Church Rock and Halfmoon Mountain (March 16, 2024)
Mar 17, 2024 8:50:49 GMT -8
Coolkat, nickhowes, and 1 more like this
Post by GaliWalker on Mar 17, 2024 8:50:49 GMT -8
Church Rock and Halfmoon Mountain (March 16, 2024)
George Washington National Forest
I did two quick hikes in George Washington National Forest, straddling the Virginia / West Virginia border, just 26mi apart.
Church Rock, Virginia
7.6mi, 1760ft elevation gain, 3.5hr (including 40min on the summit)
I began with Church Rock. I parked the car on FR482, where it was gated, one mile short of the upper trailhead. It was 6:50am when I began my hike. I had to use a headlamp for the first 10min. The way up the flanks of Church Mountain was on a beautiful trail. A dozen switchbacks made the work even easier.
Once atop Church Mountain's ridge, I took a left and descended to a saddle just below the rocky outcrop that was Church Rock. A steep, albeit short trail, right up the spine of the mountain, took me up to a couple of vistas. It had taken me 1.5hrs from the car. The views to the north, looking along Church Mountain and my approach route, and to the east were great.
Halfmoon Mountain, West Virginia
6.5mi, 1300ft elevation gain, 2hr 50min (including 30min on the summit)
From Church Mountain I drove 26mi north (45min) to the trailhead for Halfmoon Mountain. I started up the Halfmoon Mountain Trail for my second hike of the day at 11:20am. The initial ~1.2mi was along a gently graded, wide grassy trail/road, which I fairly flew along. Then, after crossing a stream and reaching the junction with the Bucktail Cutoff Trail, where I took a right, it was slightly steeper and rockier. The grade remained moderate, however, so I was able to make good time.
At a saddle between Mill Mountain and Halfmoon Mountain, I took a left turn. 0.9mi later I was on Halfmoon Mountain's summit (1hr 15min from the trailhead), where I was greeted by a magnificent Bald Eagle, which flew past me at a distance of just 30ft (sorry no pic; it happened too fast).
George Washington National Forest
I did two quick hikes in George Washington National Forest, straddling the Virginia / West Virginia border, just 26mi apart.
Church Rock, Virginia
7.6mi, 1760ft elevation gain, 3.5hr (including 40min on the summit)
I began with Church Rock. I parked the car on FR482, where it was gated, one mile short of the upper trailhead. It was 6:50am when I began my hike. I had to use a headlamp for the first 10min. The way up the flanks of Church Mountain was on a beautiful trail. A dozen switchbacks made the work even easier.
Once atop Church Mountain's ridge, I took a left and descended to a saddle just below the rocky outcrop that was Church Rock. A steep, albeit short trail, right up the spine of the mountain, took me up to a couple of vistas. It had taken me 1.5hrs from the car. The views to the north, looking along Church Mountain and my approach route, and to the east were great.
Halfmoon Mountain, West Virginia
6.5mi, 1300ft elevation gain, 2hr 50min (including 30min on the summit)
From Church Mountain I drove 26mi north (45min) to the trailhead for Halfmoon Mountain. I started up the Halfmoon Mountain Trail for my second hike of the day at 11:20am. The initial ~1.2mi was along a gently graded, wide grassy trail/road, which I fairly flew along. Then, after crossing a stream and reaching the junction with the Bucktail Cutoff Trail, where I took a right, it was slightly steeper and rockier. The grade remained moderate, however, so I was able to make good time.
At a saddle between Mill Mountain and Halfmoon Mountain, I took a left turn. 0.9mi later I was on Halfmoon Mountain's summit (1hr 15min from the trailhead), where I was greeted by a magnificent Bald Eagle, which flew past me at a distance of just 30ft (sorry no pic; it happened too fast).