Storm Damage SNP

imported
#1

Has anyone been hiking in the Shenandoah area recently (this week or last)? How bad is the storm damage on the AT? How about other trails on the ridges or in the valleys?

Turtle 2

#2

I haven’t seen it, but I heard second hand that the blow-downs are awful. As many as 12 a mile in some spots.

Murph

#3

They have done a lot of work in the past two weeks. The road is open from MP 65 north and all the facilities. According to the NPS Morning Report a lot of the trails have been cleared in the north and central districts. More will be worked on this weekend.

Ginny

#4

If anyone wants to help next weekend in clearing SNP trail, follow this link…

http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/trails/PATC/4292.html

Skyline Drive and SNP facilities update as of 10/3 is at…

http://www.nps.gov/shen/pphtml/newseventsdetail8265.html

After this weekend (10/4-5) it is possible that a trails update will be posted at . . .

http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/trails/PATC.html

“Skyline”

#5

Here are a few entries from my friend who hiked through after the storm.

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=48225

Leif

#6

i drove up the south river today in rockbridge county - the 20 inches of rain that izzabell dumped in augusta county caused extensive flood damage along the river bottom - lots of roadway has been replaced and people are camped beside their damaged and missing trailers and homes…this is below snp and adjacent to the george washington nf portion of AT - cole mtn, tar jacket ridge, hog camp and cow camp are all nearby.

tombone

#7

i drove up the south river today in rockbridge county - the 20 inches of rain that izzabell dumped in augusta county caused extensive flood damage along the river bottom - lots of roadway has been replaced and people are camped beside their damaged and missing trailers and homes…this is below snp and adjacent to the george washington nf portion of AT - cole mtn, tar jacket ridge, hog camp and cow camp are all nearby.

tombone

#8

I talked to a lady at the visitor center at Afton Mt yesterday, who said the south section of the SNP road should be open this coming weekend. She didn’t know about the trail situation specifically. You might want to check with the park service directly before you head out. A through hiker I met at Bryant Ridge shelter Saturday night said he had to hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway instead of the AT a few weeks back.

sky rider

#9

I can now reply to my own post.

Started hike about milepost 34, a couple miles south of Rt. 211. Headed east on Hazel Mtn. Trail - 26 downed trees in 2.3 miles. That sound terrible, but it wasn’t. Most of the trees hardly made me lose stride and none were difficult. I was able to maintain my blazing, (normal for me) hiking speed of 2 mph.

South on Catlett Mtn. Trail and up Hannah Run Trail there were less problems although the trails are brushy because they are not used as much.

Walked south on Skyline Drive for a mile. Then walked back on the AT from Jewel Hollow Overlook to the Meadow Springs Trail. The trail fairies with chainsaws had been through and that 2.7 miles of the AT was completely clear. The 0.5 miles of Meadow Springs Trail was also clear.

From this small survey, it seems that Central Shenandoah is ready for hiking.

Turtle 2