Skyland -Big Meadows horse trail 11 miles shuttle

OK, it’s taken me 10 months to get back to posting this hike that I tried twice to do in January of this year. Hopefully we won’t have any bad weather to necessitate canceling this time!
This hike is part of the Shenandoah 500, so if you are interested in that challenge or working on it, this hike will get you 11 miles closer.

MEETING DETAILS
We will meet at the Harry F. Byrd Sr. visitor center right there at the Big Meadows at 9:00 am. At this point I have no clue if it will be open or not, but we can still meet there. We will assemble into enough cars as needed to get us all up to the start of the hike, which is the Skyland Resort, about 10 miles N on Skyline Drive. Thats where we will start our hike and travel S back to Big Meadows. We willl need a Volunteer at the end of the hike to take the drivers back to their cars. I feel sure we can figure this out with no issues.

AFTER THE HIKE: If the weather is nice, we can gather after the hike for some libations and snacks, just bring what you need and any snacks you may wish to share.

HIKE DESCRIPTION
The hike starts on the East side of skyline drive, where the horse trail leads to Old Rag fire road and follows down to an area called Comer's Deadening. The trails turns right and enters White Oak Canyon. We will cross Whiteoak Run above the upper falls and continue almost until its junction with the drive, MP 45. Our path will almost parallel skyline drive until beyond Upper Hawksbill parking area. The trail will then descend along the SW slope of Spitler Hill and circles the head of the Rose River Canyon. We will cross streams of the Rose River twice here. Soon it will cross skyline drive just S of Fishers Gap and parallel the drive to reach Big Meadows maintenance area.

Please do not hike if you’re not feeling well.

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous

PARKING: 9:00 Big Meadows Visitor center Milepost 51.2 on Skyline Drive

TRAIL: Skyland Big Meadows Horse trail

NOTE: Hikers will need to yield right of way to equestrians should we meet on the trail.

DISCLAIMER: GetHiking Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. With your RSVP you agree to participate at your own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to your property and/or any injury to yourself or your guest. When joining GetHiking you affirm that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of/or related to this event against the organizers of this group.

WEATHER: If inclement weather necessitates canceling or postponing the hike, the decision will be made no later than 7:00AM - cancellations will be posted on the hike comments section. Steady rain with not much chance of clearing and/or dangerous conditions will call for postponing the hike, it's not as safe and I personally do not love hiking in rain.

WHAT TO BRING: Please bring plenty of water and wear hiking boots/shoes. Trekking poles are recommended for this hike. Bring snacks. Also, pay attention to the mountain weather - be prepared with a rain shell. Generally 10 degrees cooler than Charlottesville.

RSVP: If you find that you are NOT going to be able to attend the hike, please update your RSVP to “No” as soon as possible. This allows those on the waitlist to have the opportunity to attend