Last-Minute Bearfence + Warm Beverage Sunset!

OVERVIEW

Yo!

My lab for tomorrow afternoon just got cancelled, and my adventure through a 50mph winds snowstorm to the top of Elliott Knob in the middle of the night this past weekend left me with a real hankering to endlessly pour warm beverages down my gullet, so let’s bop on up to Bearfence in Shenandoah National Park to enjoy an eazy-breezy-beuatiful sunset, warm beverage in hand! I will bring hot cocoa for the group, but bring a cup/mug if you have one so we can avoid waste.

The hike up is ~.4 miles up with a teeny tiny rock scramble at the end, so should take no time at all (~12mins) to get into prime sun-viewing position. Bearfence is one of the only places in the park where you have an unobstructed view of both sunrise and sunset, the views are phenomenal, and prime foliage should be well on its way!

Check it out here:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/bearfence-mountain-trail

Tomorrow is supposed to be the warmest day of the week, but it always gets chilly up on summits in the park, so be sure to bring an extra layer.

The plan:
-4:30pm roll on out from Echols (don’t be late!)
-5:45ish hopefully make it out of rush-hour traffic up to the trailhead
-6:00pm sunset and those viewssss
-8:00 back in Cville!

You bring: important: will cost $5 for parking if we don’t get SNP passes
-shenandoah park pass (if you have one)
-sturdy hiking shoes
-light source for hike down (phone light would be fine)
-water + snacks
-mug (if you want hot chocolate)
-something warm to wear at the summit (summits are always chilly)
-love of sunsets and warm beverages

I bring:
-stove and water
-hot cocoa
-interesting facts on other mountains visible from the summit
-a puppy?

DRIVERS NEEDED!
-drivers get priority off the waitlist. The club reimburses for gas +50% tip!
-drivers need to show up to Echols with a full tank of gas!