Ah! A low mileage, summertime hike centering around a mountain-steam-fed lake. The perfect hike for a hot August weekend. What could go wrong?
Trouble: Rainstorms
Eight of us arrived at the trailhead parking area at 9:20 p.m. on Friday night on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather forecast was good, but we still worried about nighttime storms, common in the area. Would we face the tempests of the Damnation II trip or the Whale Watching trip?
However, the skies were so clear we looked hopefully for the Perseid meteor shower, knowing it was not expected until the next evening. Mark (“Brightside”) pointed out the Milky Way, which is rarely visible. We did not get a drop of rain the entire trip!
Trouble: Jeep Attack
Just as we put on our packs, we saw the first sign of trouble. A parade of Jeep Wranglers—15 vehicles long—suddenly drove toward us at speed, turning sharply in front of us onto the trail we intended to hike. We gaped at them as we coughed out the dust their tires kicked up. “I suppose we won’t have the campsite to ourselves tonight, folks,” I sighed. It seemed obvious they would take the site I designated—the spacious one at the top of the Mills Creek Trail with the soft, level ground, nice tree cover, and view of the valley. Fearing a less than quiet night with the Jeep party crowd as neighbors, but lacking other good choices, we started hiking after them.
The hike to the campsite was only a mile with a gentle uphill grade. We quickly arrived, happy to see we had the site to ourselves! We quickly dispersed, set up tents, and went to sleep. We had hiked 1 mile.
Trouble: Hot, Humid Weather + Tent Condensation = Unpleasant Sleeping Conditions
It had been a hot day and the night was cooling down at the late hour when we crawled into our newly set tents. It was not cool enough, though. As I lay in my tent, still warm from the hike, I did not bother opening the sleeping bag liner I brought in place of a quilt. I took off my shirt and tried to sleep without cover on my sleeping pad, but I remained hot. I always sleep better in colder weather, so I steeled myself for a fitful night. I also prepared for nature’s “gift” of tent condensation in the morning. I always seem to get condensation in conditions like this.
We woke later than at most DCUL trips—7:00 a.m. It turned out I slept solidly through the night, waking only once so I could get into my bag liner. The temperature dropped, providing a delightful chill that aided a perfect night sleep. I touched the walls of my tent to explore the extent of the condensation. Bone dry! The day started out well.
We packed up very quickly and started hiking much earlier than planned. Brightside decided to hike a longer, different loop than planned to stretch his legs. He’d meet us at the lake. The rest of us enjoyed a nice descent down Mills Creek Trail. At the bottom, we followed the creek on the flat valley for a few miles. It was humid, but seasonably cool. It was fun having the easy morning stroll with good conversation.
Trouble: Heat Exhaustion
However, the heat increased with the rising sun, and the flat trail turned upward toward the next ridge and the Tory Ridge Trail. Tragically, Abhi (“All Electric”) did not refill his water bottles at the last opportunity before the approaching dry ridge. As we continued our climb, he also regretted wearing his long-sleeve sun shirt. I could see his heavy sweating. (I was sweating, too, but looked cool in my Spider-Man shirt—albeit style-wise and not temperature-wise). When we came upon Adam (“Too Early”), he was resting with Maddie, James, and John (“Ketchup”) under some trees on the trail. Too Early had become so sweaty he wrung out his shirt before us as if it had been soaking underwater. It was simultaneously impressive and disgusting.
After we all continued hiking, All Electric and I slowed down, dropping back from the rest of the pack. He stopped to change his shirt to a short sleeve one. He then drank the last of his water, suddenly realizing his strategic error in bypassing the last water source. He was thirsty. This could be a problem, I thought. Heat exhaustion is a kissing cousin to dehydration.
Fortunately, I had an extra liter of water in my pack—and an extra Snicker’s Bar. I gave them to my friend. This “recharged” All Electric like a Supercharger to a Tesla. We soon reached the junction with the Sherando Lake access trail.
Trouble: Lost Hikers
After a short break, we started our one-mile descent to the lake. Despite the short distance, we spread out with All Electric, James, and me in the rear. Thus, my surprise that the three of us arrived at the lake alone was justified. Brightside stode forward after a few moments, having crushed the miles of his optional longer loop. But where were the others? How could they have become lost so quickly? I was glad to soon spot David M. However, when he reported that he missed the turn to the lake and took the long way down, I grew very concerned. There were only two ways down the mountain. If I went down one trail and David M went down the other, there was no place left for the others to go. So, where were they?
As I was worrying, Maddie was eating ice-cream. The trail skirted a car-camping campground and she and Too Early took a page from the Yogi Bear cartoons, and “Yoggied” a “pick-a-nick basket.” As Maddie savored the cool ice-cream, Too Early tucked into a fruit cup. After having their fill, they met the rest of us at the beach, resolving my concern about them. Everyone together, we sat under the trees by the lake.
Trouble: Low Mileage Trip
We arrived at the lake at 12:30 p.m. It would not be dark until 9:00 p.m. That is a long time to hang around a lake. Several of us went swimming. The water was warm on the surface but when one went underwater it shocked the body with much colder water. An island in the middle of the lake attracted a couple of us as a destination.
For most of us, it was nap time. We hadn’t hiked far enough or woke early enough to have earned this extended siesta. However, we took it. I couldn’t help thinking that DCUL’s founding generation—Evan (“Whiskey Fairy”), Michael M. (“UTurn”), and Jen (“Shuttle”)—were gravely disappointed in my planning. This trip had neither the “wake early,” nor “hike far,” features of our “wake early, pack light, hike far” ethos. Our leader, Karan (“B.A.”) is likely to cancel my trip posting credentials. My favorite DCUL trips are the ones where we wake in the dark before sunrise, hike all day, and set up camp in the dark after sunset. Oh, and I like it to be in the 40s. This trip had none of those features. However, I admit to enjoying a long, deep nap, complete with vivid dreams. The breeze off the lake on my swimming-cooled skin felt delightful. I was happy.
We made our lunches and, in turn, dinners on our perch above the lake. Prior to sundown, most of us started back up the ridge to where we’d camp. Brightside, Maddie, and I stayed by the lake until much closer to sunset.
We had hiked 12 miles.
Trouble: No Good Place to Camp
When posting this trip I knew there was no good spot to camp on the ridge near the trail to the lake. It was rocky with heavy ground cover. I figured we could spread out along the trail finding pocket sized bits of real estate. I imagined us dispersed over the course of a half mile. Since we all gathered on top of the ridge just prior to sunset, it would be boring to be all spread out for so long.
Fortunately, David M and Maddie had hammocks. So, they lorded over all of us tent folk with the “I can set up my hammock anywhere” silent smugness that all hammockers exhibit. (Actually, those two are nothing but friendly and humble. But writing that they fit the typical hammocker mold makes the story better, so I’m taking some minor fictional license).
Ketchup chose to set up his tent at the bottom of the ridge on a nice flat spot not far from the lake. This saved him from the steep hike up and blessed him with overnight lake breezes. (He’d pay for that decision early the next day). So, only five of us needed to find camping spots. We’d be lonely all spread out, I sighed.
However, James, Too Early, and All Electric figured out a way to shoehorn four tents into a spot that looked big enough for only two. David M and Maddie hung their hammocks nearby. Brightside found a good spot a half block away. Thus, we easily camped all together. We felt lucky and, after setting up camp, assembled together on rocks overlooking the valley and we sipped water and tea and chatted as the sun set behind the mountains. We went to bed after it was fully dark but before the stars were visible. We did not bother looking for the meteor shower.
Trouble: No More Trouble
We had no “trouble” for the remainder of the trip. Sunday morning we again woke on the later side and enjoyed an easy stroll along the ridge back to our cars. We did have almost 1,000 feet of elevation gain, but it was so well graded it felt imperceptible. (However, you may wish to ask All Electric if he fully agrees with this statement).
We took a short detour to the top of Bald Mountain for an advertised view that reminded us to doubt advertisements. Then, we returned to our cars for the short drive to Staunton and breakfast at Kathy’s. We had hiked almost 4.5 miles.
August is the least popular month for backpacking in the mid-Atlantic. However, it is a good time to do some low milage trips with swimming opportunities. (See also “Low, Low, Low in St Mary’s Wilderness”) It is also a good time to gather a handful of engaging, friendly DCULers for an easy, trouble-free weekend in the woods.
We hiked 18 miles with at least 3,147 feet in elevation gain. (My gps sadly underreports elevation gain, so our actual gain was likely closer to 4,000 feet). A solid, low mileage DCUL trip!
Congratulations to our newest Member, David M!
DC UL Backpacking 