Big Schloss and Tibbet Knob, Virginia (Feb/18/2024)
Feb 19, 2024 11:18:31 GMT -8
burntfoot likes this
Post by GaliWalker on Feb 19, 2024 11:18:31 GMT -8
Big Schloss and Tibbet Knob, Virginia (Feb/18/2024)
I did a couple of short hikes yesterday in George Washington National Forest, both repeat affairs. Big Schloss features some of the better views in the mid-Atlantic, whereas Tibbet Knob makes for the obvious add-on, because the trailheads for both hikes have a shared parking lot, located at Wolf Gap, right on the Virginia / West Virginia border. After a milder than normal winter so far, a snowstorm swept through the region on Saturday, accompanied by some chilly overnight temperatures. Thankfully, the roads to Wolf Gap were clear of snow, which I reached around 6:20am. The car's temperature gauge read 18°F.
Big Schloss
I began with Big Schloss, because it features the better views of the two hikes, particularly for sunrise. It was somewhat icy in spots, so I put on microspikes right from the start. I ended up keeping these on for the entirety of my hike, and only took them off on my way down from Tibbet Knob.
I motored up the mountain to the summit ridge, and then rambled along it to the summit in around an hour. I was happy to find that I had the place to myself. Sunrise had happened while I was 10min shy of the summit, but the morning sunshine had been kept at bay by a thin layer of low clouds. I was thankful for this, because I was already set up for photography at my shooting location by the time golden sunshine spilled over Big Schloss's summit ridge and into the Trout Run valley. It was a frigid wait though, as 20mph wind gusts blasted the West Virginia facing side of the mountain.
Cold morning
First bit of sunshine
Sunshine spilling over into the Trout Run Valley
Dividing line
Summit block
Obligatory selfie
In total I spent about 1.5hrs up top. I encountered the first other hikers on my way down the mountain.
Stats: 4.2mi, 1200ft elevation gain, 3hr 20min (including 1.5hrs at the summit)
Tibbet Knob
It was 9:50am as I left Wolf Gap on my way up the shorter but slightly steeper Tibbet Knob trail. It was snowier too; I would sink in about a foot deep at times, when navigating the odd snowdrift. The two scrambles just below the summit were also slightly trickier than normal, so I was glad to have kept my microspikes on, just for the added security.
Snowy slope and bristling forest
Trout Run valley
Whipped cream rocks
Stats: 3.2mi, 1000ft elevation gain, 2.5hr (including 40min at the summit)
I did a couple of short hikes yesterday in George Washington National Forest, both repeat affairs. Big Schloss features some of the better views in the mid-Atlantic, whereas Tibbet Knob makes for the obvious add-on, because the trailheads for both hikes have a shared parking lot, located at Wolf Gap, right on the Virginia / West Virginia border. After a milder than normal winter so far, a snowstorm swept through the region on Saturday, accompanied by some chilly overnight temperatures. Thankfully, the roads to Wolf Gap were clear of snow, which I reached around 6:20am. The car's temperature gauge read 18°F.
Big Schloss
I began with Big Schloss, because it features the better views of the two hikes, particularly for sunrise. It was somewhat icy in spots, so I put on microspikes right from the start. I ended up keeping these on for the entirety of my hike, and only took them off on my way down from Tibbet Knob.
I motored up the mountain to the summit ridge, and then rambled along it to the summit in around an hour. I was happy to find that I had the place to myself. Sunrise had happened while I was 10min shy of the summit, but the morning sunshine had been kept at bay by a thin layer of low clouds. I was thankful for this, because I was already set up for photography at my shooting location by the time golden sunshine spilled over Big Schloss's summit ridge and into the Trout Run valley. It was a frigid wait though, as 20mph wind gusts blasted the West Virginia facing side of the mountain.
Cold morning
First bit of sunshine
Sunshine spilling over into the Trout Run Valley
Dividing line
Summit block
Obligatory selfie
In total I spent about 1.5hrs up top. I encountered the first other hikers on my way down the mountain.
Stats: 4.2mi, 1200ft elevation gain, 3hr 20min (including 1.5hrs at the summit)
Tibbet Knob
It was 9:50am as I left Wolf Gap on my way up the shorter but slightly steeper Tibbet Knob trail. It was snowier too; I would sink in about a foot deep at times, when navigating the odd snowdrift. The two scrambles just below the summit were also slightly trickier than normal, so I was glad to have kept my microspikes on, just for the added security.
Snowy slope and bristling forest
Trout Run valley
Whipped cream rocks
Stats: 3.2mi, 1000ft elevation gain, 2.5hr (including 40min at the summit)