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| WOC Upper Falls |
Where: Shenandoah National Park, Near Syria, VA
Distance: 7.9 + 1.3 (wrong trail) = 9.2 miles
Duration: 5.5 hours
Weather: Clouds to sun by early morning; 50s at higher elevation, 60s lower; breezy
Elevation: White Oak Canyon (WOC) Parking Lot, 1160 ft. ascend to near Skyline Drive, 3400 ft. and back on Cedar Run Trail
After a 15 month hiking hiatus due to a left shoulder situation (that's a story way too long for a blog, a hint though - I spent a total 10 months in PT before and after surgery), I am back on the trail and a little out of shape. This hike was planned to see what I could do and how I would feel after being limited to walking around town and exercising at the gym. I did fine: no shoulder issues shrugging my day pack on and off, no lower body trauma, and a little more huffing and puffing up the WOC ascent than I would have a year ago but about what I expected. I wanted to get out in January so I could take some training hikes before logging some bigger miles this spring. Hoping for a warmer, clearer day than recent weather provided, Providence overruled nature for a perfect Thursday in the mountains.
Before I set out I had breakfast with my Thursday morning guys at County Cookin'. I do not normally eat breakfast there - just coffee, but a pre-hike carb loading was in order. The conversation was stellar as usual; one of the seven participants countenance assumed a sanguine appearance and he stated that he had often wondered when he would find himself amongst a group of old men talking about all the prescription drugs they used. So the discussion goes. After breakfast around 8:00a I headed for Syria, VA and the WOC Parking Lot on Rt 600 just outside the SNP. I performed the last sorting of pack and equipment and crossed the boundary a little past 9:00a, relishing that Senior NP Pass safety ensconced in my wallet as I passed by the Self-Registration Fee Station: best $10 ever spent, just don't lose it.
WOC is one of the most popular hikes in the park due to its magnificent falls and relatively tame terrain. I have hiked up to the Upper Falls a half dozen times. I was looking for a loop hike of about 10 miles and this one presented itself. I had never hiked along Cedar Run so I was looking forward to some unfamiliar territory. The climb up to the Upper Falls, 1300 foot ascent, (blue at right of map) was predictable, save for the ice and snow still present. The trail was fine: not too muddy or slippery. I hiked past the falls to the west leading WOC Fire Road/Horse Trail.
The yellow-blazed trail cut across the mountain face with a steady grade that rose another 1000 feet ending within 50 yards of the Skyland Drive at the intersection with the blue-blazed Cedar Run Trail heading back down the mountain.
So after a quick lunch at the top I was feeling quite refreshed and ready for the quick trip down and back to the parking lot. Expectations of the trail are often illusory. Two things significantly affected my anticipated romp down the mountain: first was my lack of discernment regarding the type of trail alongside Cedar Run, second was my confusion regarding the trail connector between Cedar Run and WOC. What goes up must come down and those 2300 feet so tamely configured with switchbacks and a well-graded fire road going up were nothing short of a parachute jump going down. The trail hugged the Run closely so it was rocky and steep throughout and much wetter. There was also much more downed wood strewn across the narrow gorge. This contributed to cautious and slow going. I had read the detailed trail guide that accompanied the above map and had noted the distinction of the Cedar Run WOC connector with a mind that I needed to take it to get back to the parking lot. I had noticed going up where the Cedar Run Trail came in on the left so I just assumed that was it. Oops! If you look at the map closely you can see where the Cedar Run Trail (solid blue) loops back to WOC on its own, but the blue dotted connector is quite another story. I cut left and took the connector north and added another 1.3 miles to my trek by the time I hit WOC and headed south again. Not a major problem but a mistake you do not want to make which in other circumstances could have been costly and confusing (Am I lost?).
I realized what I had done when I came out on WOC and a bit later saw the Cedar Run Trail coming in on the right. I had the map with me but had not looked at it again during my descent, demonstrating poor orienteering skills. That's what training hikes are for.
The trail guide suggested a 5 hour hike and with my leisurely pace and mistake I still made good time, returning around 2:30p to my beloved Ford Ranger that always waits patiently for me at those trail-head parking lots and roadside pull-offs. She was not alone; there were at least 8 vehicles around and I encountered 10 or so folks on the trail out for the day.
Reflections: Good planning, good weather, a few surprises, fair execution, a few slips but no falls, good gear, beautiful sights and a wondrous feeling on being on the trail again. Next may be a hike up Old Rag and looping down the fire road. Then I plan to gear up (full pack) for an overnight somewhere in the SNP. I am just getting started (restarted).
Distance: 7.9 + 1.3 (wrong trail) = 9.2 miles
Duration: 5.5 hours
Weather: Clouds to sun by early morning; 50s at higher elevation, 60s lower; breezy
Elevation: White Oak Canyon (WOC) Parking Lot, 1160 ft. ascend to near Skyline Drive, 3400 ft. and back on Cedar Run Trail
After a 15 month hiking hiatus due to a left shoulder situation (that's a story way too long for a blog, a hint though - I spent a total 10 months in PT before and after surgery), I am back on the trail and a little out of shape. This hike was planned to see what I could do and how I would feel after being limited to walking around town and exercising at the gym. I did fine: no shoulder issues shrugging my day pack on and off, no lower body trauma, and a little more huffing and puffing up the WOC ascent than I would have a year ago but about what I expected. I wanted to get out in January so I could take some training hikes before logging some bigger miles this spring. Hoping for a warmer, clearer day than recent weather provided, Providence overruled nature for a perfect Thursday in the mountains.
Before I set out I had breakfast with my Thursday morning guys at County Cookin'. I do not normally eat breakfast there - just coffee, but a pre-hike carb loading was in order. The conversation was stellar as usual; one of the seven participants countenance assumed a sanguine appearance and he stated that he had often wondered when he would find himself amongst a group of old men talking about all the prescription drugs they used. So the discussion goes. After breakfast around 8:00a I headed for Syria, VA and the WOC Parking Lot on Rt 600 just outside the SNP. I performed the last sorting of pack and equipment and crossed the boundary a little past 9:00a, relishing that Senior NP Pass safety ensconced in my wallet as I passed by the Self-Registration Fee Station: best $10 ever spent, just don't lose it.
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| Well-illustrated map of planned hike |
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| Crossing Robinson River into SNP |
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| Gentle |
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| Surprise |
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| Ghost-like ice apparitions |
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| Ice/snow framed cascade |
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| Crossover to Horse Trail |
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| Four-footed hiker |
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| On the ridge |
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| Trail? |
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| The Side |
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| Steeper that it looks |
The trail guide suggested a 5 hour hike and with my leisurely pace and mistake I still made good time, returning around 2:30p to my beloved Ford Ranger that always waits patiently for me at those trail-head parking lots and roadside pull-offs. She was not alone; there were at least 8 vehicles around and I encountered 10 or so folks on the trail out for the day.
Reflections: Good planning, good weather, a few surprises, fair execution, a few slips but no falls, good gear, beautiful sights and a wondrous feeling on being on the trail again. Next may be a hike up Old Rag and looping down the fire road. Then I plan to gear up (full pack) for an overnight somewhere in the SNP. I am just getting started (restarted).
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