Massanutten Mountain Trail - 71 Mile Loop
Details
I’ve decided (along with Evan) to try another date to see if folks are interested in conquering both east and west ridges of the Massanutten Trail in 3.3 days (Thursday night May 5- Sunday evening May 8), with a grand total of 71.1 miles of hiking. We’ll start Thursday evening (before the 5:00 PM rush hour at the West Falls Church Metro Parking Garage) and will attempt to be at the Signal Knob Parking Lot by 7:00 PM. With the trip planned for May, we’ll have plenty of time for high mileage days. We’ll begin with approximately 9 miles of hiking Thursday night so bring your headlamp!
You can expect the following mileage: Thursday Night ~9 miles, Friday ~24 miles, Saturday ~20 miles and Sunday ~19 miles. This trip is for those with the physical and mental determination to hike and live for three nights/four days in the forest. It will also require you to be conscious of your carrying weight. Think about what you really need and leave behind items that serve less importance in the forest. You must also have plenty of food to cover four days of hiking and a water carrying capacity of at least three liters. Water is a premium on the Massanutten Trail. Although it shouldn’t be as scarce as the summer months, there are 15 mile stretches without water which is why it is important to have the capacity to carry a healthy amount of water (at least three liters).
You’ll need a trail map! National Geographic covers this region and I’ll certainly have a copy with me. You can also find maps and trail information below, although I would recommend investing in the actual map.
Please think through this carefully before you decide to join this hike. This will be a long and beautiful adventure but will require a substantial amount of energy, preparation, and most importantly prior experience. This hike is not for individuals with little to no experience in the backcountry covering high mileage. Please feel free to field any questions and concerns.
Look forward to seeing everyone on the trail!
Cheers,
Andrew
P.S The West Falls Church Parking Garage is stricter during the weekdays so we may need to consider an alternative meeting place.
FAQ: Please consult the FAQ for the run-down on questions about sharing gear, pace, carpools, and so forth. Particularly important if you have not been out with this group yet.
https://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/pages/Frequently_Asked_Questions/
Liability Waiver: By RSVPing Yes you agree to all waiver terms.
https://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/about/
Full Trail Description (including campsites and water options):
http://files.meetup.com/1502009/May%205-8%20Massanutten%20Trail%20Description.pdf
PATC Maps:
http://files.meetup.c... (http://files.meetup.com/1502009/PATCMassanuttenMaps.pdf)
National Geographic Maps:
http://files.meetup.c... (http://files.meetup.com/1502009/NatlGeoMassanuttenMap.pdf)
Random Background on the Massanutten Ultramarathon (good maps and trail notes):