I decided to head out to my favorite place in the world to camp and hike- Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area in Fort Valley.
I chose a 7.6 mile hike from Hiking Upward (link on left of the page), since it offered a low difficulty rating......reeeeally. First off, I got a late start. I usually like to get going by 6 or 7 in the morning. I didn't get out of the house until 10:30. The ride took about an hour and a half. I went farther into Fort Valley to get to the parking area which was along a very secluded fire road. Almost beside myself with excitement, I laced up the boots, checked my pack and headed on down the fire road in search of the trail head. I was a mile out when I finally turned around after not locating the trail head. I walked all the way back to the car and retried the directions. Ticked at myself, I headed down the road ( in the car now) a little farther and, of course, found where I was supposed to be. I had not kept track of my car mileage and was short of the intended parking area. Just plain stupid mistake. So, with 2 unanticipated miles of hiking under my belt, I restarted my hike. The trail ( orange blazed Massanutten Mountain West) was essentially straight up for 700 ft. for the first half mile.
It was sloppy in some areas from rain and run off. My knee felt fine, but my fatigue from not working out since mid-February had me panting. I can't tell you how thankful I am, again, for my trekking poles . they really help out and offer a good thing to lean on when resting. I made it to near the top in 20 minutes, so knew I needed to slow down a bit. I was trying to make up time for my blunder. It threw off my pace to be sure. Just mad at myself. The trail turned onto the Tuscorora Doll Ridge trail for the last part of the ascent to the ridge line. I was happy to take off my pant legs of my convertible pants at this point and be in shorts. The ridge line was rocky with lots of "ankle biters" waiting to snag me. My knee held up fine, but I rolled my ankles more than a couple of times.
It was hot and I was going through a lot of water. I anticipated resupply at the base at a stream. Views were fair and only because there was no leaf cover.
Views would be all but obliterated during the summer. I spied an area of rocks to the east on Green Mountain. Appeared to be a landslide area in the middle of woods.
Views were better off to the west. As time wore on, I got a little concerned over my water supply. I did not fill my camelback to save weight and just took my outboard bottles and my water filter for resupply. I stopped and consulted my map. For the first time I was able to pinpoint my location on the map with the use of landmarks and my new high quality topographic map (thanks Mari). I was able to use up my water with confidence, knowing a stream was coming up soon. The decent went well, with only a couple squints of pain from my knee. It was more friendly and gradual than the climb up. When I got to the base of the mountain, Little Passage Creek was flowing there. I used my new Varios water filter for the first time. I filled 2 liters in less than a couple of minutes. Woohoo!! Instant ice cold, SAFE, drinking water! The return leg of the trip was now along the fire road back to the car. Essentially uneventful other than passing Strasburg Reservoir.
I had been starting to feel some ache in the right thigh on the ridge and stopped for a breather and took some Motrin from my first aid kit. I am thankful I did. I returned to the car tired and a bit sore, though my knee felt fine, surprisingly. Almost 10 miles....sweeeeet.
I chose a 7.6 mile hike from Hiking Upward (link on left of the page), since it offered a low difficulty rating......reeeeally. First off, I got a late start. I usually like to get going by 6 or 7 in the morning. I didn't get out of the house until 10:30. The ride took about an hour and a half. I went farther into Fort Valley to get to the parking area which was along a very secluded fire road. Almost beside myself with excitement, I laced up the boots, checked my pack and headed on down the fire road in search of the trail head. I was a mile out when I finally turned around after not locating the trail head. I walked all the way back to the car and retried the directions. Ticked at myself, I headed down the road ( in the car now) a little farther and, of course, found where I was supposed to be. I had not kept track of my car mileage and was short of the intended parking area. Just plain stupid mistake. So, with 2 unanticipated miles of hiking under my belt, I restarted my hike. The trail ( orange blazed Massanutten Mountain West) was essentially straight up for 700 ft. for the first half mile. 
It was sloppy in some areas from rain and run off. My knee felt fine, but my fatigue from not working out since mid-February had me panting. I can't tell you how thankful I am, again, for my trekking poles . they really help out and offer a good thing to lean on when resting. I made it to near the top in 20 minutes, so knew I needed to slow down a bit. I was trying to make up time for my blunder. It threw off my pace to be sure. Just mad at myself. The trail turned onto the Tuscorora Doll Ridge trail for the last part of the ascent to the ridge line. I was happy to take off my pant legs of my convertible pants at this point and be in shorts. The ridge line was rocky with lots of "ankle biters" waiting to snag me. My knee held up fine, but I rolled my ankles more than a couple of times. 
It was hot and I was going through a lot of water. I anticipated resupply at the base at a stream. Views were fair and only because there was no leaf cover.
Views would be all but obliterated during the summer. I spied an area of rocks to the east on Green Mountain. Appeared to be a landslide area in the middle of woods.
Views were better off to the west. As time wore on, I got a little concerned over my water supply. I did not fill my camelback to save weight and just took my outboard bottles and my water filter for resupply. I stopped and consulted my map. For the first time I was able to pinpoint my location on the map with the use of landmarks and my new high quality topographic map (thanks Mari). I was able to use up my water with confidence, knowing a stream was coming up soon. The decent went well, with only a couple squints of pain from my knee. It was more friendly and gradual than the climb up. When I got to the base of the mountain, Little Passage Creek was flowing there. I used my new Varios water filter for the first time. I filled 2 liters in less than a couple of minutes. Woohoo!! Instant ice cold, SAFE, drinking water! The return leg of the trip was now along the fire road back to the car. Essentially uneventful other than passing Strasburg Reservoir.
I had been starting to feel some ache in the right thigh on the ridge and stopped for a breather and took some Motrin from my first aid kit. I am thankful I did. I returned to the car tired and a bit sore, though my knee felt fine, surprisingly. Almost 10 miles....sweeeeet.
No comments:
Post a Comment