LM: AT in Southern Shenandoah (17 miles)

I have a 17-ish-mile stretch along the AT in the southern district that I’d like to do for the Shenandoah 500… and the Loft Mountain Wayside opens the first weekend in May. Seems like the perfect combination for a low-mileage trip.

The plan here is straightforward. Meet at Vienna and head to Swift Run Gap. We’ll go first to Loft Mountain and leave a few cars for the endpoint, then pile into the cars and head to a parking area by Swift Run Gap. Then it is the AT south to Pinefield Hut – a little over 11 miles for the day.

Sunday will be a short day – maybe a little over six miles as we proceed along the AT to the Frazier Discovery Trail and take a moment to enjoy our final views from the trail. From there, we head down the Frazier Discovery Trail to the Wayside and enjoy what treats are available.

I’ll hold five spots for applicants and prioritize applicants on the waitlist. Group size is capped at 10. As a reminder, applicants need to submit a gear list to be approved for the trip. If you have any questions about what should be in a gear list, send any questions my way.

DCULers have maps! The one for this trip is PATC’s Map 11—SNP South District. The Purple Lizard maps for Shenandoah are also great options.

The Fine Print

• By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's liability waiver terms. (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver)
• If you are a member, don't forget to pay your annual $10 dues. You can check to see if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DC UL profile. Applicants do not need to pay dues for their first trip with the group. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15
• All non-drivers should expect to pay $0.10 per mile to their driver, in accordance with the DC UL carpool policy.

Photo Credit: Shenandoah National Park