Eventually, nice weather and hike day will meet up. We were off by a couple days this past Saturday, another warm muggy day in Shenandoah. An early departure this time of year isn't really all that early- out the door at 6am, the sun is already up. This route took some thinking... how to hike Hannah Run with as little overlap from recent hikes while keeping the distance and elevation gain within reason. I could come up with no boundary access route. Boundary access is preferred, as it gets the primary climb done early. But that was not to be, as fellow hiker Steve and I set out on a 16 miler from quiet Pinnacles picnic area on Skyline Drive, central district Shenandoah National Park.
We'd be spending little time on the Appalachian Trail, so no thru-hiker candy this hike. That weight was replaced by rain gear, a forecast of "thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm". We had encountered some wet roads on the drive over, but the trails were pleasantly dry. The hike began southbound on the AT for about a mile, passing that rock ledge above the Drive which offers a fine view of Old Rag and Thorofare Mountain. We'd branch off just ahead on the AT, descending Corbin Cabin Cutoff down to the Hughes River. The mountain laurel was in full display along the AT and the upper half of Corbin Cabin Cutoff. Reaching Corbin Cabin, the crossing of the Hughes River was very easy on the well placed boulders. A short distance along on Nicholson Hollow Trail, we crossed Indian Run on the new earth and rock bridge built by PATC. Nice job!
Up next was the climb up Indian Run Trail. It was warm and humid, but a gentle breeze provided a little cooling. Another fine stand of mountain laurel along the upper portion of Indian Run made for a pleasant stroll as I paused for Steve to arrive. Down and up, it was time for down again, dropping once more to the Hughes River on the winding Corbin Mountain Trail. The trail twists and turns and snakes its way along the south side and east arm of Thorofare Mountain. The trail was frequently fragrant, but I could never determine the source. A trail maintainer was working the upper stretch. He looked quite exhausted, wearing bug netting with a cloud of gnats about. Soon after, a group of backpacking scouts were recuperating from their climb up Corbin Mountain. After rounding the east arm of Thorofare, the trail gets down to business, dropping down to the Hughes River via several switchbacks. At one switchback, I found a most unusual critter on the trail- a crawfish! (..or crayfish or crawdad, take yer pick). The little guy blended in with the wet trail, and was defending his territory, his little pincers raised at me. I got a great picture of the crawfish before he burrowed into a shallow pool. Now that was cool!
Another easy boulder crossing of the Hughes River put us back on Nicholson Hollow Trail. We took a good long break here before the major climb of the day, Hannah Run. What was I thinking when I put this hike together? A 2200 foot climb in the heat beyond the halfway point of a long hike? That's crazy! I slogged my way on up that trail, lacking the usual energy I have for Hannah Run. There's one break in the trail, where it drops down to cross Hannah Run. I stayed here a good spell, with Steve eventually arriving, looking more exhausted than I felt. During my break, I saw another crawfish in Hannah Run! I also found a couple deer tick.
As we began the climb from Hannah Run, a cooling outflow boundary hit; a storm was approaching, on cue, not long after the promised 1pm. This was one welcome thundershower! I hurried on to ridgeline and geared up. No close lightning and not much rain, but the cooling factor made the remaining climb less of a burden. Quickly losing the rain gear, the light cooling rain persisted the rest of the climb to Pinnacles Overlook. Upper Hannah Run, usually a guaranteed great spot for mountain laurel, was lacking considerably this year.
We watched the storm pull away from Pinnacles Overlook as we took another long break. To continue a hike from here, one must walk along Skyline Drive. Why oh why is there no connector trail to the AT?!? It's a bit over a mile either direction to pick up the AT, this time downhill north on Skyline Drive. Our options were to walk the rain-slicked retaining walls or wade through unmowed shoulder grass. We started out on the walls but moved to the slightly less dangerous shoulder. There really needs to be another option here (and no, not bushwhacking).
After a climb up Byrds Nest access road, we rejoined the AT at Byrds Nest shelter. There was nobody here! Where were all the thru-hikers? Oh well. Up and over The Pinnacle then down below Jewell Hollow Overlook and back to the mostly empty Pinnacles picnic area to end the hike. Laurel at The Pinnacle was a mix of open and closed buds, but a good display was found on the descent. A unique route, something that's getting harder to come by.
Pictures
We'd be spending little time on the Appalachian Trail, so no thru-hiker candy this hike. That weight was replaced by rain gear, a forecast of "thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm". We had encountered some wet roads on the drive over, but the trails were pleasantly dry. The hike began southbound on the AT for about a mile, passing that rock ledge above the Drive which offers a fine view of Old Rag and Thorofare Mountain. We'd branch off just ahead on the AT, descending Corbin Cabin Cutoff down to the Hughes River. The mountain laurel was in full display along the AT and the upper half of Corbin Cabin Cutoff. Reaching Corbin Cabin, the crossing of the Hughes River was very easy on the well placed boulders. A short distance along on Nicholson Hollow Trail, we crossed Indian Run on the new earth and rock bridge built by PATC. Nice job!
Up next was the climb up Indian Run Trail. It was warm and humid, but a gentle breeze provided a little cooling. Another fine stand of mountain laurel along the upper portion of Indian Run made for a pleasant stroll as I paused for Steve to arrive. Down and up, it was time for down again, dropping once more to the Hughes River on the winding Corbin Mountain Trail. The trail twists and turns and snakes its way along the south side and east arm of Thorofare Mountain. The trail was frequently fragrant, but I could never determine the source. A trail maintainer was working the upper stretch. He looked quite exhausted, wearing bug netting with a cloud of gnats about. Soon after, a group of backpacking scouts were recuperating from their climb up Corbin Mountain. After rounding the east arm of Thorofare, the trail gets down to business, dropping down to the Hughes River via several switchbacks. At one switchback, I found a most unusual critter on the trail- a crawfish! (..or crayfish or crawdad, take yer pick). The little guy blended in with the wet trail, and was defending his territory, his little pincers raised at me. I got a great picture of the crawfish before he burrowed into a shallow pool. Now that was cool!
Another easy boulder crossing of the Hughes River put us back on Nicholson Hollow Trail. We took a good long break here before the major climb of the day, Hannah Run. What was I thinking when I put this hike together? A 2200 foot climb in the heat beyond the halfway point of a long hike? That's crazy! I slogged my way on up that trail, lacking the usual energy I have for Hannah Run. There's one break in the trail, where it drops down to cross Hannah Run. I stayed here a good spell, with Steve eventually arriving, looking more exhausted than I felt. During my break, I saw another crawfish in Hannah Run! I also found a couple deer tick.
As we began the climb from Hannah Run, a cooling outflow boundary hit; a storm was approaching, on cue, not long after the promised 1pm. This was one welcome thundershower! I hurried on to ridgeline and geared up. No close lightning and not much rain, but the cooling factor made the remaining climb less of a burden. Quickly losing the rain gear, the light cooling rain persisted the rest of the climb to Pinnacles Overlook. Upper Hannah Run, usually a guaranteed great spot for mountain laurel, was lacking considerably this year.
We watched the storm pull away from Pinnacles Overlook as we took another long break. To continue a hike from here, one must walk along Skyline Drive. Why oh why is there no connector trail to the AT?!? It's a bit over a mile either direction to pick up the AT, this time downhill north on Skyline Drive. Our options were to walk the rain-slicked retaining walls or wade through unmowed shoulder grass. We started out on the walls but moved to the slightly less dangerous shoulder. There really needs to be another option here (and no, not bushwhacking).
After a climb up Byrds Nest access road, we rejoined the AT at Byrds Nest shelter. There was nobody here! Where were all the thru-hikers? Oh well. Up and over The Pinnacle then down below Jewell Hollow Overlook and back to the mostly empty Pinnacles picnic area to end the hike. Laurel at The Pinnacle was a mix of open and closed buds, but a good display was found on the descent. A unique route, something that's getting harder to come by.
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