Sunset Through Humidity on Halfmoon Mountain -- still hot, even when half-set. Credit: Aileen K James R. planned what should have been a straight-forward weekend backpacking trip circumnavigating the Trout Run Valley, along the Virginia/West Virginia border near Wardensville, WV. This is an area where DCUL goes often, since there are spectacular views from high... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: Members-Only 5-Day South Shenandoah AT 57-Mile Section
April 22-26, 2024 four DCUL backpackers and two hiking dogs covered a delightful 57-mile section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) from the Bearfence Rock scramble south to the Shenandoah National Park (SNP) boundary at Rockfish Gap. We were treated by abundant wildflowers, butterflies, sweeping views, and jovial companionship. The relatively moderate mileage per day allowed... Continue Reading →
Snow Coaster! (MO: W1 MLK Long Weekend AT “Roller Coaster”) (January 13-15, 2024) 26 miles
Roller Coaster warning. Credit: John Marier Over the three-day Martin Luther King weekend, eight DCUL backpackers (and one slack-packing dog) tackled the infamous Virginia Appalachian Trail (AT) "Roller Coaster" northbound from Manassas Gap to Snickerville Gap. This section of unrelenting climbs and descents is the area that most gives the AT in Virginia its reputation for "PUDS"... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: Blue Skies and Swirling Winds (LM: White Rocks Cliff) (October 7-8, 2023) 19 miles
Photo Credit Jake Sawyer On October 7-8, 2023, seven DCUL backpackers completed a delightful low-mileage (LM) 19-mile overnight clockwise circuit along the West Virginia-Virginia border, in the Wilson Cove Wildlife Management Area and Great North Mountain region. The literal and figurative highpoint was the view from White Rocks Cliff while the low point was when... Continue Reading →
Loyalsock Link Loop — Low Mileage, but a Bit More Than Planned
Artemis--Goddess of the Hunt and Leader of the Pack On September 3-4, 2022 eight DCUL backpackers did an overnight counter-clockwise loop over western Pennsylvania's Loyalsock Link and Loyalsock trails. We had planned a 16.2-mile route from World's End State Park, but ended up doing a little "bonus" mileage and elevation when the blazing and signage... Continue Reading →