Brown Mountain-10.3 miles-Strenuous

Starting Point - Brown Mountain Overlook (Mile Marker 77 on Skyline Drive)

Ending Point - Brown Mountain Overlook (Mile Marker 77 on Skyline Drive)

Hike Distance/Rating/Elevation - 10.3 miles/Strenuous/2600 feet

Disclaimer #1 - This hike is rated as a strenuous hike due to the distance and the remoteness of the hike. Since this hike is rated as a strenuous hike, all hikers are going to start the hike on the wait list until I can verify the hiking experience of all hikers. Those, who have not hiked with me on a strenuous hike, will need to answer the following vetting questions.

1. How often do you hike?
2. What strenuous hikes have you completed?
3. When and what was the last strenuous hike that you completed?

The answers to these questions need to be either emailed to me at patrickcory@hotmail.com or via Meetup messages. Failure to answer these questions within one week of their RSVP will move those hikers from the wait list to NOT GOING.

Disclaimer #2 - With this hike starting from Skyline Drive, there can be unpredictability with the opening of Skyline Drive. With that in mind, I do have a backup hike ready to go if Skyline Drive is closed. We will hike the Appalachian Trail over to South River Falls from Swift Run Gap.

Hike Highlights - Brown Mountain Trail, Rocky Mountain Trail, Big Run Portal Trail, Big Run Drainage Area, Rocky Mountain Run, Unobstructed Views

Hike Details - This hike is going to take us into one of the most remote parts of Shenandoah National Park. We are going to form carpools shortly before 8:00 AM at the North Research Park on Rt. 29. From the North Research Park, we are going to enter Shenandoah National Park via Swift Run Gap. We will turn south on Skyline Drive, and drive to the Brown Mountain Overlook at mile marker 77. From the Brown Mountain Overlook, we are going to hike the Brown Mountain Trail down to the intersection with the Rocky Mountain Trail. We are going to turn left onto the Rocky Mountain Trail and descend into the Big Run Drainage Area. We will arrive at the Big Run Portal Trail. We are going to turn right onto the Big Run Portal Trail and cross Big Run multiple times. Our lunch spot will be at the metal bridge that spans Big Run. After lunch, we will make the short distance to the Brown Mountain Trail. We will start the climb up the Brown Mountain Trail. Along the way, we should have unobstructed views due to a forest fire in 1986. The Brown Mountain Trail does go through the heart of the area that was burned in the 2016 forest fire. We will reach a rocky part of the trail with amazing views of the surrounding mountains and the big run drainage area that we had emerged from. We will continue on the Brown Mountain Trail before reaching the intersection with the Rocky Mountain Trail that we will have taken earlier in the hike. We will make the final climb back up to our cars at the Brown Mountain Overlook. '

Please make sure to review the hike link below before signing up for this hike.

https://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/BrownMountain/

What to Bring - Broken in hiking boots, trekking poles, camera/phone, beanies and gloves, traction, layers of clothing for cold mountain weather, 3 to 4 liters of water, lunch/snacks, a good day pack, $5 for your driver if not driving, an annual SNP pass if you have one

As is tradition with my hikes there will be an optional post hike at a local restaurant or brewery. Carpools can be arranged accordingly for those, who wish to partake.

Disclaimer #3 - GetHiking Charlottesville's Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. With your RSVP you agree with this disclaimer - Disclaimer (https://www.meetup.com/GetHiking-Charlottesville-Charlottesville-VA/pages/21088739/Disclaimer/)