Moderate Mid-Afternoon Hike

This is a moderately easy hike, just a little under 5 miles, with just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain. There are several inclines that will get your heart pumping, but overall the hike is not difficult (though keep in mind that hiking in the mountains is different from the kind of hiking you do around town).

We'll start at Beagle Gap and take the Appalachian Trail, then stop partway to soak in the view at Little Calf Mountain. After we'll continue the AT up and around Calf Mountain until we reach the cutoff for Calf Mountain Shelter, where we'll take the trail 0.3 miles to Calf Mountain Shelter. There we'll stop and have a snack (or lunch if it's that time for you), before retracing our steps back to the parking area.
If interested, bring a chair for tailgating afterwards. I'll have some seltzers available.

Where to Meet: Beagle Gap parking area off Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

Difficulty: Moderately Easy; approximately 4.75 miles with a 971 ft elevation gain

What to Bring: Water, some snacks (or lunch), appropriate footwear and clothing, trekking poles if you use them

Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome, but should be leashed per park rules.

Weather: If the forecast calls for severe weather I'll postpone the hike for a different weekend day and update the group in the comments.

Fees and Such: This hike is in Shenandoah National Park, so regular fees apply. Bring your park pass -otherwise a fee of $30 per vehicle applies, good for one week.

RSVP: If you find that you're not going to be able to attend the hike, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible to allow anyone who might be on the waitlist the chance to attend. Please be courteous to those on the waitlist and allow them ample time to make plans for this if you find you can't go. Be aware that dropping at the last minute does not give waitlisted folks enough time to prepare.