North Mountain, Virginia (Mar/18/2023)
Mar 19, 2023 6:55:12 GMT -8
rebeccad, burntfoot, and 3 more like this
Post by GaliWalker on Mar 19, 2023 6:55:12 GMT -8
North Mountain, Virginia (Mar/18/2023)
George Washinton National Forest
There are lots of North Mountains in the mid-Atlantic. This is the one near Clifton Forge, in George Washington National Forest. The hiking snob in me prefers to earn his views by hiking up to them. For this hike I would start my south-bound hike from the northern end of North Mountain's ridge, after having driven up on a dirt road. On the plus side though, some of the best views of the hike would be available almost immediately, so I wouldn't have to hike up to them in the dark to get them in optimal lighting conditions.
A 2.5hr drive from Richmond had me at the trailhead by 7:30am. The temperature was 26°F and a strong 30mph wind was blasting across the ridge, so I bundled up. After a little trouble finding the (obvious) start of the trail, it was nearly 8am by the time I got going. The first viewpoint (of five) was only 0.2mi in, accessible via a short scramble up some rocks. I took about an hour at these viewpoints, watching the sun flit in and out of partly cloudy skies. The view of Big House and Little House Mountains, looking like one double-humped mountain from this aspect, was particularly nice. Also interesting was the view southwards along the ridge, and east towards Lake Robertson.
Big House and Little House Mountain
After getting my fill of the views, I head back into the woods. The hardwood forest was still bare of leaves, so I was treated to filtered views to right and left as I walked along the ridge. The trail surface was nice, and the climbs gentle, so it was all quite pleasant. At the 3.4mi mark, I reached the jumble of huge rocks and cliffs known as Pete's Cave. It was a rocky wonderland. I poked my nose into various nooks and crannies and climbed up the cliffs hither and thither. The view from the heights was great, and the first one that provided an unobstructed look towards the west. Unfortunately, the strong wind was a real problem, particularly atop the cliffs, so photography was a bunch of quick handheld snapshots.
Exploring the cliffs of Pete's Cave (selfie)
On the ramparts above Pete's Cave
After Pete's Cave, I turned around and retraced my steps back to the car.
Stats: 6.8mi, 1200ft gain, 4.5hrs
George Washinton National Forest
There are lots of North Mountains in the mid-Atlantic. This is the one near Clifton Forge, in George Washington National Forest. The hiking snob in me prefers to earn his views by hiking up to them. For this hike I would start my south-bound hike from the northern end of North Mountain's ridge, after having driven up on a dirt road. On the plus side though, some of the best views of the hike would be available almost immediately, so I wouldn't have to hike up to them in the dark to get them in optimal lighting conditions.
A 2.5hr drive from Richmond had me at the trailhead by 7:30am. The temperature was 26°F and a strong 30mph wind was blasting across the ridge, so I bundled up. After a little trouble finding the (obvious) start of the trail, it was nearly 8am by the time I got going. The first viewpoint (of five) was only 0.2mi in, accessible via a short scramble up some rocks. I took about an hour at these viewpoints, watching the sun flit in and out of partly cloudy skies. The view of Big House and Little House Mountains, looking like one double-humped mountain from this aspect, was particularly nice. Also interesting was the view southwards along the ridge, and east towards Lake Robertson.
Big House and Little House Mountain
After getting my fill of the views, I head back into the woods. The hardwood forest was still bare of leaves, so I was treated to filtered views to right and left as I walked along the ridge. The trail surface was nice, and the climbs gentle, so it was all quite pleasant. At the 3.4mi mark, I reached the jumble of huge rocks and cliffs known as Pete's Cave. It was a rocky wonderland. I poked my nose into various nooks and crannies and climbed up the cliffs hither and thither. The view from the heights was great, and the first one that provided an unobstructed look towards the west. Unfortunately, the strong wind was a real problem, particularly atop the cliffs, so photography was a bunch of quick handheld snapshots.
Exploring the cliffs of Pete's Cave (selfie)
On the ramparts above Pete's Cave
After Pete's Cave, I turned around and retraced my steps back to the car.
Stats: 6.8mi, 1200ft gain, 4.5hrs