On the fourth day of our "slack packing" adventure on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) in Shenandoah National Park we hiked from the Wildcat Ridge trailhead to Blackrock Gap. This included 5.6 miles on the AT and 0.1 miles of the Wildcat Ridge Trail to reach the AT. The first segment of the day was from the Wildcat Ridge trailhead down to the AT junction and then north 2.7 miles to the Riprap trailhead. We hiked the well-maintained trail in mid-April 2016.
 |
| Topographic map with GPS route |
 |
| Elevation profile |
 |
| Wildcat Ridge Trail leads from the parking area to the AT and beyond |
 |
| Descending on the Wildcat Ridge Trail |
 |
| AT trail junction marker |
 |
| The trail climbs through a thicket of brush |
 |
| Downed tree across the trail |
 |
| Plenty of light reaches the trail in spring |
 |
| Ridge lines are visible before the trees sprout leaves |
 |
| Mountain laurel lines the trail |
 |
| Hand-made gravel reduces trail erosion |
 |
| Spring is yet to arrive on the ridge top |
 |
| Trail descends through a dense forest of small trees |
 |
| Switchback descending from the ridge |
 |
| The descent continues via a second switchback |
 |
| Lots of leaf litter along the trail |
 |
| More evidence the trail maintainers have been working |
 |
| Two ribbons of grass line the trail |
 |
| Passing through a mountain laurel thicket |
 |
| Natural riprap lines the trail |
 |
| Long range views west from the riprap |
 |
| More leaf litter and a linear descent |
 |
| Pine trees provide some shade in a small mountain laurel thicket |
 |
| A long, straight climb |
 |
| Stone waterbar |
 |
| The trail passes within just a few feet of the Riprap Trail parking area on the right |
A Shenandoah National Park entry fee of $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle or $10 per person is valid for seven consecutive days. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).
The Shenandoah National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail website is https://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy website is http://www.appalachiantrail.org/.
No comments:
Post a Comment