 |
Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, Va What Makes It A Classic: When AMC members near Washington, D.C., think of classics, Old Rag is the first that comes to mind. Unfortunately, they’re not alone. As trip leader Paul Fofonoff says, “My old joke about Old Rag is that nobody goes there-it’s way too crowded.” Four miles off scenic Skyline Drive, this southern hike won’t take you as high as nearby mountains do, but will take you scrambling, squeezing, and crawling over 2,000 feet of wild, exposed rock. The Piedmont views from the jagged peak have served as muse for many an artist-remember John Denver’s “Country Roads?” When you walk down the treed slopes in May, revel in the azaleas blossoming all around you. The Hike: The Blue Ridge Mountains can look pretty gentle. But Old Rag, a few miles from the ridgeline, is different. This 3,268-foot summit takes its name from its acres of sharp, raggedy rocksÑand, yes, you will be hiking on those. From the Old Rag parking lot on SR 600, head up the Old Rag Fire Road to the Ridge Trail. After a steady ascent, says Fofonoff, you’ll soon be clambering “under rocks and over rocks,” as the trail crosses boulder fields and the elevation rapidly increases. Descend via the Saddle Trail, then start your long hike back to the trailhead along the Weakley Hollow Fire Road. For a shorter adventure, ascend and descend the Saddle Trail. Conservation Watch: Old Rag is just one of many Appalachian peaks being “loved to death.” The National Park Service is studying the impact of hikers and climbers here and had begun a series of public workshops as we went to press. Visit www.nps.gov/nero/science/NEW/newprojshen.htm Word to the Wise: Two hundred parking spaces might seem like a lot, but they fill up fast on summer weekends. Get there early. Better yet, go during the week. Watering Hole: Savor Shenandoah views, blackberry ice-cream pie, and Old Rag Ale at Big Meadows Lodge. Mile 51.2, one mile off Skyline Drive, 800-778-2851. Cadillac Mountain via the South Ridge Trail Acadia National Park, Maine What Makes It A Classic: At 1,532-feet, this pink granite mountain looms high over the Atlantic and boasts not only bountiful blueberries, but rare alpine flowers as well. Hikers on the rocky South Ridge Trail find breathtaking ocean views in three directions, says Doug Keith, Maine Chapter trip leader. He always makes time for a rest stop at the Featherbed, a small pond surrounded by a cool fringe of grass and cut right into a cleft in the ridgeline. Without a lot of steep spots and only a short overlap with the auto road, this route provides a friendly hike for kids and adults of varying abilities. And off-season hikers find solitude from masses of Maine vacationers, says Keith. The Hike: From the trailhead, just past the Blackwoods Campground on Highway 3, the South Ridge Trail makes a gradual climb to Eagles Crag. Follow the short spur trail here for a panorama opening eastward. Western views appear as you intersect with the Cadillac West Face Trail at 3 miles. After parallelling the busy summit road for a short distance, you end up right at the gift shop. Walk on by and spend your time ogling the ocean instead of buying buoy earrings. Return the way you came or, if you’re feeling ambitious, make it an 8.3-mile loop by adding on the Dorr Mountain Trail from the Summit Loop Trail. Word To the Wise: For a classic early-morning experience, join meditators, drummers, and sleepy hikers as they welcome the new day on the summit, the first place in the east to see the sun in summer. Conservation Watch: Avoid unnecessary auto trips on the island by taking advantage of the free, propane-powered Island Explorer bus system that makes frequent Acadia circuits in summer and fall; www.exploreacadia.com or 207-667-5796. Watering Hole: Get a macro-view with your microbrew at Geddy’s Restaurant in Bar Harbor. 19 Main Street, 207-288-5077. Resources: Discover Acadia National Park, 2nd edition - the only guide you'll need to explore Maine's famous park. Camels Hump via the Monroe and Dean Trails Northern Vermont What Makes It Classic: “This is the best climb in Vermont, in part because of the views and in part because it’s undeveloped,” says the New Hampshire Chapter’s Kevin Rooney of this pristine peak in the center of Vermont. Labeled “Camel’s Rump” on one antique map, the silhouette of this double-summit mountain much better resembles the desert dweller’s spine than its behind. Unlike on taller Mount Mansfield and Killington Mountain, no structures intrude on this National Natural Landmark-not even a fire tower-making it the highest undeveloped peak in the state. The mountain hasn’t changed much since venerable 19th-century University of Vermont professor and expert trailbuilder Will S. Monroe did his work here. And the Long Trail, the nation’s oldest long-distance hiking trail, bisects Camel’s Hump Recreation Area. The Hike: Starting at the trailhead on Camel’s Hump Road, take the Monroe Trail (called “Forestry Trail” on pre-2000 maps) 1.3 miles through birch and beech forests to the Dean Trail. At 0.3 miles, you can spy the mountain’s famous humps reflected in a beaver pond on clear days. A fairly rugged col, Wind Gap, is your steep segue to the Long Trail, and leads to the sweeping Champlain-to-Canada summit vistas. Warning: The last third of a mile up is a doozy, with a 700-foot elevation gain. Descend via the Long Trail on the north face of the mountain to the final, gradually sloped, 3.1 miles of the Monroe Trail. Word to the Wise: French explorers called the mountain “Le Lion Couchant” (sleeping lion). The farm at the trailhead, Couching Lion Farm, is where Monroe spent his busy retirement years. Conservation Watch: The rocky summit rises 400 feet above treeline, providing habitat for alpine plants found in only two places in Vermont: here and on Mount Mansfield. Stay on the trail to protect this delicate vegetation. Watering Hole: There’s a reason why the Ben & Jerry’s factory in North Waterbury, just eight miles up Route 100, is Vermont’s number-one tourist attraction. Hint: May have something to do with free samples.
|
||||||
 |
Breakneck Ridge. Photo by Bruce Bernstein.
