VMO: Off the Beaten Track in SNP (Oventop)

Time for something different! All credit to Russ for spurring the idea but we’re going to take the weekend and explore one of Shenandoah’s many bushwhacks. This one will lead us to Oventop which should yield great views of the park and surrounding valley.

The plan: gather at Vienna at 8:30 a.m. and head out. We’ll drop off backpackers at the Buck Hollow trailhead along 211 while the drivers drop off the cars at the Pass Mountain trailhead and then return. Once regrouped, we’ll head up either the Buck Hollow or the Buck Ridge trails to Meadow Spring, swing north on the Appalachian Trail, and check out Mary’s Rock. From there, we’ll proceed along the AT and then hop on the Pass Mountain Trail. From there, we’ll start our bushwhack to Oventop. Saturday night camp will be somewhere in the vicinity of these trails. We’ll wrap up the trip by finishing up the Pass Mountain Trail.

Even though the overall distance is short, I’ve listed this trip as VMO since we are doing an off-trail route. Bushwhacking can be slow and difficult-going so make sure that you are comfortable with doing an off-trail route. That being said, if you are a member who has been out with us on a few trips, message me.

Weather-wise, anticipate cold conditions—it’s March so we could see anything from sun to snow up in Shenandoah. (Fires are not allowed.)

We’ll have GPS tracks available for the trip, but we will be staying close together for the bushwhacking portion.

Group size is limited to 10.

The fine print:

• Members should pay their annual $10 dues. You can check to see if you need to pay dues by seeing if there is a (’19) next to your name. To pay your dues via PayPal, you can use this link: https://www.paypal.me/DCUL/10. If you need to pay your dues via an alternate way (check, Venmo, etc.), email organizer[at]dculbackpacking.com.
• By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's waiver liability terms
  (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/).
• As per our carpool policy, riders should pay drivers $0.10/mile.