Hiking (Day Hikes)
Corner of Echols (or wherever you want to be picked up)
Corner of Echols/your place if we are feeling kind
Hightop Summit Trailhead, Virginia, USA
Hey ODC! I hope everyone’s had an awesome summer, soaking up the sun and having a blast outdoors! As for me, I was mostly stuck at home in Richmond for the summer, so I’m pretty excited to be back outside. Also, I got gifted a national parks pass by my parents before I left for school (thank you government job benefits), so a nice couple hikes in Shenandoah sound like a perfect way to start off the semester.
The first hike will be Hightop Summit Hike (alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/hightop-peak-trail), which should give a great view of the Shenandoah Valley and the mountains around. It’s a three mile in-and-out hike with ~900 feet of elevation gain, so I’m aiming to spend maybe <3 hours including a half-hour break at the top to take in the view and grab a bite to eat. Time permitting, we'll probably have enough time on the way back down Skyline Drive to hit one of the shorter summit hikes if y'all are interested. My personal ideas were either Turk Mountain (alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/turk-mountain-trail), Blackrock Summit (alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/blackrock-at-loop-at-big-meadows--2), or Calf Mountain (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/calf-mountain-trail). These hikes should all be <2 hours with some pretty good views as well, though parking lot space *might* be an issue. Timeline ig: * 10:30 am - leave from Corner of Echols (depending on the first-year move in situation tbh, I might have to change to the shred shack) * ~11:30 am - get to trail head * ~ 12:45-1 pm - reach summit * 1:30 pm - head back * 3 pm - back to cars * 3:15-45 pm - Reach trailhead for second hike * 5:15-45 pm - Finish second hike * ~6:30 pm - Back in cville, we can grab dinner if anybody wants What you bring: * 2-3L of water * Hiking shoes * Bug spray * Lunch/snacks/food * Camera if ya want What I'll bring: * My car (should seat four including me comfortably, five if we need) * National Parks Pass * First aid kit As always, drivers and ppl with national parks passes will get priority off the waitlist. Your gas will be reimbursed + a 50% tip, just remember to show up with a full tank of gas. Ppl will be taken off the waitlist as drivers sign up.