GetHiking! Peaks of Otter History Hike
Details
Note: This trip was originally scheduled for June 1-3, but postponed due to weather. The make-up date of July 27-29 coincides with the full moon, which should make for a great dinner atop Sharp Top Saturday night.
The National D-Day memorial is located in the unassuming town of Bedford, Virginia; a 3.5 hour drive from Raleigh and just 20 minutes from our basecamp for the weekend. The Peaks of Otter campground is located at milepost 86 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This weekend will include several shorter hikes, suitable for all levels. But, don’t let the shorter hikes fool you. Both Flat Top and Sharp Top are short on miles, but are both rated strenuous and are worthy of that designation. Can’t make the whole weekend? No problem. Show up when you can and participate in as much or little as you like.
Tentative weekend agenda:
Friday:
For those interested in visiting the D-Day memorial, we will leave from a TBD location at 11:00am in order to make one of the afternoon tours. Tours last about an hour. Admission is $10/person and tickets can be purchased online or upon arrival.
After the tour, we will make our way up to the Peaks of Otter campground to set up camp for the weekend. Reservations are required and must be made on http://recreation.gov . The rate is $20/night.
Saturday:
Flat Top Trail (4.4 miles, Strenuous)
We will start early with the Flat Top Trail, climbing the highest peak in the area at 4,001 feet. The trailhead is accessible from the campground, but is a point-to-point hike: we will need to set a shuttle on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are few switchbacks on the way to the summit, but with the thickets of blooming mountain laurel to catch your attention, you won’t even notice. At the summit, explore several large rock outcrops. Once we reach the BRP and our cars, we will gather at the Visitors Center where will pick up the Harkening Hill Trail.
Harkening Hill Trail (3.3 miles, moderate)
This trail starts and ends at opposite ends of the Visitssr Center parking lot. It begins gradually through open meadows and makes its way to the Johnson Farm homestead. The open fields of the farm make a good place for lunch. Once we return back to the parking lot and our cars, we will return to the campground to grab our stoves and dinner supplies before heading to Sharp Top.
Sharp Top trail (1.5 miles + .75mi option, Strenuous)
Sharp Top is the shortest of our hikes, but could be considered the most challenging. It has a legendary 360-degree unobstructed views from the summit and is guaranteed to be worth the effort.
Sunday:
For those interested, we can plan on a very early morning hike to the summit of Sharp Top to greet the morning sun and have breakfast. On the way back to Raleigh, we will make a detour to visit the Goode View Alpaca Farm. Here, we will get a tour of the farm and learn what it is like to raise and run an Alpaca farm, and have the chance to get up close with the fuzzy creatures. The farm has a small store with a selection of products made from Alpaca wool and fleece. http://www.agoodeviewalpacafarm.com
If interested in attending, it is recommended to make campsite recommendations as soon as possible, since this is a popular destination and they go fast. Once booked, leave a comment to let us know where you will be staying.