72 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA -Sección 15.1 -De BRP Dripping Rock a Humpback Mountain y ruta US-260 / I-64 - Rockfish Gap
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 14.81 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5,486 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 6,171 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,658 ft
- TrailRank
- 71
- Min elevation
- 1,490 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 6 hours 37 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1965
- Uploaded
- April 25, 2016
- Recorded
- April 2016
near Mount Torry Furnace, Virginia (United States)
Viewed 604 times, downloaded 18 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Stage 72
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 71 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 16 and 15.2 -De VA-56 and Tye River, to Three Ridges, Hanging Rock and BRP Dripping Rock
⇒ Link to the next stage: 73 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 14 and 13.2 - Shenandoah National Park - Rockfish Gap - Route US-250 I-64, to Turk Gap
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail), passing through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north. From the intersection of the trail with the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Dripping Rock parking area, to Rockfish Gap, at the junction with US-250 and I-64.
The stage corresponds to the first part of section 15, according to the official stage distribution of the Appalachian Trail, in the state of Virginia.
If the previous route was characterized by a significant rise and a firm and quite stony path, its continuation is the other side of the coin. Barely a modest slope of just over 600 feet separates the start of the march, in the Dripping Rock Parking Area, and the highest peak of the day, Humpback Mountain (3,606 feet), and the path runs along a firm land, so Soft and little stony in some sections, which almost invites you to run down the mountain.
From the top of Humpback Mountain dominates the downhill path, with the only exception of the climb section to the Elk Mountain ridge, past the Mill Creek, where the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter is located.
Certainly looking for an itinerary with a gradual layout, it sometimes gives the impression that the zigzag has been abused in the design of the route, although surely those who travel the path in reverse will appreciate this gradual profile, and will not have Both the same opinion.
The highlight of the day is, without a doubt, the passage through the Humpback Rocks (3,080 feet), a green stone rock formation, located down the hill, a kilometer and a half from the summit of Humpback Mountain, and so called (rocks humpbacks) because of the visual effect they produce, in the form of a hump, on the western face of the mountain.
To get to this place it is necessary to deviate from the Appalachian Trail, through a short side path (about 400 meters) identified with blue markers. It is worth the supplement on the tour.
From this sensational rocky viewpoint, which can also be accessed by a secondary path, from the visitor center installed on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there is a magnificent unobstructed view to the west (Shenandoah Valley); to the north (Shenandoah National Park); and to the east (Rockfish Valley and the Piedmont).
On a fairly flat stretch, before reaching the lowest point of the day, at Mill Creek (1,700 feet), there are two other rocky ledges with beautiful views to the east and south: the first one following a short marked side path with a simple sign of ¨overlook¨, which deserves a stop and a short rest, and the second, called Glass Hollow Overlook, at the foot of the trail.
Three kilometers later, the AT arrives at the aforementioned Mill Creek, a small mountain stream with a relatively abundant flow, which in some areas allows even bathing. Next to the river is the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, a shelter built in 1991, with a capacity for ten people.
From here, a short and winding climb, with a discrete slope of 500 feet, already places us in the final stretch of the route, through the ridge of Elk Mountain. They are about six kilometers more, with a regular profile and with few ups and downs.
Almost by surprise, since the vegetation, and the fact of walking under the level of the roads in the area, does not allow to anticipate the crossing until a few meters before arrival, the AT reaches the Rockfish Gap, at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail with routes US-260 and I-64, next to the Crozet Tunnel, at the gates of the Shenandoah National Park.
In the same place also ends the excellent Blue Ridge Parkway, whose proximity we have greatly appreciated for a good number of miles and stages, and begins the Skyline Drive, worthy follower of the previous one, which will also accompany us for many miles of trail through the aforementioned park national.
In the Rockfish Gap area there is a large, though neglected, parking area, adjacent to abandoned hotel facilities, next to a striking street stall of "gourmet popcorn", and another small parking lot just above, on the trail itself.
Although most of the services (restaurants, shops, cafes, pharmacies, laundries, etc.) are located in the neighboring center of the town of Waynesboro, located seven kilometers west, it is also possible to find accommodation and a small shop in the outskirts of Rockfish Gap.
⇐ Link to the previous stage: 71 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 16 and 15.2 -De VA-56 and Tye River, to Three Ridges, Hanging Rock and BRP Dripping Rock
⇒ Link to the next stage: 73 - APPALACHIAN TRAIL - VIRGINIA - Section 14 and 13.2 - Shenandoah National Park - Rockfish Gap - Route US-250 I-64, to Turk Gap
Tour of the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail), passing through the state of Virginia (United States), from south to north. From the intersection of the trail with the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Dripping Rock parking area, to Rockfish Gap, at the junction with US-250 and I-64.
The stage corresponds to the first part of section 15, according to the official stage distribution of the Appalachian Trail, in the state of Virginia.
If the previous route was characterized by a significant rise and a firm and quite stony path, its continuation is the other side of the coin. Barely a modest slope of just over 600 feet separates the start of the march, in the Dripping Rock Parking Area, and the highest peak of the day, Humpback Mountain (3,606 feet), and the path runs along a firm land, so Soft and little stony in some sections, which almost invites you to run down the mountain.
From the top of Humpback Mountain dominates the downhill path, with the only exception of the climb section to the Elk Mountain ridge, past the Mill Creek, where the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter is located.
Certainly looking for an itinerary with a gradual layout, it sometimes gives the impression that the zigzag has been abused in the design of the route, although surely those who travel the path in reverse will appreciate this gradual profile, and will not have Both the same opinion.
The highlight of the day is, without a doubt, the passage through the Humpback Rocks (3,080 feet), a green stone rock formation, located down the hill, a kilometer and a half from the summit of Humpback Mountain, and so called (rocks humpbacks) because of the visual effect they produce, in the form of a hump, on the western face of the mountain.
To get to this place it is necessary to deviate from the Appalachian Trail, through a short side path (about 400 meters) identified with blue markers. It is worth the supplement on the tour.
From this sensational rocky viewpoint, which can also be accessed by a secondary path, from the visitor center installed on the Blue Ridge Parkway, there is a magnificent unobstructed view to the west (Shenandoah Valley); to the north (Shenandoah National Park); and to the east (Rockfish Valley and the Piedmont).
On a fairly flat stretch, before reaching the lowest point of the day, at Mill Creek (1,700 feet), there are two other rocky ledges with beautiful views to the east and south: the first one following a short marked side path with a simple sign of ¨overlook¨, which deserves a stop and a short rest, and the second, called Glass Hollow Overlook, at the foot of the trail.
Three kilometers later, the AT arrives at the aforementioned Mill Creek, a small mountain stream with a relatively abundant flow, which in some areas allows even bathing. Next to the river is the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, a shelter built in 1991, with a capacity for ten people.
From here, a short and winding climb, with a discrete slope of 500 feet, already places us in the final stretch of the route, through the ridge of Elk Mountain. They are about six kilometers more, with a regular profile and with few ups and downs.
Almost by surprise, since the vegetation, and the fact of walking under the level of the roads in the area, does not allow to anticipate the crossing until a few meters before arrival, the AT reaches the Rockfish Gap, at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail with routes US-260 and I-64, next to the Crozet Tunnel, at the gates of the Shenandoah National Park.
In the same place also ends the excellent Blue Ridge Parkway, whose proximity we have greatly appreciated for a good number of miles and stages, and begins the Skyline Drive, worthy follower of the previous one, which will also accompany us for many miles of trail through the aforementioned park national.
In the Rockfish Gap area there is a large, though neglected, parking area, adjacent to abandoned hotel facilities, next to a striking street stall of "gourmet popcorn", and another small parking lot just above, on the trail itself.
Although most of the services (restaurants, shops, cafes, pharmacies, laundries, etc.) are located in the neighboring center of the town of Waynesboro, located seven kilometers west, it is also possible to find accommodation and a small shop in the outskirts of Rockfish Gap.
Waypoints
Car park
2,939 ft
Inicio de la etapa. Intersección del AT con el Blue Ridge Parkway. Estacionamiento de Dripping Rock
Start of the stage. Intersection of the AT with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Dripping Rock parking
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Summit
3,635 ft
Humpback Mountain (3.606 pies). Cima y vistas
Humpback Mountain (3.606 pies). Cima y vistas
Panorama
3,131 ft
Humpback Rocks, siguiendo un corto ramal lateral del AT
Humpback Rocks, siguiendo un corto ramal lateral del AT
Intersection
2,108 ft
Intersección del AT con el Jack Albright Loop Trail
Intersección del AT con el Jack Albright Loop Trail
Panorama
1,929 ft
Glass Hollow Overlook (2.001 pies). Bajada serpenteante y vistas
Glass Hollow Overlook (2.001 pies). Bajada serpenteante y vistas
River
Photo
2,044 ft
Mayo Cabin. Ruinas de una cabaña abandonada, de principios del siglo XIX
Mayo Cabin. Ruins of an abandoned cabin, early 19th century
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Intersection
1,816 ft
Rockfish Gap. Intersección del sendero con las rutas US-250 e I-64. Fin de la etapa
Rockfish Gap. Intersection of the trail with US-250 and I-64 routes. End of the stage
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