Bear Church Rock-10 miles-Strenuous

Starting Point - Booten's Gap (Mile Marker 55)

Ending Point - Booten's Gap (Mile Marker 55)

Hike Distance/Rating/Elevation - 10 miles/Strenuous/2500 feet of elevation

Disclaimer #1 - This hike is rated as a strenuous hike. Since this hike is rated as a strenuous hike, all hikers are going to start on the wait list until I can verify the hiking experience of all hikers. Those hikers, who have not hiked a strenuous hike with me, will need to answer the following vetting questions.

1. How often do you hike?
2. What strenuous hikes have you done?
3. When and what was the last strenuous hike that you completed?

The answers to the questions need to be emailed to me at patrickcory@hotmail.com or via Meetup Messages. All new hikers have within one week of their RSVP to answer the questions. Failure to answer the vetting questions within one week will move those hikers to NOT GOING.

Disclaimer #2 - With unpredictability of Skyline Drive closures during the Winter months, there will be a backup hike. The backup hike will still be Bear Church Rock. We will be hiking to Bear Church Rock from the Park Boundary at the Graves Mill Road. The hike link for the back up hike is below.

https://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/BearChurchRock/

Hike Highlights - Bootens Gap, Appalachian Trail, Laurel Prong Trail, Cat Knob Trail, Cat Knob, Jones Mountain Trail, Bear Church Rock

Hike Details - We are going to start by forming carpools at the North Research Park shortly before 8:30 AM. We are going to enter Shenandoah National Park through the Swift Run Gap. We are going to turn North onto Skyline Drive and drive up to Bootens Gap at mile marker 55. From Bootens Gap, we are going to start the hike by hiking the Appalachian Trail northbound to the Laurel Prong Trail junction. We are going to turn right onto the Laurel Prong Trail. We are going to hike the Laurel Prong Trail to the Cat Knob Trail junction. We will make the short climb up Cat Knob. We will continue on the Cat Knob Trail to the junction with the Jones Mountain Trail. We will continue on the Jones Mountain Trail to Bear Church Rock, our lunch spot, and our turn around spot. After eating lunch and taking a whole lot of pictures, we will retrace our steps back to Bootens Gap.

As is tradition with my hikes, there will be an optional post hike at a local restaurant or brewery. Carpools can be arranged accordingly for those, who wish to partake in the post hike.

What to Bring - Broken in hiking boots, trekking poles, layers of clothing for winter hiking, 2 to 4 liters of water, beanies, gloves, lunch/snacks, camera/phone, a good day pack, first aid kit

Disclaimer #3 - GetHiking Charlottesville's Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. With your RSVP you agree with this disclaimer - Disclaimer (https://www.meetup.com/GetHiking-Charlottesville-Charlottesville-VA/pages/21088739/Disclaimer/)