Post by GaliWalker on May 5, 2024 18:45:46 GMT -8
Strickler Knob (May 4, 2024)
George Washington National Forest, Virginia
My original plan was to head up to Duncan Knob. I reached the Gap Creek trailhead, and rock-hopped across Gap Creek. The crossing was tricky because Gap Creek was running high due to the rain that had already fallen overnight, but I made it without getting my feet wet. Unfortunately, the trail on the other side was a jumble of fallen trees. After about 100yds of it, I decided that none of this was ringing any bells. I'd done this trail once before, and didn't remember encountering any difficulties, so either I was off-route somehow, or there'd been a big storm that had knocked down all those trees, or something else had happened. Anyway, I decided that tackling the rock scramble to Duncan Knob was going to be tricky due to the damp conditions, so why not drive 1.5mi further to Scothorn Gap and hike up to Strickler Knob instead? (I didn't have enough time to tackle both Duncan Knob and Strickler Knob, which I've done in the past.) So, I headed back to the car, but not before I got water inside one of my boots on the return crossing of Gap Creek.
As I parked the car at Scothorn Gap, I saw a sign for "Burn Area", which warned of downed trees and debris. (Evidently, this was a prescribed burn, so intentional.) Maybe, this was, at least partly, the cause of the fallen trees I'd encountered earlier...? I crossed Passage Creek – no problem for this ford – and headed up the wide trail. Thick mist shrouded the black, charred forest, making for a somewhat depressing beginning. Thankfully, I saw the occasional pop of color from blooming azaleas and the odd lady's slipper.
Lady's Slipper
About 2mi in, I turned right onto the Strickler Knob Trail. This 1mi route is mostly level, but extremely rocky. It's an ankle twister at the best of times, but on this day, with everything wet, the lichen-coated rocks were slimy and slick. I took my time to make sure of every step. 40min later I finally reached Strickler Knob, where I was greeted by a black vulture, which stubbornly refused to fly away. It grudgingly moved a mere 15ft away as I approached it, at which point it settled in a tree and affixed a beady eye upon me. I spent about 40min at the summit, carefully clambering around on the slippery, rocky outcrops, but all I saw was the inside of a cloud. Defeated by the entire fruitless experience, I tucked my tail between my legs and headed back down. That dratted vulture had kept its malevolent gaze trained upon me throughout, making sure that I knew I wasn't welcome.
The inside of a cloud
Stats: 6mi, 1100ft elevation gain, 3.5hrs
George Washington National Forest, Virginia
My original plan was to head up to Duncan Knob. I reached the Gap Creek trailhead, and rock-hopped across Gap Creek. The crossing was tricky because Gap Creek was running high due to the rain that had already fallen overnight, but I made it without getting my feet wet. Unfortunately, the trail on the other side was a jumble of fallen trees. After about 100yds of it, I decided that none of this was ringing any bells. I'd done this trail once before, and didn't remember encountering any difficulties, so either I was off-route somehow, or there'd been a big storm that had knocked down all those trees, or something else had happened. Anyway, I decided that tackling the rock scramble to Duncan Knob was going to be tricky due to the damp conditions, so why not drive 1.5mi further to Scothorn Gap and hike up to Strickler Knob instead? (I didn't have enough time to tackle both Duncan Knob and Strickler Knob, which I've done in the past.) So, I headed back to the car, but not before I got water inside one of my boots on the return crossing of Gap Creek.
As I parked the car at Scothorn Gap, I saw a sign for "Burn Area", which warned of downed trees and debris. (Evidently, this was a prescribed burn, so intentional.) Maybe, this was, at least partly, the cause of the fallen trees I'd encountered earlier...? I crossed Passage Creek – no problem for this ford – and headed up the wide trail. Thick mist shrouded the black, charred forest, making for a somewhat depressing beginning. Thankfully, I saw the occasional pop of color from blooming azaleas and the odd lady's slipper.
Lady's Slipper
About 2mi in, I turned right onto the Strickler Knob Trail. This 1mi route is mostly level, but extremely rocky. It's an ankle twister at the best of times, but on this day, with everything wet, the lichen-coated rocks were slimy and slick. I took my time to make sure of every step. 40min later I finally reached Strickler Knob, where I was greeted by a black vulture, which stubbornly refused to fly away. It grudgingly moved a mere 15ft away as I approached it, at which point it settled in a tree and affixed a beady eye upon me. I spent about 40min at the summit, carefully clambering around on the slippery, rocky outcrops, but all I saw was the inside of a cloud. Defeated by the entire fruitless experience, I tucked my tail between my legs and headed back down. That dratted vulture had kept its malevolent gaze trained upon me throughout, making sure that I knew I wasn't welcome.
The inside of a cloud
Stats: 6mi, 1100ft elevation gain, 3.5hrs