VMO: Choose Your Own Adventure in St. Mary's Wilderness and Sherando Lake
Details
Hi Veteran Membery Folks!
Let's get together down near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. We'll also take in some classic hiking in St. Mary's Wilderness, Torry Ridge, and White Rock Falls, as well as swimming opportunities at Sherando Lake.
The Plan:
Caltopo Route:
https://caltopo.com/m/CA32
Friday: Drive to the designated trail head (directions below) and hike two miles to our designated campsite. No need to wait for anyone. Get there when you get there.
Saturday: Optional: Out and back 5.5 miles to the St. Mary's Falls. Then 12.5 miles to Sherando Lake for a swim (if permitted) and eventually to our campsite on the the White Rock Falls Trail.
Sunday: 7 miles back to our trail head parking. [We're not far from Devil's Backbone . . .]
You're Veteran Members, so while this is a unique approach to a DC UL trip, you're also completely capable and prepared to handle whatever comes your way. As an August outing, we should expect high temperatures, scarcity of flowing streams, and pummeling thunderstorms.
Driving Directions (3 hours from most of DC): https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Alexandria,+VA/37.91163,+-79.08680/@37.834061,-80.1828839,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m12!4m11!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b64d3e93a4abf1:0xd7f52686dbc1012c!2m2!1d-77.0469214!2d38.8048355!1m3!2m2!1d-79.0868!2d37.91163!3e0
Hiking Upward Background Maps/Material:
https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/StMarysWilderness/
https://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/TorryRidgeWhiteRockFalls/
Please consider your physical fitness before signing up for this trip. It's summer. You also might not have had opportunities to backpack recently.
DC UL Backpacker always have maps. The best map for this outing is the newly updated Trails Illustrated Lexington/Blue Ridge Mountains Map 789.
DCUL Google Photos Album Link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/24fdbJLivmydtVis5
DC UL COVID-19 Guidelines:
· Stay home if you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, if you have been in close contact with anyone who has displayed such symptoms, or otherwise believe that you might have been exposed.
· No official carpool will be set.
· Consider your recent fitness level before participating on a trip, especially if you have not been hiking recently. The trip leader may reach out to discuss the trip in more detail with you to ensure you are prepared.
· We will follow state and local rules/recommendations and check for updates continually.
More information on the club's COVID-19 policy: https://dculbackpacking.com/about/covid-19-guidelines/
By RSVPing for this trip, you acknowledge that you’ve read our COVID-19 guidelines and that you agree to DC UL's liability waiver terms. (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver)