Hiking (Day Hikes)
Stargazing
Free Trolley Bus Stop On J.P.A. Nearest Maury Ave
Hawksbill Mountain
Community hike with local Sierra Club.
Refresh for the rest of your week with this beautiful mid-week sunset (8:00pm) and natural exercise in the mountains. Hike 0.8 mile up (~700 feet elevation gain) to the highest summit in Shenandoah National Park, where we’ll relax for ~2 hours as we enjoy the sunset, watch the light fade and stars come out on the night of the new moon. Then 0.8 mile back to car for a whopping 1.6 miles (but it’s a good workout as the elevation gain is significant for a short distance). Enjoy dinner at the summit while watching the sunset if you wish, or bring it with you to chow in the car if your driver doesn’t mind. Choose your own pace: the most relaxed-pace hiker (the caboose) will carry one walkie-talkie; Leader will carry the other one while hiking at pace 4 (out of 5). We’ll enjoy a wildlife safari on Skyline Drive during our drive home.
This adventure starts out with everyone waitlisted, and then as drivers sign up, folks will get off the wait list.
WITHDRAW/CANCEL-PARTICIPATION DEADLINE is the same as the posted signup deadline for every club adventure unless otherwise noted. If you are on the wait list and make other plans, please withdraw ONLINE (otherwise if you get off the wait list last-minute and don’t show up, and someone else could have gone in your spot, that’s a problem).
Drivers needed and greatly appreciated (~110 miles total). Drivers please arrive with completely full tank of gas, then I’ll pay to fill up your tank upon return and give you a 50% tip! The more drivers, the bigger we can grow the size of this trip to let in any waitlistees. Thanks!
Wear non-cotton clothes, and pack: __ FLASHLIGHT/HEADLAMP*** (not cellphone light), __ MORE WARM LAYERS THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE needing including hat gloves scarf; and/or sleeping pad / yoga mat and sleeping bag / blanket (we’ll be up on the possibly-windy summit for ~2 hours sunset & star-gazing), __ dinner if you want to eat at the summit at ~8pm, __ snacks? __ extra batteries, __ 1-2 L water, __ meds, __ extra corrective lenses if applicable, __ rain gear, __ whistle, __ SNPark pass if have, __ hike poles? __ camera? __ bug spray? __ t.p. & baggie? __ 6-foot leash, water and food if bringing doggie in your own car.
Everyone will be required to sign a liability waiver.
***At the carpool meeting location, I will ask each participant to show me their brightly-shining headlamp or flashlight, not cellphone light.
Meeting / departure location is: on Jefferson Park Avenue (JPA) at the Free Trolley bus stop just before that bus turns right onto Maury Avenue. If you’re on JPA facing Fry’s Spring Station restaurant (which is on the NE corner of JPA and Maury), we’re meeting at the bus stop / grassy area that’s on JPA to the right of that restaurant.
This trip’s leader is a Wilderness EMT and Geo Medic, is the instructor of the Wilderness First Aid & CPR courses posted in the club, and will be happy to help anyone in need.
~ father shred