bakery. Breath-taking views from the market, as well as from an …
Kayaking, Rafting and Camping at the Gauley River
The Gauley River is one of the best stretches of whitewater in the country. Located 3 hours away in West Virginia, the river is “turned on” for approximately 6 weekends each fall when the Summersville dam is realesed. With this trip, you can choose your level of engagement…kayay if you have the experience, raft if you want an adventure, hike …
Acorn Harvesting Walk and Pancakes
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to cook with wild edible plants this might be the adventure for you. We will walk up along the edge of O-Hill and collect some of the white oak acorns that are falling fast and then head over to Becca Percy’s house where we will shell and boil the acorns and make pancakes …